Chingaza National Park
Hiking and Trekking
Gallery
Chingaza National Park is located on the Easter Andes just 50 km away from Bogota. The high Andean, sub-Andean forest and moorland ecosystems are predominant in the area, acting also as havens for majestic fauna and flora reserves. The national park offers different trails which are strictly controlled by the parks authorities since only a limited number of travellers can enter each trail per day. During this tour you will get familiarized with 2 different trails within the park:
Cuchillas de Siecha (Siecha Blades) – this trail starts from the visitors center called Piedras Gordas and takes you up to the mountain edge from where you can appreciate the impressive Siecha Lagoons. You will ascend and then descend on the same trail. Sometimes it is possible to do a circuit instead and come back to the visitors center on a different trail (this options is only possible if at the moment of your visit the parks rangers give permission)
Laguna de Chingaza (Chingaza Lake) – this lake is located in the very heart of the Chingaza National park. You will hike on the edge of the lake and will ascend to a view point from where the scenery will be even more surprising.
Day 1: You will be picked up from your hotel in Bogota at 7:30 am. After driving for about 1 hour and 40 min we will reach the entrance of Chingaza Park called Piedras Gordas. At this point we will receive a short introduction speech by parks rangers and will do the registration procedure. Afterwards we will do the trail of Cuchillas de Siecha which is 8 km long. In the afternoon transfer to the visitors center Monteredondo. The drive is 25 km long on unpaved road which takes us through beautiful mountain sceneries and it is very possible to get to see the white-tail deer along the road.
We will spend the night in the refugee (multiple rooms and shared bathrooms).
Day 2: Today we have to start our day very early. We will drive for another 30 km in order to reach the Chingaza Lake. We will hike nearby the lake up to 3.700 m.a.s.l. Descend back to the car. Transfer back to Monteredondo visitor’s center where the lunch will be served.
Transfer back to Bogota.
- The number of people allowed per trail is 40, please make your reservation at least 5 days before, subject to availability
- Please bring warm, wind and waterproof clothing, the weather conditions are changing and it might be cold, windy and rainy
- Bring walking boots and a spare pare of shoes for resting in the night. If you are comfortable walking with rubber boots, you can bring them, since the trails at certain times of the year might be quite muddy
- Use of hat, sunglasses and sunscreen is strongly recommended
- Bring snacks and water
- Feeding the deer and other animals in the park is forbidden
- All waste caused must be taken out of the park
- Do not throw any organic or inorganic waste along the protected area access roads
- The safety of the visitors is their own responsibility. Ensure that you are in good physical shape to undertake the hikes (no heart problems, no breathing issues, no knee injuries.)
- There is almost no mobile signal in the park
- Bring biodegradable personal hygiene products