Hiking Páramo de Belmira Near Medellin
One of the incredible things about Colombia is its beautiful nature. You can find lush green jungles, lovely beaches, gorgeous waterfalls, tropical deserts, and so much more.
One type of territory that many people outside of Colombia aren’t familiar with are the Colombian páramos. A páramo territory is precious in Colombia because it is a primary water source.
Colombia accounts for 50% of the páramos in the world, making them a special type of place in the country. They have many fauna and flora, rivers, waterfalls, and more.
You can find various páramos throughout Colombia. However, if you find yourself in Medellin and are looking for an out-of-the-beaten-path destination, then Páramo de Belmira is the perfect plan for you.
Table of Contents
What is a páramo?
A Páramo is an alpine tundra ecosystem found in the Andes Mountain Range in South America. It’s usually found above the forest line but below the snowline. Various vegetation forms on these high mountains are composed mainly of shrubs, grasses, and rosette plants.
Páramos are generally cold and humid ecosystems but fluctuate in temperature during the day. The soil in páramos vary. They have an abundance of moisture and organic content, which contributes to water retention in the soil. Many lakes, rivers, lagoons, and waterfalls form here. Therefore, towns and cities in the Andes depend on this water and use it for cultivation and other land use.
There are three main types of páramos:
- Superpáramo: They have the highest elevation above 4,500 m (14,800ft). Also, they have the lowest air temperature, nutrients, precipitation, and water holding retention.
- Grass Páramo: When referring to a páramo, it describes the most common type, like Páramo de Belmira. They have small plants, shrubs, herbs, and rosette plants. The ecosystem looks brownish-yellow. These plants retain water the most, and you can find the most nutrients in the soils. These páramos are usually above 3,500m (11,500ft) and experience the most human activity.
- Subpáramo: A subpáramo is usually found above 3,000m (11,500ft). This ecosystem is the lowest and most diverse. Mainly it has grass and shrubs and a forest below.
Unfortunately, because of human activity, many páramos are suffering due to the burning of vegetation to clear land for grazing. Grass páramos experience the most damage due to their easy accessibility and human activity.
páramo de Belmira
Páramo de Belmira de Santa Inés is in the department (state) of Antioquia in San Cristóbal. It’s only 3 hours away from the city. To visit, you only need to arrive in the town of Belmira. From there, the páramo is within walking distance, and you can go with a guide.
My friends and I went with the tour company Guias Belmira. We had an incredible time exploring. We saw a lagoon, a waterfall, and many frailejon plants that make up the páramo.
Our tour started with an ascent of the mountain. It was a perfect workout. On a scale of difficulty, I would say out of a five, it’s a 4 to 4.5, depending on your fitness level. After a few minutes, you have a gorgeous view of the town below.
As we continued, we saw the different types of plants, and the guide explained to us what they were. Then, after going through some very muddy swamp-like trails where our feet would go deep into the mud, we finally made it to Laguna de Sabanas (lagoon).
We took some pictures, rested, and then ate lunch. It was a much-needed break. With some tour companies, there is a hike back to town after reaching this point. However, on our tour, we also asked the guide to take us to a waterfall.
A Wild Adventure to the Waterfall
On the way to the waterfall, it started to drizzle. Then it started to rain HARD! Our rain jackets did nothing to protect us, and it suddenly turned into an adventure of climbing, sitting, pulling our bodies up from branches, and walking through the wet, slipping soil. I had never hiked in such intense rain.
We finally reached the waterfall. After a few minutes of taking pictures sitting on a rock with a view of the waterfall, the waterfall suddenly exploded and grew with water. The guide yelled at us to run! We grabbed our things and dashed for the hill we had just come down.
The river had grown from such strong rain.
My heartbeat accelerated so fast, but my instinct was to run as quickly as possible. The water rose within seconds as we ran and picked up things we dropped along the way.
We felt so much adrenaline and fear that we didn’t even feel the altitude and the climb up. Once we ran up and away from the waterfall and river for about five minutes, we finally slowed down and started to laugh. We couldn’t believe what had just happened.
The Wild Adventure Continues
However, we had to keep going fast. The guide told us we would need to cross the river to get back to Belmira and that the rain would make it rise.
He was right. When we reached the river, we had to form a human chain. The current was strong, and the water was high. We used our walking sticks to cross while forming a human chain and crossing slowly. Thankfully, we made it safely across the river.
The following funny moment was the road back. It was so muddy we kept slipping. My friend must have fallen about ten times along the way from how slippery it was wearing her shoes. All four of us ended up covered in mud. However, we can say we had an incredible day full of crazy adventures.
Once we were back in town, we changed into clean clothes. We paid our guide and then set off on the bus back to Medellin.
Tour With Guias Belmira and Our Own Transportation
We went with the small tour company Guias Belmira operating in the town. We had a friendly, experienced guide named Carlos Andres Pereza, who walked us through Páramo de Belmira and taught us all about the area. It was an enjoyable experience with them.
He was knowledgeable and took us to the spots our group requested to see. For this tour, we took our own transportation to the town of Belmira.
First, I took a 15,000COP Uber to Terminal del Norte. At Terminal del Norte, we looked for the window selling tickets to Belmira. The bus ticket cost 11,000 COP. It was about a 3 hour’s ride to the town of Belmira. Our guide would be waiting for us at the town square.
The price was 30,000 plus 12,000 for lunch and 5k to include the waterfall. We left at 7 am from Medellin and arrived in Belmira by 9:30.
Total Cost: 69,000 COP
- Tour and Guide: 30,000 COP
- Waterfall Included: 5,000 COP
- Bus Ticket: 22,000 COP (roundtrip)
- Lunch: 12,000 COP
- Uber to Terminal: depends on your location
Once in Belmira, we met with our guide. He gave us a bag with our lunch and explained what the hike would be like. Then, he gave us some time to grab a small breakfast at a pandaderia (pastry shop).
After eating a small snack, we put on our hiking shoes and went to the beginning of a trail. Our guide had us do stretches for a few minutes before setting off.
Full Guided Tour
If, however, you want a tour with transportation included from Medellin, you can go with another tour company. For example, Trekking San Cristobal is a company that picks you up at Floresta Station in Medellin at 6 am. They transport you to Parque Belmira in Belmira. This is where the trekking begins.
They walk you to Laguna de Sabanas and then give you time for lunch. Then the trek back begins. There is already a schedule, so make sure to ask what it includes. For example, not all tours go to the waterfall. Our tour with Guias Belmira was personalized for us four, and we were able to add on the waterfall by simply asking and paying an extra 5,000 COP.
If you’re with a large guided tour, you’ll follow a schedule. The tour with Trekking San Cristobal includes a guided tour, medical insurance, access to the natural zone, and transportation to and from Medellin for 90,000 COP.
Consider which plan is best for you, going on your own account and hiring a local guide, or getting a complete tour from Medellin.
Páramo de Belmira: Difficulty Level
The hike isn’t as easy, mainly if you’re not used to the altitude. It’s considered level 5 difficulty due to the length and altitude. You’ll be at 2,300 meters when you start until you reach 3,350 meters at Laguna de Sabanas. The terrain includes rocks, muddy swamp-like trails, wooden bridges, and regular dirt trails. The whole tour takes approximately 9 hours, and more if you add hiking to the waterfall.
What to Pack
- Hiking Shoes: Taking hiking boots or swamp boots. There is a chance you’ll encounter rain and or swamp-like parts of the road, so the correct shoes will be very helpful.
- Water Bottle: The hike is long, so you’ll need to hydrate along the way.
- Sunscreen and Insect Repellant: You’ll want to protect your skin from the sun and insects.
- Waterproof Jacket or Poncho: Bring something waterproof to wear so you can stay dry during your hike. Whether it rains or not, the hike will still happen.
- Small Day Pack: Take a small day pack so you can carry your water, food, jacket, and anything else you take.
- Camera or Go Pro: You’ll want to get some nice shots of the landscape. A Go Pro is a good choice in case it rains.
- Lunch and Snacks: Your tour company can provide lunch, or you can pack your own. It’s best to pack things that give you energy, such as carbohydrates. For example, take a banana, fruits, chocolate, nuts, or anything else you like.
- Extra Clothing: The terrain can be very wet, and it’s most likely you will end up dirty and muddy. Take a different set of clothes so you can change when the hike is over. You don’t want to ride back to Medellin on the bus wet or full of mud.
Hiking Paramo de Belmira
Travel Booking Resources
Book Your Flight:
To find cheap flights, check Skyscanner and Google Flights. These search engines check airlines to find you the best deals. The more flexibility you have, the better flight deals available.
Book Your Accommodation:
Booking.com is my favorite booking site for hotels but it also shows great deals on hostels and apartments. Plus, when you reach Genius Level, you get special discounts, included breakfasts, and upgrades on some hotel rooms. Hostelworld is specifically for budget travelers who enjoy hostels. This is the best place for finding great options.
Don’t Forget Travel Insurance and Visa Applications:
Travel insurance will protect you against theft, injury, illness, and cancellations. Sometimes unexpected things happen during a trip and protections will keep you covered. Two great options are: Safety Wing and World Nomads. Also, iVisa can help you get a visa if you need one.
Book Tours:
Sometimes the best way to see a place is through tours. I recommend checking out Get Your Guide for some fun and unique adventures wherever you go.
Check out my other travel resources to help you book your trip!
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Páramo de Belmira in Medellin
