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Colombia🇨🇴 | national parksChingaza National ParkFrailejón páramo, glacial lagoons, cloud forest, condor ridgelines | things to do and best time to go

Explore Páramo de Sumapaz TrailExplore Chiribiquete National Park

Backpacking in Chingaza
🏆 Top picknational park ranked #5
By Johan Kruseman 🇳🇱 | Updated October 19, 2026

I stopped at the first frailejón patch past the lagoon trailhead and rubbed a leaf between my fingers: silvery, thick as felt, damp underneath. Do the same, because the plant is the point of this place. Chingaza National Park sits in the Eastern Cordillera of Colombia, east of Bogotá, and its páramo is wet, windswept and spooky in the best way. Trails are well marked, lagoons like Chingaza and Siecha are reachable in a day, and spectacled bears and Andean condors live here, though you will probably see neither. Access is controlled, so crowds stay thin, but independent entry is limited and some routes need a guide. Don't come for towering peaks or big wildlife lists. Come for the fog, the lagoons and the quiet. Compared with Parque Nacional Natural Sumapaz, Chingaza is easier to enter and better organized.

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✨ Why go?
Ranked #5 national park in ColombiaWhy Chingaza should be on your travel list

Chingaza National Park suits backpackers who want high-Andean páramo without a week of logistics. The reasons are few but strong. First, the frailejón forests above 3,200 meters are the main draw, a landscape of waist-high woolly rosettes you simply won't find in the lowlands. Second, the park has several separate entrances, including the Piedras Gordas access from La Calera and the Fómeque access via La Paila and Monterredondo, so you can build a loop or a point-to-point trip instead of repeating one trail. Third, the cloud forest, lagoons and open grassland sit close together, which means a single day on foot gives you three ecosystems. Self-guided travel works for some routes, while longer lagoon walks often require a registered guide, so check access rules before you commit. The trade … read more 👉
Chingaza National Park suits backpackers who want high-Andean páramo without a week of logistics. The reasons are few but strong. First, the frailejón forests above 3,200 meters are the main draw, a landscape of waist-high woolly rosettes you simply won't find in the lowlands. Second, the park has several separate entrances, including the Piedras Gordas access from La Calera and the Fómeque access via La Paila and Monterredondo, so you can build a loop or a point-to-point trip instead of repeating one trail. Third, the cloud forest, lagoons and open grassland sit close together, which means a single day on foot gives you three ecosystems. Self-guided travel works for some routes, while longer lagoon walks often require a registered guide, so check access rules before you commit. The trade is simple: tighter rules than most Colombian parks, in exchange for emptier trails and cleaner mountain air.

💡 HighlightsEssential experiences to have while exploring Chingaza

  1. Frailejón páramo: The silver-leafed espeletia plants cover the high slopes, and walking among them in mist is the signature Chingaza experience.
  2. Lagoon of Chingaza: A glacial-origin lake set in open páramo, reflecting cloud and grass, with a quiet shoreline.
  3. Laguna de Siecha: A group of lakes reached from Guasca, pale blue against rock and low vegetation, and a favorite for a long day hike.
  4. Andean cloud forest: Lower trails run through moss-draped trees and bromeliads, where birdsong replaces wind.
  5. Andean condor viewing: Condors have been reintroduced in the region, and a sighting over the ridgelines is possible with luck and patience.
  6. Spectacled bear habitat: The only bear in South America lives here. Sightings are rare, but tracks and feeding signs on bromeliads are visible to careful observers.
… read more 👉
  1. Frailejón páramo: The silver-leafed espeletia plants cover the high slopes, and walking among them in mist is the signature Chingaza experience.
  2. Lagoon of Chingaza: A glacial-origin lake set in open páramo, reflecting cloud and grass, with a quiet shoreline.
  3. Laguna de Siecha: A group of lakes reached from Guasca, pale blue against rock and low vegetation, and a favorite for a long day hike.
  4. Andean cloud forest: Lower trails run through moss-draped trees and bromeliads, where birdsong replaces wind.
  5. Andean condor viewing: Condors have been reintroduced in the region, and a sighting over the ridgelines is possible with luck and patience.
  6. Spectacled bear habitat: The only bear in South America lives here. Sightings are rare, but tracks and feeding signs on bromeliads are visible to careful observers.
  7. Fómeque route through Monterredondo: The eastern approach climbs through farmland and forest into páramo, a good alternative to the busier western side.
Chingaza National Park is best sampled first on the frailejón páramo, since it shows the landscape that makes the park distinct.
Spotted a mistake or missing something? Contact us.

Things to do near Chingaza National Park

Rent a Local Friend: Bogota Private Custom Tour (4, 6 or 8 hrs)

Rent a Local Friend: Bogota Private Custom Tour (4, 6 or 8 hrs)

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Fruit Tour at the World's sweetest Market

Fruit Tour at the World's sweetest Market

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Coffee and Chocolate tour in Bogota

Coffee and Chocolate tour in Bogota

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Private Bogota Tour: Farmers Market, Candelaria, Monserrate, 9hrs

Private Bogota Tour: Farmers Market, Candelaria, Monserrate, 9hrs

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Private Tour Cathedral Sal Zipaquira and Laguna Guatavita

Private Tour Cathedral Sal Zipaquira and Laguna Guatavita

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Private Bogota Layover Tour: Monserrate, Candelaria & Coffee, 6hr

Private Bogota Layover Tour: Monserrate, Candelaria & Coffee, 6hr

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La Candelaria Private Tour Bogotá + Local Lunch + 2 Museums (6 Hrs.)

La Candelaria Private Tour Bogotá + Local Lunch + 2 Museums (6 Hrs.)

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Private Salt Cathedral Tour from Bogota: Tickets, Guide 6hr

Private Salt Cathedral Tour from Bogota: Tickets, Guide 6hr

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Private Bogotá City Tour: La Candelaria, Monserrate & Gold Museum

Private Bogotá City Tour: La Candelaria, Monserrate & Gold Museum

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Private Guided Tour of Colombia’s Paso Fino Horse

Private Guided Tour of Colombia’s Paso Fino Horse

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Ratings based on Tripadvisor reviews. When you book through this link, you support our work at no extra cost to you.

🌤️ When to go?Best time to explore Chingaza

The driest window for Chingaza National Park runs from December to March, with a second, shorter lull in July and August.
  • Dry Season (Dec to Mar): Clearest páramo views and firmest trails. Days reach 10 to 14°C (50 to 57°F) at the lagoons, nights drop to 0 to 3°C (32 to 37°F). Colombian holidays around New Year and Carnival bring the biggest weekend crowds.
  • Wet Season (Apr to Jun, Oct to Nov): Near-daily drizzle and fog, with mud on the Siecha and Lagunas de Buitrago routes. Daytime highs hover at 8 to 12°C (46 to 54°F). Few visitors, and lodging near La Calera or Guasca is easiest to book.
  • Mid-Year Break (Jul to Aug): Breezy, partly clear, and busy during school holidays, with the best odds for frailejón (espeletia) photos in good light.
  • Daylight: Close to the equator, days are even all year,
… read more 👉
The driest window for Chingaza National Park runs from December to March, with a second, shorter lull in July and August.
  • Dry Season (Dec to Mar): Clearest páramo views and firmest trails. Days reach 10 to 14°C (50 to 57°F) at the lagoons, nights drop to 0 to 3°C (32 to 37°F). Colombian holidays around New Year and Carnival bring the biggest weekend crowds.
  • Wet Season (Apr to Jun, Oct to Nov): Near-daily drizzle and fog, with mud on the Siecha and Lagunas de Buitrago routes. Daytime highs hover at 8 to 12°C (46 to 54°F). Few visitors, and lodging near La Calera or Guasca is easiest to book.
  • Mid-Year Break (Jul to Aug): Breezy, partly clear, and busy during school holidays, with the best odds for frailejón (espeletia) photos in good light.
  • Daylight: Close to the equator, days are even all year, so start hiking early to finish before afternoon clouds roll in.
Book a weekday slot, since the park caps daily visitors and weekends fill first.


source: climatestotravel.comJANJanuary: excellent for travelingFEBFebruary: excellent for travelingMARMarch: excellent for travelingAPRApril: good for travelingMAYMay: fair for travelingJUNJune: fair for travelingJULJuly: fair for travelingAUGAugust: fair for travelingSEPSeptember: good for travelingOCTOctober: good for travelingNOVNovember: good for travelingDECDecember: excellent for traveling
when-to-go

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🛏️ Where to stay?Best areas to stay in Colombia

Most backpackers sleep in La Calera, a hillside town about 45 minutes from Bogotá, or in Guasca, a quieter farm town near the Siecha sector. Inside Chingaza National Park, overnight options are very limited and visits are generally day trips, so plan your bed outside the gates.
La Calera has the widest choice: simple hostals and family guesthouses at roughly US$15 to 35 a night, plus cabins on the road toward Piedras Gordas, the main access. Its bakeries and grill restaurants serve early breakfasts, which helps when tour pickups and park entry times are tight. Small hotels here fill on long weekends, … read more 👉
Most backpackers sleep in La Calera, a hillside town about 45 minutes from Bogotá, or in Guasca, a quieter farm town near the Siecha sector. Inside Chingaza National Park, overnight options are very limited and visits are generally day trips, so plan your bed outside the gates.
La Calera has the widest choice: simple hostals and family guesthouses at roughly US$15 to 35 a night, plus cabins on the road toward Piedras Gordas, the main access. Its bakeries and grill restaurants serve early breakfasts, which helps when tour pickups and park entry times are tight. Small hotels here fill on long weekends, so reserve ahead.
Guasca is the better pick if you are heading for Siecha and its lagoons. Expect basic hotels and rural cabins at about US$15 to 40, a plaza with cheap bakeries, and far fewer crowds.
On the east side, Fómeque has modest hotels and farm stays for the La Paila and Monterredondo access, though services are thinner and transport is less frequent.
Bogotá works too if you book a guided day trip, with hostels in La Candelaria from about US$10 to 18 for a dorm bed. Pickup is usually before dawn, so choose a place near the departure point.
Best hostels in Colombia


Best quality hotels in Colombia

👛 Costs (as of 19 October 2026)Typical daily expenses

A day in Chingaza National Park typically costs about US$70 to 110 per person, and the table uses a total of US$85 for one day in high season, with a guided or shared transfer from Bogotá.
CategoryBudget RangeLocal Reality
Entrance feeUS$6 to 15Foreigners pay more than Colombian residents, and rates vary by sector. Payment is in Colombian pesos.
Guide or tourUS$20 to 40Some routes require a guide, and shared Bogotá day trips often bundle entry and transport.
Accommodation (high season)US$15 to 35Hostals and guesthouses in La Calera or Guasca. Prices rise on long weekends.
Accommodation (low season)US$12 to 28Midweek rates are easier to negotiate.
Local transportUS$5 to 15Buses from Bogotá to La Calera cost a few dollars, then a jeep or taxi covers the final stretch to the gate.
Food and suppliesUS$8
… read more 👉
A day in Chingaza National Park typically costs about US$70 to 110 per person, and the table uses a total of US$85 for one day in high season, with a guided or shared transfer from Bogotá.
CategoryBudget RangeLocal Reality
Entrance feeUS$6 to 15Foreigners pay more than Colombian residents, and rates vary by sector. Payment is in Colombian pesos.
Guide or tourUS$20 to 40Some routes require a guide, and shared Bogotá day trips often bundle entry and transport.
Accommodation (high season)US$15 to 35Hostals and guesthouses in La Calera or Guasca. Prices rise on long weekends.
Accommodation (low season)US$12 to 28Midweek rates are easier to negotiate.
Local transportUS$5 to 15Buses from Bogotá to La Calera cost a few dollars, then a jeep or taxi covers the final stretch to the gate.
Food and suppliesUS$8 to 15Set lunches in La Calera and Guasca run US$3 to 6. Pack snacks and water for the trail.
Total Daily BudgetUS$85Per person, per day, in high season.
⚠️ Prices can change and everyone travels differently, so take this as a rough guide. Hope it helps you plan your adventure!

🥾 TrailsPlan your hike in Chingaza: routes, terrain, and sights

Chingaza National Park has a handful of walks, most of them short to moderate and set between roughly 3,000 and 3,500 meters, so the altitude does more work than the slopes. Terrain is wet, spongy grassland, rocky paths and stretches of cloud forest. Wildlife includes birds, deer and, rarely, bears.
  • Sendero Lagunas de Siecha: Long day hike from the Guasca side, roughly 6 to 8 hours round trip, moderate to hard, with open páramo, several small lakes and exposed ridges.
  • Laguna de Chingaza: Reached from the Piedras Gordas side, a moderate walk of about 3 to 5 hours, through frailejones and wet grassland.
… read more 👉
Chingaza National Park has a handful of walks, most of them short to moderate and set between roughly 3,000 and 3,500 meters, so the altitude does more work than the slopes. Terrain is wet, spongy grassland, rocky paths and stretches of cloud forest. Wildlife includes birds, deer and, rarely, bears.
  • Sendero Lagunas de Siecha: Long day hike from the Guasca side, roughly 6 to 8 hours round trip, moderate to hard, with open páramo, several small lakes and exposed ridges.
  • Laguna de Chingaza: Reached from the Piedras Gordas side, a moderate walk of about 3 to 5 hours, through frailejones and wet grassland.
  • Fómeque side walks: From La Paila and Monterredondo, paths climb through forest and farmland into páramo, best for people who want solitude and are comfortable on rougher tracks.
  • Short forest and viewpoint paths: Easy strolls of 1 to 2 hours near the main access, good for acclimatizing and birdwatching.
Public transport reaches the gateway towns of La Calera, Guasca and Fómeque from Bogotá, but the final stretch to trailheads usually needs a taxi, a shared ride or a tour vehicle. Visitor numbers are capped, so the park rarely feels crowded, though weekends fill faster. An entrance fee applies, and reservations are often required, so arrange access ahead. Weather shifts quickly, trails turn muddy, and fog can erase views, so start early and pack warm layers.
⚠️ Hiking info can sometimes be outdated or inaccurate. Before you hit the trail, check the latest conditions with locals. If you do spot anything that's off, I'd love to hear from you, so I can update it for fellow travelers.

🛡️ SafetyTraveler Safety Guide

Chingaza National Park is well managed and straightforward, but the weather and altitude set the pace. Most trails sit between 3,000 and 3,500 meters (9,800 to 11,500 ft), so walk slowly on day one and drink plenty of water to head off headaches. Fog, wind and cold rain can arrive within an hour, even on a clear morning, so pack a waterproof shell, warm layers, gloves and a hat. Trails are muddy and boggy in places, and waterproof boots matter more than trekking poles. Entry is regulated and many routes require a guide or park staff, which keeps navigation simple. Stay on marked paths, since the fragile páramo soil takes years to recover. Spectacled bears and Andean deer live here but rarely appear; if you spot one, keep your distance and never feed it. Common gaps for first-timers are no … read more 👉
Chingaza National Park is well managed and straightforward, but the weather and altitude set the pace. Most trails sit between 3,000 and 3,500 meters (9,800 to 11,500 ft), so walk slowly on day one and drink plenty of water to head off headaches. Fog, wind and cold rain can arrive within an hour, even on a clear morning, so pack a waterproof shell, warm layers, gloves and a hat. Trails are muddy and boggy in places, and waterproof boots matter more than trekking poles. Entry is regulated and many routes require a guide or park staff, which keeps navigation simple. Stay on marked paths, since the fragile páramo soil takes years to recover. Spectacled bears and Andean deer live here but rarely appear; if you spot one, keep your distance and never feed it. Common gaps for first-timers are no cash for fees, no snacks, and starting too late. Arrive early and leave before afternoon cloud rolls in.
Check Country Safety

FAQFrequently asked questions about Chingaza

Plan on one full day for Chingaza National Park if you only want the main lagoon trails, or two to three days to combine Siecha, Lagunas de Buitrago and a night in La Calera or Guasca. Most day hikes take 4 to 7 hours, and starting early avoids afternoon fog. Longer stays suit photographers hoping for clear frailejón views.
Yes, Chingaza National Park is reachable without a car, though it takes planning. Take a bus from Bogotá to La Calera (about 1 hour), then hire a jeep or taxi for the final stretch to Piedras Gordas. Many backpackers instead book a shared guided day trip from Bogotá, which handles transport and entry for roughly US$40 to 70.
Yes, Chingaza National Park charges an entrance fee, roughly US$6 to 15 for foreign visitors depending on sector, paid in Colombian pesos. Daily visitor numbers are capped and entry must be arranged in advance through the park system, so book before heading up. Some routes also require a guide, which adds about US$20 to 40.
⚠️ Things can change over time, so always validate details locally before you go.

Other Colombian national parks near Chingaza

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We 💚 feedbackParting advice and final tips

Chingaza National Park suits hikers who like quiet, mist and plants more than summit views. If you're short on time, pick the Siecha lakes or one lagoon walk and do it properly. I would bring waterproof boots and book access before leaving Bogotá.

✈️ When did I visit Colombia?
Did a good 3-week trip around Colombia in August 2014.

✍️ Help improve this page!
The information on this page is based on my own backpacking experience in Colombia, supplemented with up-to-date research and feedback from other travelers. Travel details can change, so if you notice anything outdated or incomplete, feel free to let me know.



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Johan, backpacker and founder of TakeYourBackpackHi, I’m Johan (Netherlands 🇳🇱), the creator of TakeYourBackpack. Over the past 3 decades, I’ve backpacked through 90+ countries across six continents, gaining extensive experience with independent travel, long-term trips, and overland routes.

This site is built on a combination of firsthand travel experience and carefully curated insights from other backpackers. Many guides are based on places I’ve personally visited, while others bring together tips, observations, and practical advice shared by trusted travelers I’ve met along the way.

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