Iguaque Flora and Fauna Sanctuary

About the Park

Iguaque Flora and Fauna Sanctuary protects 6,889 hectares of high-Andean forest, páramo, dry enclaves, and glacial lagoons between Villa de Leyva, Chíquiza, and Arcabuco. The official park page lists the sanctuary as open, but every visit requires advance coordination, an authorized guide or heritage interpreter, visitor accident insurance, registration, and induction; the demanding Bachué lagoon trail and the shorter Ie-Sue bird trail also have different entry windows and daily capacities.

Access from Villa de Leyva

Enter the visitor trails through the Carrizal administrative centre in Capilla 2. From Villa de Leyva, follow the Arcabuco road for about 8 km to Casa de Piedra, then take the 3 km unpaved ascent to Carrizal; a 4x4 is recommended. The official public-transport option leaves Villa de Leyva terminal for Arcabuco at 7:00 a.m., drops passengers at Casa de Piedra, and leaves the final 3 km uphill on foot.

Choose a trail

Bachué is a difficult 4.7 km one-way ascent from 2,846 to 3,640 metres, takes about six hours return, admits up to 83 visitors daily, and accepts entry only from 8:00 to 10:00 a.m. Ie-Sue is a medium 1.88 km bird trail taking about two and a half hours, with capacity for 50 visitors and entry from 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

Before booking

Confirm the date and capacity with the sanctuary before payment, then arrange the reservation, authorized guide or interpreter, visitor accident insurance, and transport. Admission, guiding, insurance, and transport are separate costs. Expect steep or slippery ground, cold rain, no mobile signal, and stricter health limits on Bachué; keep away from the sacred lagoon water and do not leave offerings.

Wildlife

Species recorded by official park sources include:

Conservation Highlights

• High-Andean forest, páramo, glacial lagoons, and dry enclaves across 6,889 protected hectares
• Water regulation for more than 30,000 people and more municipal aqueducts than any other national protected area
• Nine frailejón species, including two threatened species, plus the locally restricted Lepanthes bachue orchid
• A sacred Muisca cultural landscape centred on Bachué and the origin story associated with Iguaque lagoon

How to Get There

Enter the visitor trails through the Carrizal administrative centre in Capilla 2. From Villa de Leyva, follow the Arcabuco road for about 8 km to Casa de Piedra, then take the 3 km unpaved ascent to Carrizal; a 4x4 is recommended. The official public-transport option leaves Villa de Leyva terminal for Arcabuco at 7:00 a.m., drops passengers at Casa de Piedra, and leaves the final 3 km uphill on foot.

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