El Tamá National Park

El Tamá National Park is a protected area in Táchira state in western Venezuela that safeguards montane forests and high-altitude páramo on the Venezuelan flank of the northern Andes. The park includes steep ridges and high-elevation habitats important for Andean biodiversity.

Within the park visitors encounter montane cloud forest bands and open páramo at higher elevations, with opportunities for hiking and observing montane flora and fauna where access is permitted. Facilities and services are limited and travel is primarily for expedition-style visits.

The area was designated to conserve Andean ecosystems and watersheds and to limit land uses that would degrade highland habitats. The park spans terrain that has long been used by local communities and that forms part of the border region with Colombia.

Geographically the park occupies mountainous terrain in southwestern Táchira, along Venezuela’s border with Colombia, forming part of the Andean Cordillera that runs through the region.

• Ecosystems: Protects high-Andean cloud forest and páramo ecosystems along the Venezuela-Colombia border.

Access is typically from the city of San Cristóbal (Táchira). Travelers usually arrange private transport or regional buses to the small towns on the park periphery (La Petrolea, La Fría) and hire local guides for overland treks; roads into park entrances are rugged and often require high-clearance vehicles.

• Hire a local guide from San Cristóbal - trails are poorly marked and the park is rugged.
• Bring insect repellent and rain gear even during the dry season; weather can change quickly at altitude.
• Plan multi-day travel: access often requires private transport and trekking between valleys is time-consuming.