Quebrada La Vieja

The experience

Three kilometres each way, from a gate at 2,700 m to a viewpoint at 2,946 m, on dirt and roots through Andean forest. The climb is short; the thin air is the only difficulty.

The land was donated to the Empresa de Acueducto in 1947 and served as a water source until Chingaza replaced it. In 1984 twelve neighbours began cleaning the stream every Saturday, and the water company now runs the trail under a booking app.

The name comes from the women who came to wash at the stream, 'las viejas' in the local phrase. The Roca París family donated the land to the water company in 1947; the reserve grew by purchase between 1960 and 1975, and Chingaza took over the city's supply. Twelve neighbours began cleaning the quebrada every Saturday in 1984, and citizen groups have defended access since.

Where the sources disagreeAccess is only with a free reservation in the EAAB's Caminos de los Cerros Orientales app or at caminos.eaab.gov.co, and only through the Calle 71 gate. The published hours are Tuesday to Friday 6:30 to 11:00 and weekends and holidays 6:30 to 12:00; Mondays are rest days, and the hours have changed more than once since 2020. The EAAB closed every Cerros Orientales trail from 17 January to 14 March 2025 for fire risk, and again on 7 and 8 March, 18 to 20 July and 7 August 2026 for elections and national holidays. No pets. The EAAB itself says: if you see suspicious activity, do not enter the trail.