Circular trek around the
Sierra Nevada del Cocuy
one of Colombia's most spectacular trek
The Sierra Nevada del Cocuy is the highest point on the Eastern Andean mountains of Colombia, it is formed by two parallel extensions 30 km long with beautiful valleys and lakes and 22 snow capped peaks. It is part of Colombia’s National park system, the fifth in extension with an area of 306,000 Ha (756,000 acres); it lies between the departments of Boyaca and Arauca, and is also known by the names of Guican and Chita.
It is the largest extension of glacier in South America, North of the equator, altitude varies between 4,800 and 5,330 meters at the peak Colon (15,700 – 17,500 ft). Its hydrography is of great importance, since it represents a large reserve of the Arauca and Casanare rivers on its Eastern slopes, belonging to the Orinoco basin, and on the Western side, the rivers Chicamocha, Gallinazo, Sogamoso and Sube, which are tributaries of the Magdalena River. The best time to visit the area are from December to February as there is of less precipitations.
The area offers spectacular landscapes for hiking and mountaineering but the observation of flora and fauna are also a great attraction, one can observe a variety of fraylejons (espeletia), typical andean plants, or animals like the spectacled bear, the tapir, and among the interesting birds, the endangered Condor.
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