La Chorrera and El Chiflon Waterfalls Hike from Bogotá

From Bogotá over the eastern Andes to Choachí

The day begins in central Bogotá with a traditional Colombian breakfast, often eggs, arepa corn cakes, bread, fruit and hot chocolate or coffee, while you meet your guide and the rest of the small group. Then the private van leaves the city and climbs the road over the eastern mountains behind Monserrate, through high moorland and cloud, before dropping into the green valley of Choachí on the other side.

The drive takes about an hour and a half and is part of the experience, with wide views of farms, forested ridges and small villages. Many travellers ask how to get to La Chorrera from Bogotá on their own; the road is winding and public buses are slow, which is why this La Chorrera day trip from Bogotá with private transport is the easiest way to reach the trailhead fresh and ready to walk.

The Andean forest trail

The hike starts at the entrance of a protected park at about 2,600 metres above sea level and descends and climbs through dense Andean forest to around 1,900 metres. The trail is a medium-hard walk of roughly four hours round trip, with uneven ground, roots, stone steps, small streams and wooden bridges, so good shoes and a reasonable level of fitness are essential.

Your bilingual guide explains the plants and animals of this ecosystem: tree ferns, mosses, bromeliads and orchids growing on the branches, medicinal plants used by local families and, depending on the season, colourful birds such as hummingbirds and tanagers. The air is fresh and often misty, and the silence of the forest is broken only by birdsong and running water. Rain is common, so bring a rain jacket in every season.

La Chorrera: Colombia's tallest waterfall

La Chorrera is considered the tallest waterfall in Colombia, a ribbon of water that falls about 590 metres down a sheer rock wall in a series of tiers. The best view comes as the trail opens out below the falls, where you can feel the spray and look up at the water disappearing into the green cliffs above. Depending on trail conditions, the guide may also take the group closer to the base.

You have about 45 minutes of free time here to rest, take photos and simply enjoy the scene. The best time to visit La Chorrera is in or just after the rainy months, when the flow is strongest, but even in the dry season the height and the forest setting are impressive. Is La Chorrera worth the hike? For nature lovers it is one of the finest day trips from Bogotá.

El Chiflón waterfall and a traditional lunch

El Chiflón is the smaller but more intimate of the two waterfalls, a powerful cascade tucked into a fold of the forest that drops into a rocky pool surrounded by ferns and moss. Its name refers to the strong gust of air and spray that blows out from the falls. The order of the visits may change depending on the trail and the guide's advice, but every group sees both waterfalls.

After the hike you sit down to a hearty traditional Colombian lunch near El Chiflón, a well-earned reward after the walk, with vegetarian options available if requested in advance. Then the van takes you back over the mountains to Bogotá, arriving in the late afternoon, about nine hours after you started. On the Saver option, meals are not included and the group returns by public transport in the early afternoon.