5 Days 4 Nights
Colombia
5
1
COCUY NATIONAL PARK 5D4N
This 5-days experience in El Cocuy National Park is designed for people who want to be challenged to explore the 3 different trails available within the protected area and the towns of El Cocuy and Guicán in the same tour. In this plan you will reach the snow line three times located at 4,900 meters above sea level (16,000 feet) through the ‘Pulpito del Diablo’, ‘Laguna Grande de la Sierra’ and ‘Ritacuba Blanco’ trails, and also You will enjoy the hot springs of Guicán on the fourth day to recover.
Itinerary
Itinerary
Day 1 - ACCLIMATIZATION DAY
On this day, once you arrive to the town, you will check-in in the hotel. After that, you will have breakfast in a typical restaurant. You will have a talk with the national park authorities and then you will have quick a guided tour in the town. Later on, you will have lunch and then you will be taken in 4×4 cars in order to do an acclimatization hike of 4 kms in the surroundings of the town with great views of the area, before getting back to the hotel.
Day 2 - GREAT LAGOON OF THE SIERRA TRAILOn this day, you will have breakfast at 04:30 AM and then transportation in 4×4 vehicles to the central entrance of the National Park at 3.900 m.a.s.l., where you will begin the hike of the day towards the Great Lagoon Sierra and the snow boarder-line at 4.900 m.a.s.l. having an outdoors lunch there. Then you will start the hike back completing the less steep trek of 20 kms of length approx. and then will have transfer back to the hotel.
Day 3 - PULPITO DEL DIABLO TRAILOn this day, you will have breakfast at 04:30 AM and then transportation in 4×4 vehicles to the south entrance of the National Park at 3900 m.a.s.l. where you will begin the hike by the trail of Pulpito del Diablo, to get to the snow boarder-line at 4900 m.a.s.l. Once there, you will have an outdoor lunch and then will start the hike back, completing a trek of 17 kms of length approx. and then you will be taken back to the hotel in the town.
Day 4 - HOTSPRINGS OF GUICANOn this day, you will have breakfast and then a transfer to the town of Guican, where will have a quick tour in the town, where you will also have the chance to get closer with the local life of the area, having also a typical lunch. Later on, you will check-in in the hotel. Afterwards, you will visit the hot-springs in rural area of the town, where you can recover and have a relaxation day surrounded by great nature before getting back to the hotel.
Day 5: RITAK’UWA BLANCO TRAILOn this day, you will have breakfast at 04:30 AM and will have a transportation in 4×4 vehicles to the north entrance of the National Park at 4000 m.a.s.l. where you will begin the hike towards Ritak’uwa Blanco trail to get to the snow border-line at 4900 m.a.s.l. having an outdoors lunch there. Afterwards, you will start the hike back, completing the steepest trek of 13 kms approx. and then you will be taken back to the town, where you can take a bus back to Bogota.
Cost Info
Cost Info
Price includes
ACCOMMODATION Hotels in the towns of El Cocuy and Guican. ROOMS. - Posada del Molino or similar: Private double, triple or multiple rooms. - El Nevado ecologic hotel or similar: Private double, triple or multiple rooms. ACTIVITIES. All the activities mentioned in the plan, all in private tours and transportations of maximum 5 people. MEALS - 5 breakfasts, 5 lunches and 4 dinners. TRANSFERS All land transportations in private vehicles. GUIDANCE Spanish speaking guides throughout the trip for all activities. MEDICAL ASSISTANCE CARD The tour includes a travel assistance card for all the days that covers possible accidents, medical attention and emergency transportations for a quick response in case of being necessary according to the evacuation time during the activities and level of medical attention at the destination.Price excludes
- Transfers from Bogota or any other city to the town of El Cocuy or Guican and back. - Fees of entrance to the National Park and local authorities’ taxes: o People of 25 years or less: 27.500 COP (7 USD approx.). o Colombians or national residents elder than 25 years: 47.500 COP (13 USD approx.). o Foreigners: 97.000 COP (26 USD approx.). - Activities, additional drinks or elements not described in the plan. - Tips, snacks and souvenirs. - Personal items not described in the itinerary. - English or other languages speaking guides/translators.Add-ons & optionals
Add-ons & optionals
-Option or coordination of public bus or private transportation from Bogota or any other place to the destination and the way back.
- English or other languages speaking guides/translators, according to availability of guides for the desired date, in this case it is advisable to book in advance.
-Private single rooms for just one person (price under request).
-Specialized guides for special itineraries.
What to take?
What to take?
- Hat and/or other protection for the head and neck.
- Sunglasses to protect your eyes from the reflection of the sun.
- Appropriate clothing for activities and the treks under cold temperatures and take clothes for change in case of getting wet during the activities.
- Comfortable pants and avoid wearing jeans.
- Waterproof, preferably quick-drying clothing or a rain poncho.
- Appropriate footwear for the treks, trekking boots are mandatory and at least one pair of sneakers for change. Footwear can get wet during the hikes.
- Trekking poles might be useful.
- Swimming suit, towels and water shoes, as there will be chance to take swim in the hot-springs of Guican.
- Sunscreen.
- Protection for electronic devices since they may be susceptible to damages due to humidity and/or rain.
- Day-packs for carrying personal stuff, hydration, snacks and other elements during the outdoor day activities.
- Non-disposable rigid container to refill water (canteen or thermos).
- Personal documents and count with your own medical insurance.
- Personal medicines and first aid kit.
Map
Map
Gallery
Gallery
Recomendation
Recomendation
The ecosystem of El Cocuy National Park, is a series of snow-capped mountains in the tropical zone, which makes it very special, therefore it is important to follow the recommendations in order to avoid or diminish any negative impact on them, as well as being prepared for a pleasurable experience, according to that:
- It is necessary to have a good physical condition, since this is a trekking tour where you will do medium and high-level treks of long distances at a high altitude.
- This destination is located at a high altitude of the Colombian Andes, so it is necessary to have good acclimatization and cautions to avoid altitude sickness. Ask your doctor in case of having any special condition that requires extra caution or may affect you at a high altitude.
- The consumption of alcohol and/or psychoactive substances is forbidden for this experience as it might be very risky for your own health in these kinds of activities.
- It is important to reduce waste generation (single-use plastics). According to that, it is important to take your own rigid non-disposable recipient for liquids.
- Follow and abide by the instructions of the guides and authorities during each of the routes and tours.
FAQ´s
FAQ´s
WEATHER CONDITIONS & BILINGUISM
It is necessary to be properly prepared for the weather conditions of the destination, which are detailed below but as this is an approximation, please note that they may vary. Also, keep in mind that you will hardly find bilingual staff or people at the destination.
El Cocuy:
Temp. Min: 10ºC Max: 20ºC, slightly humid climate / (2700-5330 m.a.s.l.)
ATM´S
It is advisable to carry cash for extra expenses during the trip since access to ATMs and dataphones at the destination may be limited or present problems in the area.
PHONE SIGNAL & WIFI
You will visit a destination where there is good phone and internet signal in the towns, but once you leave the towns you will hardly have any phone or internet connection.
The hotels offer Wi-Fi, with a decent signal.
TIPPING
Tipping is not mandatory, but if you consider you can tip the guides and/or other staff with an amount from 20.000 to 50.000 COP (5 to 12 USD approx.) per day of service.
SEASONS
- The dry season in Colombia ranges from Mid-November till March, in this period of the year you can expect to have easier hikes and less rain in general.
- Getting by car to off the road paths will be easier, making the transportation times shorter to those spots in very rural areas.
- The rainy season starts in April and ends in mid-November, being May and October the rainiest months in Colombia and from June to September a softer rainy period.
- Local holidays like the Catholic Holly Week, Christmas, New Year, Wise men and long weekends with public holidays might need reservation in advance in order to guarantee availability of permits of National Parks as all the trails have limited capacity.
