Visit the paramo in one day. Pijao, Quindío, Colombia
Welcome to Quindio!You already have access to all the information for you to get to know one of the most fun adventures in all of Quindio, to know the paramo de Chili! I have to tell you that this site is still quite preserved since tourism in my region is usually focused on Salento, Filandia and Circasia, but to the south in Pijao we have many new things to do.
Let's start. First of all I recommend that if you are in other towns like Salento you leave the day before you plan to go to Pijao, this will allow you to be on time since the tour leaves early and also take the time to get to know this small and beautiful town. Here are some options where you can stay in Pijao.
To get to Pijao you must first get to the Armenia Transportation Terminal (Terminal), once you arrive go to the left hand side and down the stairs, there you will find the ticket office where you can buy the ticket, this has a value of 9.000COP. If you have any questions ask the security guards, they will surely try to help you.
It is important that you take into account the following schedules, the bus leaves on time and are not so frequent so if you do not arrive on time you will have to wait: 5:20am, 5:50am, 6:40am, 7:20am, 7:55am, 8:55am, 9:55am, 10:55am, 11:55am, , 12:55pm, 1:55pm, 2:55pm, 3:55pm, 4:40pm, 5:20pm, 6:00pm, 6:50pm and the last one is at 8:00pm.
During the tour you will see beautiful houses of coffee architecture typical of the region, as well as large tracts of banana and coffee crops (the most common in the region), also enter Barcelona, another town that has a beautiful main park that certainly I recommend another time to visit and get to know.
You will pass a bridge and then find several restaurants (This point is called "Rio Verde" and is well known for its picadas) Once you turn off the road begins the real journey to enter Pijao, the climb is steady and with many curves but will have one of the most beautiful views of the entire department, with crops planted on the slopes of the giant mountains and depending on the weather this may be clear or covered with a mist that encloses the landscape.
Once you enter the town, tell the bus driver which hotel or hostel you are going to and he will kindly tell you where you can get off so that it is closer (Pijao is small). Otherwise you can get off at the main square, as you enter the square, the first thing that will catch your attention is its traditional design and picturesque architecture. The cobblestone paths lead you through its well-kept gardens, where you can appreciate a variety of trees and flowers that embellish the surroundings. The plaza is a great place to enjoy the leisurely life of a traditional village and connect with the cultural richness of the region.
Pijao is the only "Cittaslow" in Latin America (city of slow life), it has specific characteristics in terms of inhabitants, ecological tourism, conservation and development that allowed it to obtain this title.
Before continuing, if you have any doubt remember that you can contact me to help you without any problem, also if you want a guide/friend to take a photographic/video record of your experience you can also ask me more about this service. Instagram: @Davidllen , WhatsApp: +573166193772
The operator with which I recommend you to get to the paramo de Chilí is @Ecotourspijao (Instagram) or you can also contact them at their number via WhatsApp +573197750694. This is a "pijaense" company that you should do this tour with as they focus on ecological and conscious tourism. They do not do mass and frequent tourism to the páramo, so I recommend you contact them as soon as possible. Also, I think the price is quite affordable and fair for everything they include. The plan had a value of 130,000 COP. For this price, round trip transportation in a traditional jeep, guide and photographic record, lunch (vegetarian option) and travel insurance are included.
You leave the main square at 8:00am and for about 2 hours you will be on a dirt road that allows you to enjoy beautiful landscapes, such as mountains with cloud forests and hundreds of wax palms. This forest is the real natural ecosystem where these palms should grow, not as we are used to see in the viewpoints of the Cocora Valley. Also, the tour allows bird watching and, with luck, we can observe Spectacled Bears, Deer, Puma concolor or a Borugo de páramo. It is easy to see how pine and avocado plantations are taking over more and more of these ecosystems.
When you reach 3,300 meters above sea level you should start hiking, the guide will give some recommendations to start the 3 kilometers of road to the moor. For the road, it is advisable to go with hiking boots or marsh boots, as there are parts with a lot of swamp and small streams. You should also bring sunscreen, waterproof jacket, thermal jacket, long pants, hat, gloves and long socks. Going with the right clothing significantly enhances the experience and allows you to be prepared for the changing weather in the paramo. The trail is at a good pace and there are different stops where we talk about the importance of the ecosystems we are passing through, such as the high Andean forest and the sub-páramo. It is of medium level, so with an acceptable physical condition it is possible to do it without major problems.
Approximately at 12:00pm reaching 3.650masl, the change of weather will be sudden and this will indicate that you have reached the paramo, you will also have in front of your eyes an extensive valley of frailejones (espeletia hartwegiana) that will extend throughout the moor, along with the pale and brown tones of the grasslands, is an instant that really conveys a lot of happiness and harmony.
After appreciating for a while the imposing landscape that nature offered us, you will continue your way to the area where you will have lunch (the vegetarian option is really good), always following paths already made so as not to damage the small frailejones. After lunch you will go to a small summit where you will have a better perspective of the paramo and the guide will take pictures with a professional camera that is included in the price.
To explore the Chilí paramo is to immerse yourself in a world of beauty and tranquility. From its impressive landscapes to the richness of its biodiversity, this place captivated me at every step, allowing us to reflect on its fragility despite its imposing nature, the simplicity of happiness and the desire to go beyond to feel alive. I hope you are encouraged to get to know these ecosystems that we are incredibly lucky to have in our country. See you on the road. The descent route will be similar, around 5:00pm we expect you to arrive back in Pijao.
If this guide has helped you and you liked it, I would be very grateful if you could support me with a contribution, which will be destined to know many new places about which I will make more guides for the community! I'm David and thanks for reading me, see you on the road.
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