Trekking in Colombia

Colombia offers some of South America's most rewarding multi-day treks. The Lost City (Ciudad Perdida) trek through the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta is a 4-5 day jungle trail to a pre-Columbian archaeological site older than Machu Picchu. El Cocuy National Park provides high-altitude Andean trekking with glaciers and paramo landscapes.

For day hikes, the Cocora Valley near Salento and the trails through Tayrona National Park are accessible to most fitness levels. Colombia's diverse geography means you can trek through cloud forest, paramo, jungle, and Caribbean coast landscapes within a single trip.

The Ciudad Perdida trek is the centrepiece of multi-day hiking in Colombia. Six licensed operators based in Santa Marta run the 4–5 day circuit; prices start at $350 per person all-inclusive (guides, meals, hammock accommodation). The site predates Machu Picchu by around 650 years. The trail crosses seven river fords and climbs 1,200 carved stone steps to the main terrace. No independent access - all visitors must go with a licensed operator, a rule enforced by the local Wiwa and Kogui indigenous communities.

El Cocuy National Park in Boyacá sits at 4,000–5,300 metres above sea level and offers Colombia's most serious high-altitude Andean trekking: glaciated peaks, black volcanic lakes, and paramo ecosystems. The U-shaped circuit (around 8 days) requires guides and advance permits issued by Parques Nacionales. Acclimate first in the town of El Cocuy (2,750m) or Güicán before heading to the high terrain; altitude sickness is common above 4,500m. The park was partially closed to trekkers for several years due to indigenous land negotiations; permits are now available but should be verified before planning around this destination.

Cocora Valley near Salento is Colombia's most-visited day hike, taking 4–5 hours for the standard loop through the world's tallest palm forest. Jeeps from the Salento plaza to the trailhead cost 4,000 COP each way (15 minutes); the trail itself is free. The loop passes the Acaime hummingbird sanctuary ($5,000 COP entry, includes a hot chocolate). Start early - the valley fills with visitors from late morning.

Tayrona coastal trail (1–2 days) links the park's beaches from El Zaíno to Cabo San Juan via La Piscina and Arrecifes; the route is straightforward and well-signed with no guide required. Park entry is around 60,000 COP for foreign visitors. For a more demanding option, the Cerro Kennedy route in the Sierra Nevada cloud forest near Minca rewards with birdwatching (this is one of the best cloud forest birding zones in South America) and Wiwa community encounters; local guides from Minca charge $50–80 per day.

Best seasons: December–March and June–August are the driest months across most trekking regions. The Sierra Nevada and Tayrona trails can be muddy and flooded from April–May and September–November. El Cocuy is best July–August when snowpack is most stable.