The best hikes in Colombia showcase the incredible biodiversity that this vibrant country has to offer. That can mean hiking through rainforests, visiting coastal towns, trekking the city outskirts or tracing a coffee farm or almighty river. This is a country second only to neighbouring Brazil in terms of biodiversity and has whole hosts of animal life – over 50,000 species.
So, where should you start if you’re looking for the best trekking in Colombia?
That really depends on what you’re looking for. Obviously any list of the “best hikes” will always be subjective, so in this list, we've aimed to provide you with some options that showcase the diversity of the hiking and trekking on offer.
The Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta mountains, famous for the trek to the Lost City (or Ciudad Perdida, as it's called in Spanish) are the highest coastal mountains on the planet. The beauty around the city of Medellín and the capital of Bogotá is well known. Less people know are aware of Salento and their UNESCO-protected coffee hills, or that you can also visit the Amazon rainforest in Colombia.
These route descriptions are short summaries, designed to inspire, but not to serve any navigational purpose. They are not intended to guide you on the route and further mapping and planning, as well as hiking experience, will be required to safely walk any of the trails featured. While we strive for accuracy, we cannot guarantee completeness, and as always, the outdoors comes with its risks.
Hiring a local guide is the best way to ensure you stay safe and don't get lost. The tropical heat and humidity of Colombia can make even short hikes difficult.
1. Trek to the Lost City (Ciudad Perdida)
- Length: 28-34 miles (45-55km) depending on route
- Duration: 4-5 days
- Start/Finish: Santa Marta (transport required to reach true start/finish)
- Best for: A mix of rainforest and culture
Santa Marta is a city on the northern point of Colombia, on the Caribbean Sea. Behind it lies the mighty Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta mountains, and deep in those mountains sits the Lost City - known as Ciudad Perdida in Spanish, or as Teyuna by the indigenous people of the forest.
The Lost City itself is a remarkable ancient space built by the indigenous people of the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta rainforest...
You’ll take a 4×4 out of Santa Marta to reach those mountains, travelling on dusty, bumpy trails to the edge of the rainforest, at Machete Pelao. Led by a guide, you'll then hike into the greenery. Expect proper jungle hiking, with all that entails; the ups, the downs, the river crossings, wet weather and wildlife. The accommodation along the way consists of small camps with bunk beds and big views. Often these come with options for little bonus hikes to waterfalls or secret lagoons. It’s unlikely any of these camps will be too busy, until you get to the Lost City base camp, at the foot of the 1200-stone steps up to Teyuna.
Much Better Adventures
The Lost City itself is a remarkable ancient space built by the indigenous people of the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta rainforest; many of whom still live in the rainforest now, and who you are likely to meet and learn about on your hike.
Ciudad Perdida dates back to 800 AD but was re-discovered by gold diggers in 1973, and subsequently used for tourism by the government. Tourism began in 1982, and at first, it was exploitative of the indigenous people. Ever since, many of the indigenous people have become involved in adventure tourism and use it to sustain, grow and secure their communities. They see themselves as “the guardians of the heart of the world”, and are using the money they make through tourism to buy back more land from farmers, and replant the forest.
The hike to Ciudad Perdida is tough, demanding and especially if the weather is adverse, it can be rather slippy, but it’s also one of the most rewarding hikes in the country. There’s no doubt that it’s certainly one of the best hikes in Colombia.
2. Climb Guatapé Rock in Antioquia
- Length: approx 0.6 miles (1km)
- Duration: 1-2 hours
- Start/Finish: Guatapé Rock
- Best for: A brief but beautiful encounter
A 90-minute transfer from Medellín will take you to the iconic Guatapé Rock (El Peñon de Guatape) - a 220m (721ft) monolith which looks down over the water of Embalse Peñol-Guatapé, a Colombian reservoir dotted with islands.
In old times, this was a sacred site. The rock actually predates the lake on which it stands - which was created when the River Nare was dammed in 1972.
This is a full day trip from Medellín, and truth be told, it’s less of a hike than it is an attraction and viewpoint. To reach the top, you need to climb around 740 (vertigo-inducing) steps - taking plenty of stops to catch your breath along the way. The summit is up at 2,135m (7,005ft), so altitude can slow you down here.
This spot is well-visited, but still off the radar of a lot of tourists, and when you do reach the top of that staircase, the view is absolutely breathtaking. When you're done, you can head into the colourful town of Guatapé for lunch.
3. Climb Paramillo del Quindio in Los Nevados National Natural Park
- Length: Roughly 36 miles (57km)
- Duration: 3 days
- Start/Finish: Cocora Valley
- Best for: A demanding high-altitude outing
Los Nevados National Natural Park is one of the crown jewels of Colombia, where palm trees rise up above the clouds. In the Cocora Valley, wax palms, the tallest palms in the world, can reach 60m (196ft) high, and there’s a host of animal life here too – from spectacled bears and parrots to cougars and mountain tapirs.
The trees are wax palms, the tallest palm trees in the world, and they can reach up to 60 metres high.
The hiking in Los Nevados National Natural Park is extensive. Here, we’re going to briefly summarise a hike to the top of Paramillo del Quindio - an extinct volcano which sits at 4,750m (15,583ft) in the Central Cordillera of the Colombian Andes.
A local guide would be absolutely essential for this demanding, high-altitude trek.
Starting from the Cocora Valley, you would be led through rainforest and along rivers to the Estrella de Agua Nature Reserve and stay at Finca La Primavera. You would ascend the volcano on your second day. Paramillo del Quindio is one of the most beautiful mountains in the Los Nevados National Park - in sight of the Tolima, Santa Isabel and Ruiz volcanoes. It’s not an easy climb, not least given the altitude. You would descend and spend the night in the area again before hiking back to the valley, through various levels of vegetation, the following day.
The coffee waiting for you back in Salento would be a good one. This is one of the prime coffee regions in Colombia and a UNESCO-protected coffee zone.
4. Go off-grid in the Samana Watershed
- Length: 25 miles (41km) hiking, as part of 62-mile (100km) jungle expedition
- Duration: 7 nights
- Start/Finish: Medellin (for transfer)
- Best for: A wild adventure, way off the beaten track
We're highlighting this trek because it is part of our 100km Jungle Expedition into the heart of Colombia - which takes you seriously off-grid, and is simply not possible without a guide. Take on the expedition and you’ll see an area rarely sighted by other tourists. There’s off the beaten track... and then there’s this.
The hiking on this trip runs approximately 25 miles (41km), with the remainder of the expedition being completed on rafts as detailed in the trip itinerary.
The starting point is a two-to-three hour drive from Medellin. You'll walk through the humid, jungle-covered mountains and head into the valley of the Rio Verde. Staying in a remote finca, you can learn about this area - which was once a FARC stronghold. There are a whole lot of stories to be told around here.
The next day is a dense jungle hike, and from here on, your group will be entirely self-sufficient. You'll see very few other people, but do keep your eyes out for otters and bright butterflies as you walk along the water. It's four days of rafting from here to complete your expedition. This is not an easy adventure by any means.
5. The Lagunas de Siecha Trail in Parque Nacional Natural Chingaza
- Length: 8 miles (13km)
- Duration: roughly 7 hours
- Start/Finish: Chingaza National Park, accessed from Guasca
- Best for: A páramo landscape near Bogotá
The Parque Nacional Natural Chingaza is just 90 minutes away from Bogotá by car, in the Eastern Andes of Colombia. It's a place of glimmering lagoons, frailejones fields and that foggy forest greenery you associate with Colombia.
There are six ecotrails within the park recommended by the Parques Nacionales, of which the Lagunas de Siecha is perhaps the most challenging.
This is a hike to three glacial lakes, which sit at 3,590m (11,778ft). You start the hike from only a couple of hundred metres below this altitude. You're going to see a lot of frailejón on this walk through páramo (a tropical alpine ecosystem). The trail varies from narrow dirt paths to boardwalks and can get muddy and extra challenging in bad weather. Slanted rock formations make an interesting backdrop, and eventually you'll get a great viewpoint of the lagunas and beyond.
It's required to hire a tourist guide for this hike and the official website notes:
- An entrance request must be filed at least 15 days prior to the intended visit date, by writing to [email protected] or phoning
- The Trail Laguna de Siecha has capacity for 60 people per day
- Entrance hours are: 8am to 12.30pm, and exit hours are: 4pm
Visit the National Park website for full details, and for the various other rules.
Inspired? Check out our adventures in Colombia.