El Cocuy The Trilogy: How to Hike Cocuy, Güicán and Chita National Park (Complete Guide)

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Some journeys don’t just take you somewhere — they change you. They demand endurance, patience, and deep respect for the mountains. The El Cocuy Trilogy is one of those experiences: a journey into the last glaciers of Colombia, where the goal isn’t summiting or conquering, but simply witnessing something extraordinary.

In this guide, we’ll show you how to complete the El Cocuy Trilogy trek in El Cocuy, Güicán de la Sierra, and Chita National Natural Park, along with everything you need to plan the experience.

Over five days, we hiked the three official trails authorized by El Cocuy National Natural Park: Laguna Grande de la Sierra, Púlpito del Diablo, and Ritacuba Blanco.

Here we’ll show you how we did it so you can experience the El Cocuy Trilogy trek yourself, with the right preparation, respect for the park, and a sense of adventure.

Before we go any further, let’s answer the key question: what exactly is the "El Cocuy Trilogy"?

The El Cocuy Trilogy is the challenge of hiking the three official trails open to visitors inside El Cocuy National Natural Park. Each route takes you high into the mountains and right up to the edge of Colombia’s last remaining glaciers.

The three hikes are:

Laguna Grande de la Sierra
Púlpito del Diablo
Ritacuba Blanco

Together, they form what travelers and hikers call the El Cocuy The Trilogy trek.

This protected area holds the largest glacier system left in Colombia, a fragile ecosystem that has been rapidly shrinking due to climate change. Because of this, park regulations are strict: visitors are not allowed to step onto the ice or attempt glacier summits.

Instead, the trails lead you to viewpoints at the glacier’s edge — and honestly, standing there, surrounded by those massive walls of ice and rock, you quickly realize you don’t need to go any farther to feel the magnitude of the place.

Inside El Cocuy "The Trilogy": The Three Trails You’ll Hike

LAGUNA GRANDE DE LA SIERRA

The longest trail — but also the most gradual

Distance (round trip): 22 km
Estimated time: 10–12 hours
Maximum elevation: 15,750 ft ASL

This is the longest hike of the trilogy, but also the least steep, making it a great place to start if you want a steady pace while your body continues adjusting to the altitude.

The trail takes you through the iconic Valle de los Frailejones, where hundreds of these surreal high-Andean plants cover the landscape. Along the way you’ll pass glacial lagoons, wide alpine valleys, and eventually reach El Borde Cóncavo, a dramatic wall of ice that feels almost otherworldly.

★ Our recommendation: start the trilogy with this route. It’s the perfect way to find your rhythm and continue acclimatizing before tackling the other hikes.

PULPITO DEL DIABLO

The park’s most iconic hike — and one of the best for wildlife sightings

Distance (round trip): 20 km
Estimated time: 7–8 hours
Maximum elevation: 15,750 ft ASL

You’ve probably seen photos of Púlpito del Diablo already. It’s that massive, almost perfectly square rock formation rising beside the glacier — one of the most recognizable landscapes in

El Cocuy National Natural Park.

The trail is steeper than Laguna Grande de la Sierra, so expect a more demanding climb as you gain altitude. But the reward is spectacular: dramatic glacier views and one of the most surreal rock formations in the Colombian Andes.

One extra highlight of this route is wildlife. This is one of the trails where you have a good chance of spotting Andean deer, so keep your eyes open along the way.

★ A true El Cocuy classic — the kind of place that makes you feel like you’ve stepped onto another planet.

RITACUBA BLANCO

The most demanding in altitude — and our favorite trail

Distance (round trip): 11.6 km
Estimated time: around 7 hours
Maximum elevation: 15,712 ft ASL

This is the shortest hike of the trilogy, but don’t underestimate it. The trail gains elevation quickly, which means the altitude can hit harder here than on the other routes.

If your body adjusts well to the height, it can also end up being the fastest hike in terms of time. And the reward is incredible: from this side of the park, the glacier views are simply spectacular, like stepping into a postcard of the high Andes.

★ Our personal favorite. Not only because it marked the end of this magical trilogy, but because the landscape here feels truly sublime.

Our Trilogy, Step by Step

Hiking the three El Cocuy trails had been on our list for a long time. We knew it wouldn’t be easy, but we also knew it would be unforgettable. We wanted to experience everything: the altitude, the cold, the vast landscapes… and also the fatigue, the doubts, and the excitement that come with high-mountain trekking.

Most travelers visiting El Cocuy National Natural Park choose to hike just one trail, or sometimes two. We decided to go for all three. But we did it at our own pace, adding rest days between hikes. We had just arrived by bus from Bogotá, and at these altitudes your body definitely needs time to adjust.

Before starting, we did a short acclimatization hike on our own — we had already been training beforehand. But if you’re not used to high altitude or don’t hike often, we strongly recommend doing an acclimatization walk with a local guide. It helps you understand how your body reacts and makes the experience much more enjoyable.

This was our plan:

➡ Day 1: Laguna Grande de la Sierra

⭐ Rest day

➡ Day 3: Púlpito del Diablo

⭐ Rest day

➡ Day 5: Ritacuba Blanco

Between hikes, we also took time to explore the towns of Güicán and El Cocuy, learn about the local wool traditions, and simply enjoy everything that surrounds this incredible mountain range.

Yes, it’s possible to hike the three routes on consecutive days, but we preferred a slower approach. We didn’t know how our bodies would respond to the altitude, and honestly, we weren’t even sure if the budget would stretch that far… but in the end, we made it.

Now let’s dive into each trail — what the experience felt like, what we saw along the way, and what surprised us the most. And if this adventure inspires you, don’t worry: at the end of this guide we’ll share all the practical details so you can plan your own trip.

Including the question everyone wants answered: how much does it cost? 💰 ➤ 1 Hike: Laguna Grande de la Sierra

The first trail of the trilogy — and a lot of anticipation. It was our first day in the park, and our bodies were still adjusting to the altitude. But from the very beginning, the landscapes reminded us why we love traveling through Colombia: beautiful wooden bridges, towering rock walls, and colors that feel almost unreal.

The hike is long, but the terrain is relatively gradual, which makes it a great introduction to the trilogy. Step by step, the trail feels like a slow journey through the high Andes until you finally reach Laguna Grande de la Sierra. And just beyond it stands El

Borde Cóncavo, an enormous glacier wall that feels almost surreal.

Important: when you reach this point, you’re only halfway through the hike. The trail is out and back, so you’ll return along the same path. But honestly, with scenery like this, every step on the way back is still worth it.

🎥 Don’t forget to watch the video of the first hike in this trilogy.

➤ 2 Hike: Púlpito del Diablo

After a rest day, we tackled one of the park’s most iconic trails. Púlpito del Diablo is famous for its shape — a nearly square rock formation that rises like a natural altar high above the mountains.

We started the hike following a group, but soon enough, we found ourselves leading the way. The experience was simply magical. The Paso del Conejo section is quite challenging, as is the last kilometer or two: you can see the Púlpito ahead, yet it feels like it will never get closer. It’s a bit of a visual trick, but with patience, you reach it.

Along the way, we spotted beautiful Andean deer, including fawns, and even some lizards basking in the sun. Watching the landscape shift as you climb and descend, with the changing light, was one of the most stunning parts of the hike.

🎥 Don’t forget to watch the video of the second hike in this trilogy.

➤ 3 Hike: Ritacuba Blanco

We weren’t sure if our bodies or budgets could handle one more hike… but we went for it. And we made it.

This trail is the steepest of the three. The climb starts through farms with grazing sheep, and from the very beginning, the mountain demands your full attention. The snow feels far away… until suddenly, you’re there, standing in front of a massive glacier.

It was something our eyes had never seen before. And experiencing it in Colombia felt absolutely magical. We cried — from exhaustion, awe, and gratitude. It was the grand finale of our trilogy, and while we loved all three hikes, this one stole our hearts.

Not just because it was the last, but because the scenery was simply sublime.

🎥 Don’t forget to watch the final video of this trilogy.

Essential Information for Experiencing the Cocuy Trilogy

➔ How to Get to El Cocuy National Natural Park You can drive from your city, but we chose to fly from Cali to Bogotá and then take a bus. From the terminal, we caught a bus heading to El Cocuy or Güicán de la Sierra. The trip takes about 10–13 hours and costs around $100,000 COP per way.

Tip: Take the 7:00 p.m. bus, sleep as much as you can, and wake up near your destination. The sunrise landscapes are pure magic.

➔ Best Time to Visit Technically, the park is beautiful year-round. However, we recommend December to January — summer in the region. Skies are usually clear, rainfall is minimal, and visibility is perfect. Keep in mind: the glaciers are melting, so the summer scenery is stunning but a silent reminder of climate change.

➔ Where to Stay You can choose between two towns: El Cocuy (more well-known) or Güicán de la Sierra (where we stayed). Güicán is 30–40 minutes past El Cocuy and closer to the agency we used for the trails. Both towns are magical, with whitewashed architecture, clay rooftops, friendly locals, and breathtaking views.

El Cocuy: Calm, uniform-colored rock walls, very peaceful.
Güicán: Beautiful viewpoint, indigenous statue, and a charming main park.

Our stays in Güicán:

Hotel Villa Zambú – Comfortable, standard amenities, perfect for resting after a long hike.
Hotel Casa del Colibrí – Rustic cabin in the middle of nature, ideal for a more immersive, natural experience.

➔ What to Pack

Mountain and cold-weather clothing
Waterproof jacket, hat, gloves, sunglasses, sunscreen
Trekking poles (provided by the agency)
Light snacks, water, fruits, panela
Waterproof hiking boots

➔ Which Agency Did We Use? We went with @andes.guican and highly recommend them. The guides are local, professional, and committed to protecting the park while ensuring you have a deep, meaningful experience.

➔ What’s Included

Full logistics, insurance, park entrance fees
Transport and guided hikes
Breakfast
Trekking poles
Light snacks
Mountain-style lunch

➔ Park Entry A mandatory virtual briefing is required before entry. Everything else — insurance, registration, and park tickets — is handled by the agency.

Budget for Completing El Cocuy The Trilogy

Final Recommendations

⚠ Tips to survive (and truly enjoy) the Cocuy Trilogy

Be physically and mentally prepared.
Give your body time to acclimate to the altitude.
Hike with a trusted, professional agency.
Don’t underestimate the height: eat well, stay hydrated, and listen to your body.
Savor every step—this isn’t a race.

⚠ Is it for everyone?

No. The trilogy demands good physical fitness and some mountain experience. The altitudes are extreme, and altitude sickness can hit if you’re not ready. If you’re new to trekking, consider doing just one of the three trails first.

Being so close to the glacier without touching it was… humbling. Watching it slowly melt, seeing it hidden and revealed by clouds—it was magical and, honestly, a little sad. Every visit could be one of the last.

That’s why we say it clearly: Go before it’s gone—but go with respect, following all park rules. This isn’t mass tourism. It’s an intimate, deep experience.

And don’t forget to connect with the local people, explore their culture, and admire what makes this corner of Colombia truly unique.

🎥 In our final video, we give you a taste of the adventure—thanks for following along, and we’ll see you on the trail!