Cueva de los Guacharos National Natural Park Voyage Tips and guide

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Cueva de los Guacharos National Natural Park (Parque Nacional Natural Cueva de los Guácharosis) a protected natural area in the Nariño province of southwestern Colombia. The park protects an area of paramo, a transitional ecosystem in the mountains between the treeline and the snowline. Nature lovers will enjoy night Birdwatching as they try to catch a look at the unusual oilbirds, which dwell in caves and come out to feed at night, flying through the forests using echolocation, like a bat.

Cueva de los Guácharos was Colombia's first national park. It was created in 1960.

The park is adjacent to several other protected natural areas including the Alto Fragua Indi Wasi National Natural Park, the Serrania de los Churumbelos NNP, and others. In 1979, UNESCO designated the Cinturón Andino Biosphere Reserve, which embraces Cueva de los Guácharos, as well as other parks and reserves that protect the Andean-Amazon transitional ecosystem.

Set in the eastern side of the Andes mountain range, it is an area with a highland zone of looming ice-capped peaks and a lowland area with lush rainforests. The park's ecosystem is described as paramo, which is a transitional zone from mountains to lowlands. Both extremes are represented in the park where landscapes can include glaciers, rocky cliffs, Karst caves, brushy grasslands, and dense forests.

Birds are the star attractions in this park, especially the guacharo (or oilbird) which gives the park its name and which provided the conservation impetus for the park's creation. The park has some 300 other bird species as well, including the Andean cock-of-the-rock and torrent ducks.

More than 60 species of mammal live in the park, including the Andean spectacled Best, the mountain tapir, five species of monkey, and several species of deer, including the northern pudu and the red and brown brocket deer. The park is also popular for spotting butterflies, of which more than 50 species are found in the park (including Anna's eighty-eight).

Several endemic plant species are found in the park including Colombian walnut, encenillo, Colombian oak', Colombian black oak (which lends its name to the park's Roble Negro Trail, where the tree grows in abundance. The park has several species of quinine, whose bark was valued for its medicinal qualities and was used for decades in treating malaria. Today, quinine is an endangered species due to human exploitation (over harvesting).

The closest city with an airport that serves commercial airlines is Pitalito, which has three flights per week from Bogota on Sabena airlines. From Pitalito, hiring a tour guide is advisable as the route is complicated and requires use of a 4WD truck and a stretch of wilderness backpacking.

From Pitalito, you can take a bus or other vehicle to Palestina. The next step requires a 4WD truck to go from Palestina to Escuela la Mensura. From there, you'll leave the road behind and will have to hike to the park visitor center, which is a moderately difficult 5km trail that will take about 90 minutes to 2 hours to hike.

Park entry fees are COP 18,000 for Colombians as well as citizens of Ecuador, Peru, and Bolivia. Other foreign nationals are charged COP 60,000. Visitors under age 5 are free, but the park discourages visits by young children.

• Hiking - Several hiking trails go up to the edge of the glacier. These trails can be quite challenging and are best enjoyed by experienced trekkers with knowledge of navigating mountainous terrain. Four trails up to the glacier include:
  • Roble Negro - 4 km trail that will take about 6 hours up and back, very difficult terrain
  • Camino de los Gigantes - 2.7 km trail that will take about 4 hours up and back, medium difficult terrain
  • Lluvia de Cristales - 1.7 km trail that will take about 4 hours up and back, medium difficult terrain
  • Cascada de Colores - 3.1 km trail will take about 6 hours up and back, very difficult terrain

• Birdwatching - the park is home to more than 300 bird species. While oilbirds are the most unique of the park's residents, the park is also home to the Andean cock-of-the-rock and other unusual birds. Although oilbirds are active at night, park authorities discourage visitors from hiking the wooded trails in the dark.

There is a camp at the park visitor center that has cabins and rooms for rent as well as camp sites.

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