Last updated on December 20, 2023.

If you’re in Villa de Leyva and want to get into nature, I would consider visiting the Iguaque Flora and Fauna Sanctuary (Santuario de Flora y Fauna Iguaque). This national park features a difficult hike through the forest to a páramo containing the sacred Lake Iguaque (Laguna de Iguaque). There are plenty of opportunities to spot wildlife, but most people go to see the lake.

Iguaque Flora and Fauna Sanctuary near Villa de Leyva, Boyacá, Colombia
Iguaque Flora and Fauna Sanctuary

 

Muisca Legend

The indigenous Muisca people believed humankind was born at Lake Iguaque. Legend has it that a goddess named Bachué emerged from the lake carrying a baby boy. The boy later became her husband and together they populated the earth. They later turned into serpents and returned to the sacred lake.

 

Getting There

To get to the visitor center takes a little planning if you don’t have private transportation. You need to take a bus heading towards Arcabuco from Villa de Leyva and ask the driver to let you off at Casa de Piedra. From there, it’s a 3km uphill hike down a rough road to the visitor center.

If you plan to take the bus, go as early as possible because it’ll take a while. Personally, I would hire someone to take you all the way there. Trust me – you’ll need your energy for the actual hike. You should also be able to find a local company in town that offers excursions to the park.

 

Overnight Trips

If you want to make it an overnight trip (or you miss the bus back to Villa de Leyva), there are two options. Camping is possible near the visitor center. There’s also a restaurant and hostel along the trail, about 700 meters uphill from the visitor center. Camping is forbidden along the trail.

 

Admission

Once you reach the visitor center, admission to the park is COP$22,000 for Colombian residents over 25 years old and COP$63,500 for foreigners (as of October 2023). Colombian residents under 25 pay COP$14,500. If you take a car, you’ll pay an extra COP$17,500. The park is open from 8am to 5pm, and they won’t let anyone start the hike after 10am.

Visitor center at Iguaque Flora and Fauna Sanctuary near Villa de Leyva, Boyacá, Colombia
Visitor center

 

Orientation

Once you’ve paid and registered, you have to go through a short orientation with the rangers. They’ll tell you about the trail and if you haven’t reached the lake by 1pm to turn around and head back no matter where you are. They’ll also tell you to stop what you’re doing and start hiking back at 2pm.

Trail map at Iguaque Flora and Fauna Sanctuary near Villa de Leyva, Boyacá, Colombia
Trail map

A very important suggestion is to take plenty of water. I recommend about three liters per person. You’ll also need sunscreen and a rain jacket. It can get quite cold as well, with temperatures dropping down to 4 °C, although we were lucky and had great weather during our hike.

You’re probably wondering what to do about food. You can bring snacks and lunch with you, or you can order lunch at the restaurant/hostel before starting the hike. They’ll have it ready when you return. They also sell drinks if you didn’t bring enough to keep hydrated.

 

About the Hike

The hike should take about six hours round trip with an elevation gain of about 1,400 meters from the visitor center. The trail is well-maintained, kept very clean, and well-marked with 10 stations along the way. Periodically, you’ll see signs telling you how much further it is to reach the lake. Once you reach the 10th station, you’re at Laguna de Iguaque and it’s forbidden to go any further.

This hike is described by Lonely Planet as “leisurely”. After doing the hike, I have to believe nobody from Lonely Planet has ever set foot at Iguaque. There’s a point you reach where you realize there’s nothing leisurely about it (I’ll get to that later).

 

Starting the Trail

A sign marks the beginning of the trail at the visitor center. The first 700m of the trail is all cobblestones. You’ll cross a bridge over Quebrada Carrizal and a stone shaped like a serpent’s head (supposedly Bachué or her baby-lover) before reaching the restaurant and hostel.

Beginning of the trail
Marisol on the bridge
Serpent's head? at Iguaque Flora and Fauna Sanctuary near Villa de Leyva, Boyacá, Colombia
Serpent’s head?
Hostel and restaurant

 

Stations #1-7

The next part of the trail is dirt and rocks. This is where the stations begin. It’s a long hike uphill through the forest, and it can get quite slipper, so watch your step! The time between stations all the way to #5 goes by quickly. From #5 to #6, it’s agonizingly long and there are some rough spots. Station #6 to #7 is easy and fast.

The trail at Iguaque Flora and Fauna Sanctuary near Villa de Leyva, Boyacá, Colombia
The trail
The trail

 

Stations #7-9

And then there’s Station #7. This is where we stopped smiling and the word “leisurely” got thrown out the window. From #7 to #8 is what they call “La Pared”, which means “The Wall”. It’s literally a steep, never-ending uphill climb over large boulders rocks. You always think you’re near the end and then suddenly you look up and there are more rocks!

La Pared at Iguaque Flora and Fauna Sanctuary near Villa de Leyva, Boyacá, Colombia
La Pared
La Pared at Iguaque Flora and Fauna Sanctuary near Villa de Leyva, Boyacá, Colombia
La Pared

However soul-crushing this sector is, it’s where the tree line stops and the views become spectacular. That’s enough to keep anyone going.

Views at Iguaque Flora and Fauna Sanctuary near Villa de Leyva, Boyacá, Colombia
Views
Views
Views at Iguaque Flora and Fauna Sanctuary near Villa de Leyva, Boyacá, Colombia
Views

Once you’ve survived the climb, you’ve reached Station #8 and have entered the páramo, or tropical tundra. This is where you’ll come in contact with the endangered frailejón, an oddly-shaped plant native to Colombia. You’re also only about 30 minutes from Lake Iguaque.

Frailejones at Iguaque Flora and Fauna Sanctuary near Villa de Leyva, Boyacá, Colombia
Frailejones
Frailejón at Iguaque Flora and Fauna Sanctuary near Villa de Leyva, Boyacá, Colombia
Frailejón

 

Lake Iguaque

Finally, you’ve reached the sacred lake! This is the end of the trail, and although there are more lakes beyond this one, it’s forbidden and dangerous to go any further. Now you can rest while admiring the scenery. All the hard work to get there was totally worth it! For us, it took 3 hours and 10 minutes to reach the lake.

Station 10 at Iguaque Flora and Fauna Sanctuary near Villa de Leyva, Boyacá, Colombia
Station 10
Lake Iguaque at Iguaque Flora and Fauna Sanctuary near Villa de Leyva, Boyacá, Colombia
Lake Iguaque

 

Hiking Down

Now it’s time to hike back down to the visitor center. It’s all downhill, so it should be easy, right? WRONG!

Everything was great until we got to La Pared. Going down was even more difficult than going up. Even when we got to Station #7, there was still a long way to do and more rocks to scramble over. Station #6 to #5 was worse and longer going back, and in the end, it took us 3 ½ hours to reach the visitor center.

 

Listen to the Rangers!

When they tell you to turn around at 1pm if you haven’t reached the lake, or at 2pm wherever you are, it’s for good reason. There’s no cell phone service to call if you need help and the trail is rugged, as you have read.

We met one group of hikers who told us that it took them over eight hours round trip. The ranger told us that the day before, a hiker left at 8am and hadn’t returned by 7pm. They had to go find him and help him down the trail during a heavy rainstorm in pure darkness.

 

Conclusion

In the end, it was a rewarding hike even though it was painful to get back. My advice is to get there early, take lots of water, take your time, and follow the ranger’s advice. Walking sticks might be worth bringing, too.

Author

Owner of Paisadventure. World traveler. Chicago sports lover. Living in Colombia.

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