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Travel Guide

How to get to Puente Reyes

Posted on March 6, 2019
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Puente Reyes is in our favorite part of the department (or State) of Boyacá. It’s a place with an assortment of small to medium-sized towns, all with quaint plazas, in the midst of some towering mountains with lakes, lagoons and lots of frailejones. What most people don’t know is that in the midst of that natural beauty is a wonderful climbing area. It’s been well-developed, with more than 40 trad and sport climbing routes, and even has a guidebook! This is how to get to Puente Reyes.

If you’re looking for places to climb in Colombia, check out our list of the best areas here!

How to get to Puente Reyes

*Note: the map to get to Puente Reyes from Bogotá is at the end of this post!

In Public Transportation:
  1. Go to the Bogota’s Bus Terminal (called Terminal de Transporte) and take a bus to Sogamoso. This bus ticket will cost about $25,000 Colombian pesos.
  2. In the Sogamoso Bus Terminal, take a bus to Gámeza on a “Cootracero” bus. This ticket will cost about $2,500 pesos.
  3. Tell the bus driver you’ll be getting off at the first right turn after the bridge called Puente Reyes. Be looking for it yourself too in case the bus driver forgets. It’s a bridge with thick yellow rods.
  4. Take that first right turn after the bridge and walk until you see a sign welcoming climbers. Take that right turn and walk until you get to a wooden bridge. In front of the bridge is zone A, “Los Arenales,” which you can see on the guidebook. Enjoy the climbing!
In a Car:

With a GPS: enter “Gameza, Boyaca” into Google Maps or Waze and follow the directions. One you pass the “Puente Reyes” bridge, which is very close to Gameza, turn right until you see a sign welcoming climbers to the area.

Without a GPS:

  1. Exit Bogota heading North. Follow the signs towards Tunja, not the signs towards Chia or Zipaquira.
  2. Once you’re close to Tunja, stay on the main road that goes around the city, following signs to Sogamoso and Duitama.
  3. Go through the cities of Paipa and Duitama, always staying on the main road and following signs to Sogamoso.
  4. Shortly after you pass Duitama, take the second exit at the roundabout, headed towards Nobsa.
  5. Drive along the main road until you see a big sign that says Gameza. Right after the sign is a bridge with thick yellow steel rods. This bridge is the Puente Reyes. Immediately after the bridge, turn right.
  6. Drive along this new road until you see a sign welcoming climbers to the “Parque de Escalada Puente Reyes.” Take that right turn.
  7. Marvel at the imposing cliff-line and climbing potential as you drive all the way to the end, where you’ll find a wooden bridge to the right. Cross the bridge, and you’ve arrived at the climbing.

If you’re looking for other outdoor activities close to Bogota, check out this comprehensive list of places to visit and things to do!

What to do at Puente Reyes:

Climb

Climbing is pretty much all you can do at Puente Reyes. Of course, there’s stuff close by, but this cliff line is pretty much on its own, which is one of the reasons it’s so great. The cliff line extends for about 1.5 km (1 mile) and can reach heights of up to 150 meters (450 feet), all sandstone. As of the last time the guide was updated, there were over 40 sport, trad and mixed routes. Click here to see the PDF guidebook! There are great camping spots along the river.

Visit These Towns

If you’re looking for a rest day activity or want to get to know some more of Colombia, you’re in for a treat. The towns in this area are absolutely gorgeous. #1 on the list is Monguí, known as the most beautiful town in the State of Boyaca, especially at Christmas. Some other towns that are worth visiting are Gámeza, Sogamoso and Nobsa.

Go to the Laguna Negra (Black Lagoon)

On the other side of the mountains from Monguí is the Black Lagoon, a place that we dearly love. Camping at the lagoon itself is magical, and above it on both sides looms what is known as the world’s most beautiful páramo, the Oceta páramo. You can get there walking from Monguí or drive straight to the lagoon. If you decided to hike, you’ll need guides. Read about how to get to the Black Lagoon here!

Visit Lake Tota

Only about 45 minutes from Puente Reyes is Colombia’s largest lake, Lake Tota. It’s a great place for fishing, but the camping is what really takes first place because of the view you get of the cosmos at night. The word “Tota” means “Astronomic Observatory” in the native Chibcha language.

Some things to know:

  • This climbing area is in a gorgeous location valued for how pristine it is. Be conscious of your impact and clean up after yourself to keep this place open to climbers!
  • All the climbing is sport and trad.
  • Make sure you have cash, because most places around this area won’t accept debit/credit cards.
  • Be careful hiking around here because locals don’t like tourists walking on their land. Hiking rocks, though, so one way to deal with locals is to give them money or food if they confront you. Another is to hike with a local guide.
  • This area of Colombia produces 90% of Colombia’s onions.

Now that you learned how to get to Puente Reyes, go enjoy the place! This great climbing area is so worth it!

So you like the mountains, but how about a desert… in the mountains? Read about this desert close to Bogota that inspired Just North to begin!

Travel Guide

How to get to the Sutatausa Bluffs

Posted on October 3, 2018
how to get to the sutatausa bluffs, farallones de sutatausa, where to climb in colombia, climbing, green, andes, outdoor adventures close to bogota

The Farallones de Sutatausa, or the Sutatausa Bluffs or Cliffs (I’ll call them Bluffs from here on out), are an amazing place for a little bit of adventure. It’s a place you can come and go easily in a day and also a place that makes you want to stay a few days. You can rock climb, hike, camp and relax in beautiful hostels. This is how to get to the Sutatausa Bluffs!

You might also be interested in reading “how to get to the Neusa Dam,” for an awesome camping spot nearby Sutatausa.

How to get to the Sutatausa Bluffs

*The map to get to the Sutatausa Bluffs from Bogota is at the end of this post!

In Public Transportation:

  1. In Bogotá, go to the Portal del Norte, which is Bogota’s North Bus Terminal.
  2. Take a bus to Ubaté, which costs about $10,000 pesos or about US $3.50.
  3. Tell the bus driver you’re going to the entrace to the Farallones de Sutatausa. I recommend you look at the map below in Street View to get an idea of where you need to get off. The road to the bluffs is about 5 minutes from the town of Sutatausa, has a sign that points you towards the bluffs, and has a store right next to it called “Parador las Brisas.” Be watching!
  4. Walk along this unpaved road and you’ll get to a fork in the road. Go right until you get to la tienda de Don Antonio (tienda is a small store in Spanish).
  5. From there, you have three options: (1) go up the mountain to climb or to hike to the top of the bluffs on a trail that starts right in front of the store, (2) hike to the right of the store on a stone trail to climb or to hike to the top of the bluff, or (3) hike to the left towards a hostel, Kamp Nattivo, and to other trails that make it to the top.
  6. For more information on these options, read the “what to do at the Sutatausa Bluffs” section below.

In a Car:

With a GPS: enter “Tienda DON Antonio, Sutatausa, Cundinamarca” into Google Maps or Waze and follow the directions.

Without a GPS:

  1. From Bogota, exit the city going north.
  2. Stay on the highway until you get to a bridge after you pass a toll. Don’t go over the bridge. Instead, take the road that goes right, which then curves left and goes under that same bridge.
  3. Stay on this road until the net bridge. Go over it, staying right where it splits in two. Follow this road until you get to a Homecenter on the right. A little later, go right where there’s a sign towards Zipaquirá and Ubaté.
  4. Stay on your left to go over the next bridge, which curves right, following the signs to Ubaté.
  5. Not long afterwards, you’ll get to a round-about. Take the second exit.
  6. Stay on this road all the way to the entrance to the bluffs, which will be on the right. I recommend you look at the map below in Street View to get an idea of where you need to turn right. The road to the bluffs is about 5 minutes from the town of Sutatausa, has a sign that points you towards the bluffs, and has a store right next to it called “Parador las Brisas.”
  7. Get on the unpaved road towards the bluffs and stay right where the road splits in two to get to la tienda de Don Antonio (tienda is a small store in Spanish). You can park there and the cost of parking is to buy something in the store.
  8. From there, you have three options: (1) go up the mountain to climb or to hike to the top of the bluffs on a trail that starts right in front of the store, (2) hike to the right of the store on a stone trail to climb or to hike to the top of the bluff, or (3) drive to the left of the store to a hostel, Kamp Nattivo, and to other trails that make it to the top.
  9. For more information on these options, read the “what to do at the Sutatausa Bluffs” section below.

What to do at the Sutatausa Bluffs:

Climb

One of the best spots to go bouldering in all of Colombia is right underneath the Sutatausa Bluffs. You can find boulders from V0 to V12 and the rock is bomber. You can simply take your crash pad and start climbing (or rent it from Kamp Nattivo), but if you want a guide, you can stop by Kamp Nattivo , which is to the left from Don Antonio’s store, and get one – its not much of a guidebook, more like pieces of paper, but it works. There are boulders right in front of Don Antonio’s store and upwards and to the right of the store in the pine forest you can see from there.

There is also some great sport climbing on the bluffs themselves, up to 5.14a. You can find the routes going right from the store on the stone trail. If you need a guide, you can go to Kamp Nattivo and they’ll get you good to go. If you’re wondering where to climb in Colombia or close to Bogota, this is one of the best options!

Go Hiking

The Sutatausa Bluffs have a lot of trails to get to the top. There are two most well-known hikes. The first one is directly in front of Don Antonio’s Store. The trail is very well developed and is pretty steep. The second one is to the right of the store and starts on an unpaved road that becomes a stone trail that makes it to the top.

You have to hike up to the top! The landscape around the place is incredible, with really uniquely shaped mountains. So make sure you turn around when you rest during the hikes to admire the landscape. Also, take some food to have a picnic, rest and enjoy the view from the top. And don’t forget to hike along the top, since there are some amazing formations there.

Go Camping

You can camp under the stars and surrounded by mountains in lots of places: Quinta de Fragua, which is right to the right of Don Antonio’s store, Kamp Nattivo, which is a few minutes to the left, or up on the mountain with Don Antonio’s permission and only on his property.

Kamp Nattivo is a hostel created by a climber, one of the climbers who most developed this area, and is an incredibly comfortable and beautiful place. It has unique structures in the woods, they have a stellar customer service and if you see photos of the place, you’ll want to go stay there. So go Google Kamp Nattivo and go get to know it!

Take Photos

As always, you have to take photos. This place has a unique, gorgeous landscape. And everyone knows photos are best with action, and what better action than people enjoying, hiking and climbing with an amazing background?

Some things to know:

–          You can rent crash pads to go bouldering at the hostel, Kamp Nattivo.

–          This is a stellar place to go bouldering and sport climbing.

–          To pay for parking at Don Antonio’s store, just buy something in the store.

–          Take cash to pay for the bus, something at the store and for places that won’t accept your card, which is most places.

–          In 1541, the area’s natives collectively committed suicide, preferring it to falling in the hands of Spaniard missionaries.

–          There’s 1 toll on the way to the bluffs and 0 on the way back.

 

I hope this blog post helped you learn how to get to the Sutatausa Bluffs (or Farallones de Sutatausa) and a little more. But mostly, I hope you go climb in this wonderful area.

If you’re looking for another place to climb, check out this blog post about Suesca, the most popular climbing spot close to Bogota!

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