PNN El Cocuy is CLOSED

Good news everybody!!

Park is now open as of April 6th. New rules are that you cannot stay the night and cannot touch snow, whatever that means. This definitely complicates things. Milk truck not so useful anymore as there is no easy way to get back anymore. I have a call with a tour agency there soon hopefully and I'll try to get some info up about how things are working. If anyone knows cheap ways to get down same-day in the afternoon/evening or anything about doing day-hikes would be much appreciated as I'll be going this week and I'm sure this tour operator is not going to tell me about other options...

http://caracol.com.co/emisora/2017/04/06/tunja/1491482962_552777.html

Official information at:

http://www.parquesnacionales.gov.co/portal/el-parque-nacional-natural-cocuy-abre-nuevamente-sus-puertas-a-los-turistas%E2%80%8B/

If you started a day hike from Cabanas Kanwara towards Ritacuba Blanco, as far as they allow (to the limit of the glacier), you'd probably be back in the early afternoon. If there is no transport waiting at the cabanas, you can follow the road back to Guican. There is a series of shortcuts that makes the downhill walk much faster than you'd expect.

Thanks Klaush! Good to know. I called El Paipa tours yesterday (the first one on google search...) and they say they have a 3 day tour where you stay in some cabins near the park for two nights and then go and do three guided hikes. Ritacubo blanco was definitely in there, don't remember much else. Seemed kinda pricey though at 430,000. Any idea how long exactly it would take to walk to Guican from say, Ritacubo Blanco? Would it be likely that there would be transport waiting at the cabanas? I mean they should be empty I guess because noone can spend the night. Would be nice not to spend $140 on tours...

Hi guys, thanks for all the info! My boyfriend and I are planning to go to the national park in the next few days and hopefully will be able to do a few of the trails that are now open. Can anyone recommend a good place to stay? Is it better to base ourselves in Guican or El Cocuy for the trails that are now open?

So just made a few calls and found that the only (maybe) cabin open near trails is Cabana del pulpito. Prices are 80k per night with 3 meals included, 70k for the trip up there (not per person) and 120k for the guide (which is now required by law) which is also not per person.

Wow that is a lot of money to pay for only a few short trails! Maybe we will have to change our plans. Thanks for making the calls, it's otherwise very hard to find this information!

Hi everyone,

I'm heading up to El Cocuy this week, probably arriving there Wednesday the 3rd (might be a day earlier or later).
Is there anyone else who is thinking about going there and is interested in doing some hikes together (and splitting costs, especially if guides are now obligatory even on day hikes) ?

Let me know!

Bad news. I've heard that the park is closed again because some tourists took pictures of them on the snow. https://www.google.com/amp/www.eltiempo.com/amp/colombia/otras-ciudades/parque-natural-el-cocuy-seria-cerrado-definitivamente-79098

Doesn't say explicitly that it's closed but I've heard it is. Try calling cabaña del púlpito though because there is a chance it's still open despite the violation

This article gives a few hints about who might be behind the problems. Local entrepreneurs who use the park for planting pine trees and mining concessions.... the Uwa people who live outside the park actually, invading it and burning vegetation... ELN remnants who incite them to keep other people out so they can use the park as a strategic corridor for moving their fighters and supplies...
http://www.semana.com/nacion/articulo/cierre-del-parque-natural-el-cocuy/512088
I wonder if the government is strong enough to eventually get the bullshit out of the way and find an agreement that the territory of Colombia is accessible again.