El Cocuy National Park

El Cocuy National Park in Colombia is one of the most spectacular natural areas you can find in South America. This stunning mountain range stretches across more than 300,000 hectares and features some of the last remaining glaciers in Colombia, though they're sadly shrinking due to climate change.

The park sits at impressive altitudes, with peaks reaching over 5,000 meters above sea level. The landscape looks almost otherworldly with its combination of snow-capped mountains, crystal-clear lakes, and unique páramo ecosystems. The páramo is a type of high-altitude tropical ecosystem found mostly in the northern Andes, with plants that have adapted to extreme daily temperature changes.

El Cocuy has deep cultural significance for local indigenous communities, particularly the U'wa people who consider these mountains sacred. Their traditional knowledge and conservation practices have helped protect this fragile environment for centuries.

Weather here can change dramatically in minutes, going from sunny to foggy to snowy in no time. The best time to visit is during the dry seasons (December-February and June-August), though even then you should be prepared for varied conditions. The park's biodiversity is remarkable, with endangered Andean bears, deer, eagles, and countless plant species found nowhere else on Earth.