SIERRA NEVADA EL COCUY

The Natural National Park Sierra Nevada El Cocuy is located in the central-eastern part of Colombia characterized by having an area of 306,000 hectares which covers several towns from Boyacá, Casanare, and Arauca departments.

👉 If you want to take this trip, you can click here 🐒

IN THIS POST, YOU WILL FIND THE FOLLOWING INFORMARTION

• Interesting facts about Nevado el Cocuy
• How to get to Nevado el Cocuy?
• Lodging near to Nevado el Cocuy
• Prices to access to Nevado el Cocuy
• Prices to get the Tour to Nevado el Cocuy
• Final recommendations to get to Nevado el Cocuy

Now, we are going to share all the information related to the trip to Nevado El Cocuy ⛰. In order to not extend more, let’s get started.

[ Ver este post en Español 🇨🇴 ]

INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT EL NEVADO EL COCUY

Inside the Natural National Park is settled Sierra Nevada El Cocuy 🗻, a mountainous formation with a length of 18.6 miles in which the highest peaks are Ritacuba Blanco, with a height of 17486.8 inches, and, Ritacuba Negro with a height of 17388 inches. In addition, Sierra Nevada El Cocuy has 18 snow peaks, plus several lakes and waterfalls. Hence, this Natural National Park has the largest glacial mass of Colombia, as well as the largest glacial mass of South America.

Lastly, in the northeast of the Natural Park, there are communities belonging to the U’wa ethnic group, whose traditions are still preserved. In addition, it should be noted that the Natural Park has all existing ecosystems, flora and fauna in the country.

HOW TO GET TO EL NEVADO EL COCUY 🚐?

To get to Natural Park Nevado El Cocuy, you can do it directly from Bogotá or Tunja. Then, we are going to share these 2 options:

• From Bogotá to Güicán-Boyacá: The bus companies which offer these services are; Expreso Paz del Río and Libertadores. These companies have the following departure schedules: 6:00 am in the morning, 2:00 in the afternoon, 8:00 in the afternoon. The time to cover this distance is about 11 hours and the ticket fee is $140,000 COP (29,35 USD) per person.

📞 In order to confirm departure schedules, you can call Expreso Paz del Río bus company: 3102964314

• From Tunja to Güicán-Boyacá: You can contact the following bus companies: Gacela and Libertadores, since those bus companies interchange their operation days, it means that, one day, departs Gacela bus company, meanwhile, next day departs Libertadores bus company and vice versa. The departure schedules that both companies offer to the passengers are: 9:00 am, 5:00 pm, 9:00 pm, and 11:00 pm. The time to cover this distance is around 9 hours and the ticket fee is $70.000 COP (14,67 USD) per person.

📞 In order to confirm departure schedules, you can call Gacela and Libertadores bus companies: 3208090289 o 3173001000

MOST ICONIC PLACES OF NEVADO EL COCUY 🗻

RITACUBA BLANCO

It is the largest glacial mass in Colombia, formed by more than 25 peaks covered with ice and snow in two big mountain ranges of approximately 15.5 miles in length and a width of 2.4 miles. Furthermore, it is the highest peak of the Nevado El Cocuy, and therefore, it is the highest peak of the eastern mountain range.

But,despite this peak being the highest one in the eastern mountain range, it is surpassed by the twin peaks of the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta. The height of this mountain is 17486.8 miles above sea level.

Trail distance: 8.69 miles (round trip)

Photo by: @piri487

PÚLPITO DEL DIABLO

Púlpito del Diablo is characterized by being a big rock with a height of 229.6 inches, and a width of 492.1 inches. Some people in the surrounding areas mention that the name belongs from an old legend, in which it narrates that the devil sat on such big rock at nights, and the devil started doing evil things which it provoked thawings and landslides of rocks and snow in this area, as a result, the people gave this particular name to this rock, called “Pulpito del Diablo” 😈.

Trail distance: 10.56 miles (round trip).

Photo by: @piri487

LAGUNA GRANDE DE LA SIERRA

Due to its water extension, it is the second largest lake in the Natural National Park El Cocuy. During the trip to this lake, you could admire El Valle de los Frailejones and La Cueva de la Cuchumba.

Trail distance: 12.42 miles (round trip).

Photo by: @piri487

In case you want to visit El Nevado El Cocuy, you can do it by the towns of El Cocuy and Güicán de la Sierra. The distance between these towns is about 30 minutes between them, plus, in both places you can stay and get services depending on the budget you have for the trip.

LODGING NEAR TO NEVADO EL COCUY 🛌

Remember that camping in National Natural Parks is forbidden in order to conserve flora and fauna ecosystems; therefore, if you are going to take this tour to__Nevado El Cocuy__, there are available lodgings, either in the municipality of Cocuy as well as Güaicán. Hence, here we have some options which some tourists have recommended when visiting El Nevado el Cocuy.

LODGING IN EL COCUY

CASA MUSEO LA POSADA DEL MOLINO

Casa Museo La Posada de Molino is characterized by its colonial architecture, offering to the tourists an outstanding view from the rooftop and the garden. It is located 820.2 inches from the Principal Park of El Cocuy town, and 656.1 inches from the financial zone of the city. The rooms have a rustic design in which every single room includes TV, wardrobe, and private bath with shower. Some rooms offer views of the mountains.

👉 Click here to make a reservation

CAMINANTE HOTEL

This hotel is located in El Cocuy town, offering different services such as shared-rooms, rooftop, free internet connection in each room. The lodging includes access to a shared-kitchen, room service, and tours services.

👉 Click here to make a reservation

PINARES DEL CARRIZALITO

Pinares del Carrizalito is located in El Cocuy. This rural hotel offers to the tourists services such as restaurant service, free parking, rooms with view of the mountains,plus, it includes cable TV, outdoor recreation area, and a big garden.

👉 Click here to make a reservation

LODGING IN GÜICÁN

EL EDEN ECO-TOURIST HOTEL

This hotel offers a tourist rooftop, restaurant, free Internet Connection, and garden. Additionally, there are comfortable rooms, hotel reception with 24 hours of service as well as tour services. The rooms include a wardrobe, and an available private bath with shower.

👉 Click here to make a reservation

CASA DEL COLIBRÍ HOTEL

Within the services of this hotel are included services such as restaurant, private bath, and other free articles. It provides cleaning products, also, a big garden and a shared-bar. Besides, the hotel offers grocery delivery service, luggage storage, and a vending machine.

👉 Click here to make a reservation

BRISAS DEL NEVADO HOTEL

Brisas del Nevado Hotel is located in Güicán in the Boyacá department. In this hotel, domestic animals are allowed, it has a restaurant, some rooms include a balcony, rooftop and a yard. All the rooms have Smart TV, besides, the Brisas del Nevado Hotel provides free Internet Connection. Last but not least, it offers reception service for 24 hours.

👉 Click here to make a reservation

ADVISEMENT: it is recommended to get to some of the towns where the access point to Nevado el Cocuy are located a day earlier so that all tourists adapt to the height of Nevado El Cocuy; in addition, travelers can enjoy the unforgettable views of both towns.

PRICES TO ACCESS TO NEVADO EL COCUY 🎟 (UPDATED 2023)

Maybe you will be asking yourself the following question: How much does it cost to access Nevado el Cocuy?. We will outline here all the prices step by step to have a clear idea of the costs.

• Cost to access El Nevado el Cocuy 🎟: The cost for the Colombian tourists under 25 years old, the ticket fee is $24.500 COP (6 USD) per person, and tourists over 25 years old, the ticket fee is $41.500 COP (9 USD) per person, and for foreign tourists, the ticket fee is $55.000 COP (12 USD) per person.

• Medical and rescue insurance ⛑: Its fee is about $8.900 COP (2 USD) per person and per day, and it is completely mandatory get those insurances to be able to access to any Natural National Park of the country.

• Access to National Parks is prohibited to 🚫: Children under the age of 10, people over the age of 70, late-stage pregnant women, and people with cardiovascular or cardiac conditions. Last but not least, animals are not allowed to access nature parks.

If you're one of those people who like early bookings. We are going to show you all the prices of the tour to Nevado el Cocuy. These rates include accommodation, food, and transportation to tourist places.

TOURS TO EL NEVADO EL COCUY 🧳

It is important to clarify that there are 3 ways in which all the people can take the road to La Sierra Nevada el Cocuy, and they are: Ritacuba Blanco, Laguna grande de la Sierra and Pulpito del Diablo, and any of the trails you take on the tour will be the only one you will be able to travel since it does not give the time to visit the other two remaining trails.

TOUR 3 DÍAS 2

DAY 1 (ADAPTATION)

• 🍳 Breakfast
• 🥾 Walk to adapt the body
• 🍛 Lunch
• 🎟 Registration to Natural Parks and a short talk
• 🍛 Dinner
• 🛌 Lodging (night 1)

DAY 2

• 🍳 Breakfast
• 🚗 Transportation from the hotel to the starting point where the adventure begins
• 🥾 Climbing to La Sierra Nevada (Ritacuba Blanco, Laguna grande de la Sierra or Púlpito del Diablo)
• 🍛 Lunch at the starting point where the hike begins
• 🚗 Transportation to the hotel
• 🍛 Dinner
• 🛌 Lodging (night 2)

DAY 3

• 🍳 Breakfast
• End of the tour

Keep in mind when you take a tour to any Natural Park, and if you go with a multiple of 4 people (4.8.12), the ticket fee will be cheaper, since the car can carry more than 4 persons, and the guides can go with minimum 4 people.

👉 To see prices of the tour to El Nevado el Cocuy, you can make a reservation by clicking here.

If you want to go with a group excursion, you can let us your information, and once we complete the 4 spots, we will be contacting you back, click here to fill out the format with your information 📝.

WHAT SHOULD YOU TAKE TO THE TOUR?

It is important to be well-prepared, since the weather conditions can vary rapidly; as the ecosystem to be visited is characterized by high temperatures, low temperatures, sun, rains, and extremely strong winds. Therefore, it is essential to have the implements or basic personal clothing such as:

• Jacket for cold weather or waterproof jacket
• Hiking or sports boots with good grip or non-slip sole.
• Hat for cold weather
• Gloves
• Sunscreen
• Waterproof tent or windbreaker
• Shirt to change
• Glasses with UV filter
• A whistle
• Socks to change
• Swimsuit

Some of those clothes you can get in our online shop in the mountain clothing section, 👉 Click here to go to the store 🏬

FINAL RECOMMENDATIONS TO GO TO EL NEVADO EL COCUY

When you are planning to take any tour in the National Natural Parks of Colombia, You should take into consideration the following recommendations, namely the recommendations made by the Nevado El Cocuy guides.

• Bring considerable hydration before, during and after the tour.

• Before climbing the mountain, it is recommended for 72 hours prior to the ascent, do not ingest alcoholic beverages or consume cigarettes.

• Adaptation is vital, so it recommends giving to the travelers 1 or 2 days before ascending so that your body adapts to the height. When you go with an agency, they do acclimatization hikes in nearby places to visit the park.

• It is not allowed to throw garbage inside National Parks, that is why garbage must return to the Nevado access points.

This is the end of tour to Nevado El Cocuy, Do not forget to follow us on our social networks to know more places like this 👉 Instagram and Youtube.

The prices described above are an estimate, and those prices could vary