Sustainable Tourism Bogotá
Lodging
This tour includes one night accommodation in or around the National Park reserve. We offer small private rooms with private bathrooms fitted with warm electric showers. The mountain lodge is simple yet clean, without heating and fitted with the basics to spend the night. Upon request, we could find a standard glamping option bordering the forest. There are no luxury accommodation near Chingaza but there is a upscale hotel in Guasca 1 hour away from the Park.
Last minute tour requests are not always possible to fulfill in Chingaza. We recommend making your reservation several weeks ahead of time given the few rooms available and the high demand for them.
Note: There are nice hotels in towns about 2 hours from the Park but it is a trade-off with the natural wilderness of Chingaza. If your preference is for luxury lodging, we recommend booking a day trip instead.
Weather
Daytime temperatures at Chingaza National Park range between 7ºC and 15ºC but at night it can drop to almost 0ºC. Weather is unpredictable with quick changes between wind, rain and strong tropical sun. The driest months in Chingaza are December through March and the wettest months are June through August. Every other month is a mixture of sun, cold wind and light showers. By default, the páramo ecosystem is a moist environment and you can expect muddy trails and humid conditions most of the year
Location
Chingaza is located North East of Bogotá, 2.5 hours from our departure point (45 km). All roads within the reserve are dirt roads requiring a 4x4 vehicle when it's raining. Because of low atmospheric pressure at high elevations (+3000 m.a.s.l.), you should spend at least one night in Bogotá or at a similar altitude prior to joining this tour.
You should NOT join this tour the same day that you arrive from overseas travel or low lying areas.
Difficulty
Chingaza is a prime location for wildlife viewing and birdwatching in the Andes mountains and the crown jewel of Colombia's National Park System in terms of ecological restoration and stewardship. In the past, some of it's mountains served as a sand mine and grazing grounds, but nowadays boost the highest concentration of spectacle bears (Tremarctos ornatus) in the country.
Most trails within the reserve are of easy to medium difficulty and a lot of the birdwatching and wildlife viewing can be done from the comfort of the vehicle or through short nature walks. This tour is designed for landscape viewing and wildlife spotting rather than long trekking. If you are looking for challenging, technical hikes we recommend a Cloud Forest excursion outside of Chingaza.
Target Species
Spectacled bear, White-tailed Deer, Andean Condor, Blue-throated Starfrontlet, Pale-naped Brush Finch, Purple-backed Thornbill, Rufous Wren, Streak-throated Bush Tyrant, Scarlet-bellied Mountain Tanager, Sedge Wren, Black Flowerpiercer, Glossy Flowerpiercer, Buff-breasted Mountain Tanager, Black-crested Warbler, Rufous-browed Conebill, Pearled Treerunner, Brown-backed Chat Tyrant, White-throated Tyrannulet, Andean Guan, Black-chested Buzzard Eagle, Andean Teal, Pale-bellied Tapaculo, Band-tailed Nightjar, Flame-winged Parakeet.
Testimonial
"Four of us did a 3 days, 2 nights trip starting and ending at Bogota, organised by Andes EcoTours. It was fantastic! Our English -speaking guides were Andres and Celine, both of whom were knowledgeable, well-organised, and good company. We began with a visit to a hummingbird observatory, which was a lovely peaceful place with a fascinating range of birds. Mainly we spent time walking in the cloud forest and paramo of Chingaza National Park, and the Choachi area too. We learnt a lot about the flora of the area, and did walks with stunning views ( helped by great weather). The first night was spent on a park lodge (dormitory room to ourselves), and the second in the home of a local farmers family involved in community projects, where we were made very welcome and served delicious food. The whole experience was really excellent. We were impressed by the beautiful mountains so near to Bogota, and by the varied trip organised by Andes Eco-Tours. It's well worth spending as long as you can on a trip. Highly recommended." - Sally
Draft Itinerary
Day 1
9:00am Pick-up from Bogotá (included from most locations)
10:00am La Calera town snack and water stop
11:30am Registration at Park gate
12.00pm Paramo ecosystem wildlife spotting
2:00pm Lunch time (food available for purchase)
3:00pm Check-in at lodge
4:00pm Andean forest nature walk
7:00pm Dinner time (food available for purchase)
Day 2
8:00am Breakfast (included with reservation)
9:00am Andean forest nature walk
12:00pm Lunch time (available for purchase)
2:00pm Check-out and departure
6:00pm Estimated arrival to pick-up point in Bogotá
Note: Pick-up and drop-off in Bogotá is at the same location. Additional locations can be added for U$30 each.
Pricing per person per night
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Single traveler USD $400 in Spanish / $500 in English
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2 people USD $250 in Spanish / $300 in English
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3-4 people USD $225 in Spanish / $250 in English
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+5 people USD $200 in Spanish / $225 in English
Note: The above provong is for a group tour booking and other travelers could join you at any point during the day. A private tour can be arrange for $50 additional per day.
Includes
It Includes: 4x4 private transport from / to Bogotá, a certified nature guide (English or Spanish), 1 night's accommodation, 1 breakfast, all entrances, accident insurance inside the Park and pictures of the trip.
It does NOT include: lunch, dinner, drinks, snacks, tips.
Note: Last minute bookings are likely to have a Spanish-speaking guide only. Bilingual guides are in high demand and need to be reserved at least a week ahead of time.
Things to bring
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Rain jacket and a warm sweater
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Hiking boots or rain boots (or a change of shoes and socks)
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Long pants.
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Sun & rain protection like umbrellas, caps or hats.
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Binoculars or camera with long lens (recommended)