Páramo de Guantiva Regional Natural Park protects one of Colombia’s critical high-altitude páramo ecosystems, offering exceptional biodiversity and pristine landscapes ideal for hiking, birdwatching, and ecological study.
Páramo de Guantiva Regional Natural Park spans a diverse mountainous area in the eastern Andes of Colombia, covering parts of the Boyacá and Santander departments. Established to protect one of the most important páramo ecosystems in the country, the park encompasses altitudes ranging from approximately 2,600 to over 3,800 meters above sea level. Its landscape is dominated by distinctive high-altitude moorlands, frailejón plants, wetlands, and glacial lakes which provide vital water resources for surrounding communities. Ecologically, the park is home to a wide variety of flora and fauna highly specialized to the cold, humid conditions, including endemic plants, Andean bears, mountain tapirs, and a rich diversity of bird species such as the Andean condor and various hummingbirds. Historically, indigenous communities have occupied these highlands for centuries, and the area holds cultural and spiritual significance that continues today. Visitors to Páramo de Guantiva can experience immersive hiking opportunities through the fragile páramo ecosystem, wildlife observation, and stunning panoramic vistas of the Eastern Cordillera mountain range. Key landmarks include the crystalline Laguna Negra and various viewpoints offering sweeping views of the surrounding valleys and peaks. The park appeals to eco-tourists, naturalists, and adventure seekers alike who value both the scientific significance and natural beauty of one of Colombia’s vital protected páramo areas.
Laguna Negra – a pristine glacial lake with clear waters surrounded by páramo vegetation
Diverse páramo ecosystem with endemic plants like the frailejón
Opportunity to spot Andean bears and mountain tapirs in their natural habitat
Remote hiking routes offering panoramic views of the Eastern Andes
This dark, clear glacial lake is nestled in the core páramo area, offering stunning reflections and habitat for unique aquatic species.
Iconic to Andean páramos, these thick, furry plants play a critical role in water retention and are a symbol of the park.
The park provides shelter and feeding grounds for the spectacled bear, South America’s only bear species, which is vulnerable and rarely seen.