The Sierra Nevada, Old Fashioned Fun And Adventure On The Outskirts Of Santa Marta

The Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta is a great place for adventures, hiking through jungles, birdwatching, exploring, kayaking, it's all good fun and doesn't cost very much, if your like me and have more time than money this is a good place to be.

The mountain range, if you look on a world atlas showing the physical features of Colombia gives a few hints as to why this area has so much biodiversity and it has been chosen by UNESCO for it's biosphere reserves. Large changes in elevations over small distances, especially in the tropics produce all of the seasons over a 30 mile distance all year. When exploring it is possible to find many unique species found nowhere else in the world.

I will be brave and say that the highest mountain in the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta is Pico (Peak) Cristobal Colon (Christopher Columbus) at about 18,700 feet, the other peak is Simon Bolivar which is also very close to this height, I have heard that they are equal or that it hasn't been determined and I have heard that Pico Cristobal Colon is higher, but I have never heard the same for Pico Simon Bolivar. Both mountains are only 29 miles from the coast but a long 29 miles if you had to walk it. My claim to fame is that I live only 45 miles from the highest coastal mountain in the world and the worlds fifth most prominent summit. To me it's purely academic as I would never try to climb them, what I do know is that the snow can be seen from the coast and it's the most beautiful way to see snow, from 29 miles.

Living Things

• Mamals 120 Species
• Birds 628
• Plants 3000+ species

Here are some links to organizations that make a difference and put much more in than they would ever take out. they make the region a better place.

• The Nature Conservancy
• Pro-Sierra
• ProAves

The Areas Ecoregions

• Guajira-Barranquilla Xeric Scrub to 1650 feet, grass, shrubs, and woodlands.
• Santa Marta Montane Forest or cloud forest 1650-2625 feet, receives most of its precipitation from mist or fog from the lowlands.
• Santa Marta Paramo or high mountain plateau 10,825-16,500 feet.
• Source of about 35 Rivers and covers an area of about 6500 square miles

Natives who live in the region.

• Tairona
• Arhuacos
• Koguis
• Wiwas
• Kankuamos

Ciudad Perdida (Lost City)
About a 40 km hike, tough and wet, with a number of river crossings, this is more of an expedition than it is a tourist hike, if you like big adventure, this may be it. Sleep in an open air cabin or cabaña in hammocks. Once hiking, your group is isolated and there have been kidnappings in the past on this journey but not for many years, never the less it is good to be cautious and find out for yourself if it's worth the risk.

Tours are put together by

• Turcol, official company for the tours.http://www.hosteltrail.com/turcol/
• English-speaking guides.

Sierra Tours in the Sierra Nevada.

• Ciudad Perdida
• Quebrada Valencia, Waterfalls
• Don Diego/Sierra Nevada, Northern Part
• Nabusímake/Sierra Nevada, Southern Section
• El Congo/Sierra Nevada, Western Area

Other tours of the Sierra Nevada

JC Tours
Quebrada Valencia

Don't forget a day trip to Minca, a nice town located at 2100 feet, the forests are dense with pools, waterfalls, birds and animals throughout the area.

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