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Colombia🇨🇴 | national parksSumapaz National ParkChisacá lake, frailejón fields, empty páramo, river headwaters | things to do and best time to go

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Backpacking in Sumapaz
By Johan Kruseman 🇳🇱 | Updated October 19, 2026

Sumapaz National Park gives you high-altitude páramo walking within reach of the capital, with almost no one on the trail. It lies in central Colombia, south of Bogotá, spreading across Cundinamarca, Meta and Huila. I arrived at the ranger post and saw frailejones in silver-green rows climbing a hillside, one lone condor circling above. That first look beats most famous viewpoints. Parques Nacionales states that the park is not open for ecotourism, with no official trails, signs or visitor facilities, and that visits to Laguna de Chisacá are not authorized. Hikers who like empty, wind-scoured country will love it. Anyone wanting quick photo stops will not.

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✨ Why go?
Ranked #99 national park in ColombiaWhat makes this national park worth exploring

Sumapaz National Park attracts backpackers who want the world’s largest páramo without a tour bus in sight. The Laguna de Chisacá area gives you glacial lakes, peat bogs and frailejones to walk through at your own pace, and the terrain is open enough that navigation is simple on a clear day. The 3,000 to 4,300 meter elevation band means you get real altitude hiking, with spectacled bears and Andean condors as long shots.

💡 HighlightsTop highlights of Sumapaz

  1. Laguna de Chisacá: A cold, dark páramo lake ringed by frailejones and bog, the park’s most visited sight and an easy first objective.
  2. Frailejón fields: Espeletia plants with thick, felt-like leaves grow in dense stands, some taller than you, and they soak up fog into the watershed.
  3. Laguna Larga: A longer, quieter lake reached by a steady climb across tussock grass, with far fewer visitors than Chisacá.
  4. Laguna Bocagrande: A high, remote lake for hikers who want a full day in open páramo and real solitude.
  5. Andean condor viewpoints: The ridges here are some of the better places in the region to watch these birds ride thermals over the valleys.
  6. Río Sumapaz headwaters: Streams start as seeps in the moss, then gather into the river that drains this huge sponge of a landscape.
Start with Laguna de Chisacá, … read more 👉
  1. Laguna de Chisacá: A cold, dark páramo lake ringed by frailejones and bog, the park’s most visited sight and an easy first objective.
  2. Frailejón fields: Espeletia plants with thick, felt-like leaves grow in dense stands, some taller than you, and they soak up fog into the watershed.
  3. Laguna Larga: A longer, quieter lake reached by a steady climb across tussock grass, with far fewer visitors than Chisacá.
  4. Laguna Bocagrande: A high, remote lake for hikers who want a full day in open páramo and real solitude.
  5. Andean condor viewpoints: The ridges here are some of the better places in the region to watch these birds ride thermals over the valleys.
  6. Río Sumapaz headwaters: Streams start as seeps in the moss, then gather into the river that drains this huge sponge of a landscape.
Start with Laguna de Chisacá, since it is the shortest outing and lets you adjust to the altitude before heading higher.
Spotted a mistake or missing something? Contact us.

Things to do near Sumapaz National Park

Comuna 4 Walking Tour Medellin

Comuna 4 Walking Tour Medellin

5.0(315) 3h 30m
From €32
per personViator
Private Tour Comuna 13 with Cable Car Ride

Private Tour Comuna 13 with Cable Car Ride

5.0(240) 4h
From €82
per personViator
The Howling Trail Hike

The Howling Trail Hike

5.0(201) 8h
From €153
per personViator
Private Guatape & Paragliding Tour: Epic Views & Thrills

Private Guatape & Paragliding Tour: Epic Views & Thrills

5.0(178) 9h
From €211
per personViator
City Tour Medellin

City Tour Medellin

5.0(158) 4h 30m
From €91
per personViator
Cartagena Jet Ski Adventure with Optional Drone Video

Cartagena Jet Ski Adventure with Optional Drone Video

5.0(157) 30m
From €51
per personViator
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)

5.0(142)
From €82
per personViator
100-Year-Old family-run Finca: Horseback Riding & More

100-Year-Old family-run Finca: Horseback Riding & More

5.0(136) 7h
From €141
per personViator
Coffee & Chocolate Private Tour in Medellin: Genuine Experience

Coffee & Chocolate Private Tour in Medellin: Genuine Experience

5.0(118) 8h 30m
From €182
per personViator
2-Day Coastal Motorcycle Tour

2-Day Coastal Motorcycle Tour

5.0(109) 48h
From €409
per personViator

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

🌤️ When to go?Seasonal considerations and timing

  • Dry Season (December to February): Clearest páramo views and the firmest trails. Days run 8 to 16°C (46 to 61°F), nights near freezing.
  • Wet Season (April to May, October to November): Daily fog, rain and boggy ground. Highs of 6 to 12°C (43 to 54°F).
  • Midyear (June to August): Windy but often drier. Frailejones stand out, and holiday weekends bring Colombian day-trippers.
Daylight is about 12 hours all year, so start walking by 7 a.m. Prices barely move outside national holiday weekends.

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

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🛏️ Where to stay?Best areas to stay in Colombia

No lodging stands inside the Sumapaz sector of the park, so most backpackers sleep in nearby towns. Bogotá is the main hub, with hostels in La Candelaria and Chapinero at US$8 to 15 for a dorm bed. The Bogotá side reaches the park through Nazareth and San Juan de Sumapaz, where simple family rooms run US$10 to 20. From the Meta side, Villavicencio and Uribe offer hotels from US$15 to 35. Pasca and Fusagasugá, on the Cundinamarca side, have modest hotels at US$15 to 30. Camping is limited and needs prior permission, so base yourself in a town and go in with a guide.
Best hostels in Colombia


Best quality hotels in Colombia

👛 Costs (as of 19 October 2026)Travel costs and budget guide for Sumapaz

Expect to spend about US$45 a day on a budget trip to Sumapaz National Park, with a guide or tour as the largest cost.
CategoryBudget RangeLocal Reality
Entrance feeUS$0 to 5Access is often free or low cost, but organized visits are arranged locally.
Accommodation (high season)US$8 to 20Dorm beds in Bogotá or simple rooms in nearby towns.
Local transportUS$8 to 15Buses and shared vehicles from Bogotá to Nazareth or San Juan de Sumapaz, with limited service.
Food and suppliesUS$8 to 12Set lunches cost US$3 to 5 in village restaurants. Bring snacks for the trail.
Guide or tourUS$10 to 25Shared group tours are cheaper than private guides.
Total Daily BudgetUS$45Based on high-season accommodation and mid-range other costs.
⚠️ Prices can change and everyone travels differently, so take this as a rough guide. Hope it helps you plan your adventure!

🥾 TrailsTrail guide for Sumapaz national park

Sumapaz National Park has a few well-used routes around the Chisacá sector, and most walks run through open páramo on boggy, uneven ground.
  • Laguna de Chisacá: About 2 to 3 hours round trip, easy to moderate. Gentle path past frailejones, with wet patches and sweeping views of the lake.
  • Laguna Larga: Roughly 5 to 6 hours round trip, moderate. Steady climbing over tussock grass and peat, with chances to see condors and few other hikers.
  • Laguna Bocagrande: A full day, moderate to hard. Remote ground, fast-changing fog and rain, and a firm need for good navigation.
  • Wildlife: Andean condors, páramo deer,
… read more 👉
Sumapaz National Park has a few well-used routes around the Chisacá sector, and most walks run through open páramo on boggy, uneven ground.
  • Laguna de Chisacá: About 2 to 3 hours round trip, easy to moderate. Gentle path past frailejones, with wet patches and sweeping views of the lake.
  • Laguna Larga: Roughly 5 to 6 hours round trip, moderate. Steady climbing over tussock grass and peat, with chances to see condors and few other hikers.
  • Laguna Bocagrande: A full day, moderate to hard. Remote ground, fast-changing fog and rain, and a firm need for good navigation.
  • Wildlife: Andean condors, páramo deer, spectacled bears (rarely seen) and many high-altitude birds.
Public transport is limited: buses run from Bogotá toward Usme and Nazareth, and you finish by local pickup or on foot. The park is quiet, with a handful of visitors on weekends. An entry fee applies, usually around US$5 to 12 depending on residency, and some sectors need advance permission from park staff. Carry rain gear, warm layers and extra food.
⚠️ 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.

🛡️ SafetySafety Tips and Common Scams in Sumapaz

Sumapaz is a high-altitude páramo, mostly 3,000 to 4,300 meters (9,800 to 14,100 feet), so walk slowly and spend a night in Bogotá first to acclimatize. Weather swings fast between sun, hail and wind, and fog makes trails hard to follow, so carry a waterproof shell, warm layers and a GPS track. Ground is boggy, and good boots help. Go with a local guide or organized group, since access and routes are managed locally. Wildlife is minimal, mostly birds, deer and the occasional Andean bear.
Check Country Safety

FAQCommon questions from travelers

Plan on 2 days for Sumapaz National Park. One day covers the main páramo viewpoints and lagoons from the Bogotá side, and a second allows a longer hike, such as toward Laguna Chisacá, with a night in San Juan de Sumapaz. Slow acclimatization at over 3,500 meters makes a rushed single day tiring.
Yes, though public transport is limited. Buses and shared vehicles run from Bogotá toward Nazareth and San Juan de Sumapaz, taking roughly 3 to 5 hours depending on road conditions. Guided tours from Bogotá, around US$25 to 60, handle transfers and are the easiest option for Sumapaz National Park.
Entry to Sumapaz National Park is generally free or very low cost, and visits are usually arranged through local communities or authorized guides. Some areas require prior coordination, so book a guide or tour in advance, with costs of roughly US$10 to 40. Bring your passport, since checkpoints and local registration are common.
⚠️ Things can change over time, so always validate details locally before you go.

Other Colombian national parks near Sumapaz

Explore more nearby:


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We 💚 feedbackParting advice and final tips

Give Sumapaz National Park two days if you can: one for Chisacá to adjust to the altitude, and one for a longer lake hike. A single day works for the easiest walk only. I would bring waterproof boots and a thick fleece.

✈️ 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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