Pico Cristóbal Colón

Pico Cristóbal Colón is the highest mountain in Colombia and the highest peak of the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta massif in northern Colombia. The summit is one of a twin pair of peaks that reach roughly 5,700 m and are the country’s highest elevations.

The mountain and its near-twin Pico Simón Bolívar dominate the isolated Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, rising steeply from lowland coastal plains to high glaciated summits. Climbs are technically demanding and the area is remote, with a mix of cloud forest, paramo, and high mountain environments.

The peaks are part of an ancient massif rather than a volcanic chain and have been shaped by uplift and glaciation; they host distinct ecosystems and cultural territories of local indigenous groups.

Situated in northern Colombia’s Caribbean region, the massif lies inland from the Gulf of Venezuela and is administratively within Cesar and Magdalena departments; it rises abruptly from near-sea-level within a short horizontal distance.

• Twin peaks: Two summits of nearly equal height make up the highest point in Colombia; both peaks are typically cited at around 5,700 m.
• Coastal rise: The massif rises abruptly from near the Caribbean coast, producing sharp climatic and ecological gradients over short distances.

What to See #

• Pico Simón Bolívar: Pico Simón Bolívar sits immediately adjacent and is a nearly equal twin peak; both peaks form the highest points of the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta massif.