National park · Colombia
Cocuy National ParkParque Nacional Natural El Cocuy
Go only if you can give it 3+ days: sleep at 3,500–4,000 m first, then walk to Laguna Grande or up to the glacier edge on a booked guide route; December to mid-March is the dry window.
- Source checked
- A source and a date are on record: we read it from an official or published page. Not yet confirmed on the ground.
- Field checked
- Someone checked it on the ground, with the date shown.
- Plan calculated
- Worked out by Voykit from its own data (times, distances, budgets). A calculation, not a measurement.
Unknown times stay unknown. How we verify
Map to the park
Add your hotel to get directions from it. · stays in this browser; shared with the pocket card.
Area
3,060 km² (1,181 sq mi)1,181 sq mi (3,060 km²)
approximate
Established
1977
Best months
Dec–Feb
UNESCO
None
Rules in force · 7Above 2,500 m (Bogotá, Quito, Cusco, La Paz) keep the fir…
- South America ↗Above 2,500 m (Bogotá, Quito, Cusco, La Paz) keep the first day light; sleep lower where you can (Sacred Valley before Cusco) and descend if headache comes with vomiting or confusion.
- South America ↗A yellow fever certificate is required on arrival in French Guiana, and asked for on some routes into Bolivia, Paraguay, Suriname and Guyana, or when arriving from Amazon areas — vaccinate at least 10 days before travel and carry the card.
- South America ↗Overnight buses are the norm in Argentina, Chile and Peru, but pick top-tier companies and keep valuables on your body; on-board thefts from overhead racks are the common loss.
- Colombia ↗Check entry rules for your passport with Migración Colombia or a Colombian consulate; some travellers must complete an online migration form before arrival.
- Colombia ↗Security advice lists specific departments and border areas: check your own government's advice for every place on your route, including coastal roads.
- Colombia ↗Never accept drinks, food or cigarettes from strangers, and be careful with people met on dating apps: drugging (including with scopolamine) followed by robbery is a known risk.
- Colombia ↗Fill in Check-MIG only on the official Migración Colombia site; it is free, and lookalike sites charge a fee.
At a glance
- Country
- Colombia
- Area
- 3,060 km² (1,181 sq mi)1,181 sq mi (3,060 km²)
- Roughly 3,060 km² across Boyacá and Arauca departments (check).
- Established
- 1977
- Best months
- Dec–Feb
- Permits
- For some areas
Cocuy National Park protects the Sierra Nevada del Cocuy, a north–south line of snow and glacier peaks on the Boyacá–Arauca border, and the paramo around them. It is the largest remaining ice mass in Colombia, and the glaciers are shrinking fast; the western lowlands toward the Llanos are closed to visitors. Access is from two villages, El Cocuy in the south and Güicán in the north, each with its own gate, fincas at 3,500–4,000 m and registered guides. Nothing here is a casual stop: the villages sit 10–12 hours by bus from Bogotá, the trailheads are another hour up a rough road, and every route above the lagunas needs a guide and a ticket. The reward is walking through the full high-Andean plant sequence — frailejón, cojín, bare rock, ice — in a single day, in air thin enough that most itineraries fail on acclimatisation rather than on fitness.
Decide
Why go, which months, and what lives here when
At a glance
Status
- No UNESCO listing; national park since 1977.
Size and age
3,060 km² (1,181 sq mi)1,181 sq mi (3,060 km²) · national park since 1977
Roughly 3,060 km² across Boyacá and Arauca departments (check).
Why go
- The largest remaining glacier mass in Colombia, on a north–south line of snow peaks above 5,000 m.
- Paramo and frailejón country: the walk from the road to Laguna Grande passes the full set of high-Andean plant zones.
- You can sleep at 3,500–4,000 m at the park entrance, which makes acclimatisation part of the trip rather than a separate stop.
- The villages of El Cocuy and Güicán are the two working access points, each with its own gate and its own set of fincas.
When to go
- JanBest
- FebBest
- MarGo
- AprCaution
- MayCaution
- JunCaution
- JulGo
- AugGo
- SepCaution
- OctCaution
- NovCaution
- DecBest
- JanDry, clear mornings; cold nights
- FebDry; strong sun at altitude
- MarDry early, cloud building
- AprWet season starts; mud on trails
- MayRain and cloud; poor views
- JunWet; some access roads cut
- JulDrier spell; busy with Colombian holidays
- AugDrier; wind and cloud on peaks
- SepRain returns
- OctWettest stretch; landslides possible
- NovRain easing late in the month
- DecDry season begins; book beds early
Wildlife and nature calendar
| What | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Condors (northern sector)Jul–Aug, Dec–Mar · Rare; scan ridges in the morning. | yes | yes | yes | no | no | no | yes | yes | no | no | no | yes |
| Spectacled bearAll year · Present but very seldom seen; keep food sealed. | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes |
| White-tailed deer (southern sector)Dec–Mar | yes | yes | yes | no | no | no | no | no | no | no | no | yes |
| Frailejones in flowerSep–Mar · Paramo plants grow slowly; do not step on them. | yes | yes | yes | no | no | no | no | no | yes | yes | yes | yes |
Arrive & move
Getting in, how the park is divided, and where things are
Show 3 sectionsHideHow to get there, Zones and sectors, Sketch map
How to get there
From Bogotá
Direct overnight bus to El Cocuy via Tunja and Duitama; some services continue to Güicán.
10–12 h
Open the page →
From Tunja
Bus toward El Cocuy, usually with a change in Duitama or Sogamoso.
6–9 h
From Bucaramanga or Cúcuta
Change buses in Capitanejo; the mountain road is prone to landslides in the wet season.
8–12 h
Open the page →
From Villa de Leyva
Bus to Tunja or Duitama, then onward to El Cocuy.
8–10 h
Open the page →
Zones and sectors
| Zone | What is there | Access |
|---|---|---|
| El Cocuy side (south) | The main visitor sector: Laguna Grande de la Sierra, Laguna de la Plaza and the Ritacuba peaks. | Entry with a ticket and guide for the higher routes. |
| Güicán side (north) | The other gate, with the road up past the fincas toward the snow line and the Pan de Azúcar and Púlpito del Diablo peaks. | Entry with a ticket; guides arranged in Güicán. |
| Lagunas route | A chain of high lakes below the glaciers: Los Verdes, Laguna Grande, La Isla, La Plaza and El Avellanal. | Day walks with a guide; camping only at permitted spots. |
| Western lowlands (Arauca) | Tropical forest falling toward the Llanos. | Closed to tourism. |
Sketch map
- 1El Cocuy town · Town≈6.408, -72.445Map ↗
- 2Güicán · Town≈6.463, -72.411Map ↗
- 3Park office, El Cocuy · Headquarters≈6.409, -72.444Approximate; on Calle 8a near the centre.Map ↗
- 4Laguna Grande de la Sierra · Trail≈6.390, -72.310Approximate.Map ↗
- 5Ritacuba peaks · Summit≈6.400, -72.300Approximate; park centre point.Map ↗
- 6Púlpito del Diablo · Viewpoint≈6.430, -72.320Approximate.Map ↗
Take the points offline
6 points as a GPX waypoint file, plus a plain-text list of coordinates. Save it while you have signal: maps apps show the points without a connection.
Approximate positions for orientation only; the park spans a long north–south range and the two access villages sit well west of the peaks.
See & do
Caves, trails and wildlife, with how hard each is and whether it needs booking
Show Top experiencesHide
Top experiences
Practical
Fees, permits, rules, where to sleep and what can go wrong
Show 8 sectionsHideEntry fees and permits, Park rules, Where to stay, Safety, Accessibility, Visiting lightly, Questions people ask, Related
Entry fees and permits
| Item | Range | Per | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Park entry (El Cocuy and Güicán gates) | COP 20,000–60,000 | person | 2026 estimate; rates differ for nationals and foreign visitors and change by season (check). |
| Registered guide for glacier or summit routes | COP 150,000–350,000 | person | 2026 estimate; usually per person per day, cheaper in a group (check). |
| Milk truck (lechero) from Güicán to the park entrance | COP 10,000–15,000 | person | 2026 estimate; leaves Güicán about 05:30 and returns in the morning. |
| Private car to the trailheads | COP 90,000–180,000 | car | 2026 estimate; the higher figure is the price often quoted to foreign visitors. |
Ranges, not quotes: fees change without notice. Check with the park or your operator · checked Sep 2026.
Park entry registration permit or guide
Guide for glacier and summit routes permit or guide
Western sector (Arauca side) no permit
What would our group pay?
People
Nights or days
- COP 20,000–60,000
- COP 150,000–350,000
- COP 10,000–15,000
- COP 90,000–180,000
Tick the fees that apply to your trip to see a total.
A guide, not a quote: the ranges are estimates (checked 2026-09) and each fee may have rules on who pays it. Confirm on Parques Nacionales Naturales de Colombia — PNN El Cocuy before you go.
Park rules
- Guides
- Required for glacier, summit and laguna routes; the park office keeps the list of registered guides.
- Camping
- Only at permitted sites near the fincas and lagunas; wild camping above the tree line is not allowed (check).
- Fires
- No open fires anywhere in the park; paramo vegetation burns easily and recovers very slowly.
- Trails
- Stay on marked paths; cutting across frailejón and cojín beds damages plants that take decades to regrow.
- Drones
- Not allowed without permission from the park authority (check).check
Where to stay
In the park
Fincas and cabañas at the park entrance
Beds and camping at 3,500–4,000 m, the standard acclimatisation night before a trek.
Near the park
El Cocuy town
Guesthouses and small hotels around the main square, plus the park office and the only ATM.
Near the park
Güicán
The northern access village, with hostels and cabañas and the milk truck up to the park.
Safety
Altitude sickness high
Sun and cold medium
Weather turning on the peaks medium
Landslides on access roads medium
How much daylight do you have?
Time out
Finding the local time zone…
Times are local to the spot (zone loading). The half-hour margin is our rule of thumb, not an official figure; light fades earlier in forest or under cloud. Carry a headlamp on any route that could run late.
Accessibility
- The villages, park offices and lower finca roads are reachable by car.
- Trails above the fincas are rough, steep and at high altitude; not suitable for limited mobility or unacclimatised walkers.
Visiting lightly
- Hire local guides from El Cocuy or Güicán so the villages earn from the park.
- Carry out all rubbish, including toilet paper; there is no collection above the fincas.
- Do not pick frailejón leaves or step on cojín cushions; both are protected and slow-growing.
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to enter Cocuy National Park?
Entry is a modest per-person fee paid at the park office in El Cocuy or in Güicán, roughly COP 20,000–60,000 (2026 estimate), with different rates for Colombian and foreign visitors. Add a guide at COP 150,000–350,000 per person per day for glacier or summit routes. Carry cash: the only ATM is in El Cocuy.
What are the best hikes in Cocuy National Park?
Laguna Grande de la Sierra is the standard first full day, 6–8 hours return. The glacier-edge walk toward the Ritacuba snow or Pan de Azúcar is the harder classic, 8–10 hours with a registered guide. On the Güicán side, the Púlpito del Diablo viewpoint takes 5–7 hours. Short frailejón walks near the fincas need no guide and are the right first afternoon.
When is the best time to visit Cocuy National Park?
December to mid-March gives the best chance of dry, clear mornings. April to June and September to November are wet, with cloud, mud and possible landslides on the access roads. July and August are drier but busy with Colombian school holidays. Nights are cold year-round and it can snow above 4,000 m at any time.
Do I need a guide in Cocuy National Park?
Yes for the glacier, summit and laguna routes. Book a registered guide through the park office or a local agency in El Cocuy or Güicán. The short marked walks on the lower paramo near the fincas can be done without one.
How do I get to Cocuy National Park?
Most visitors take an overnight bus from Bogotá to El Cocuy, 10–12 hours via Tunja and Duitama. From the villages, the milk truck leaves Güicán around 05:30 and reaches the park entrance early; a private car costs far more. From Bucaramanga or Cúcuta you change buses in Capitanejo.
Can I climb to the glacier without acclimatising?
No. Sleep at least one night at 3,500–4,000 m near the park entrance, keep day one short, and only then attempt a long route. Altitude sickness is the most common reason trips here end early.
Deep dive
Every source; fees and rules change, so check before you go