Yariguíes National ParkYariguíes National Park at a Glance
About Yariguíes National Park
Yariguíes National Park (Parque Nacional Natural Serranía de los Yariguíes) protects a remote mountain range in Colombia’s Santander Department. The park conserves cloud forests, montane ecosystems and upper watershed areas important for regional rivers and biodiversity.
Hiking and scientific visits focus on forest trails, ridge viewpoints and birdwatching across steep elevational gradients; facilities are limited and travel can be logistically demanding. The area’s biological importance stems from high species diversity and many narrowly distributed endemic plants and animals.
The protected area was created to conserve the Serranía and its ecological services, including watershed protection and habitat connectivity for Andean fauna.
Located in northeastern Colombia, the park occupies parts of the Yariguíes mountain range within Santander Department and consists of rugged terrain of ridges and valleys.
- Biodiversity and watersheds: The park protects critical watershed areas and high levels of endemism, including species known only from the Yariguíes range.
What to See#
- Serranía de los Yariguíes: The Serranía backbone contains cloud forest, montane forest and highland ecosystems across a long elevational gradient, with numerous ridges and valleys important for biodiversity.
Best Time to Visit Yariguíes National Park
Dry season provides the most reliable hiking conditions; wet season is biodiverse but logistically harder.
Weather & Climate near Yariguíes National Park
Yariguíes National Park's climate is classified as Oceanic - Oceanic climate with consistently warm temperatures year-round. Temperatures range from 6°C to 17°C. Abundant rainfall (1360 mm/year), wettest in May.
| Month | Comfort | Temp | Feels | Rain | Sky | Humidity | Wind | UV | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | Very Good | 6° - 17° | 12° | 49 mm | partly cloudy | 73% | 1.1 m/s | 2.4 extreme | 11.7h |
| February | Very Good | 7° - 17° | 12° | 54 mm | partly cloudy | 71% | 1.2 m/s | 2.5 extreme | 11.8h |
| March | Good | 8° - 17° | 12° | 73 mm | overcast | 74% | 1.1 m/s | 2.3 extreme | 12.0h |
| April | Acceptable | 8° - 16° | 12° | 148 mm | overcast | 80% | 1.0 m/s | 2.3 extreme | 12.2h |
| May | Acceptable | 8° - 16° | 12° | 187 mm | overcast | 80% | 1.0 m/s | 2.4 extreme | 12.3h |
| June | Acceptable | 8° - 16° | 12° | 142 mm | overcast | 77% | 1.2 m/s | 2.4 extreme | 12.4h |
| July | Good | 8° - 16° | 12° | 93 mm | overcast | 74% | 1.3 m/s | 2.4 extreme | 12.3h |
| August | Acceptable | 7° - 16° | 12° | 150 mm | overcast | 74% | 1.3 m/s | 2.4 extreme | 12.2h |
| September | Acceptable | 7° - 16° | 12° | 150 mm | overcast | 75% | 1.2 m/s | 2.4 extreme | 12.0h |
| October | Acceptable | 8° - 16° | 12° | 170 mm | overcast | 81% | 1.0 m/s | 2.3 extreme | 11.9h |
| November | Good | 8° - 16° | 12° | 96 mm | overcast | 84% | 1.0 m/s | 2.3 extreme | 11.7h |
| December | Very Good | 7° - 16° | 12° | 48 mm | partly cloudy | 79% | 1.0 m/s | 2.3 extreme | 11.6h |
How to Get to Yariguíes National Park
Access is usually from Santander regional towns by road; reaching trailheads typically involves local transport and coordination with guides from nearby municipalities.
Tips for Visiting Yariguíes National Park
- Hire a local guide familiar with the mountainous trails and the region's microclimates.
- Be prepared for steep, sometimes muddy tracks and rapid weather changes - waterproof layers are essential.
- Stay overnight in nearby towns to break up access; some trails require multi-day planning for safety and acclimatisation.