CERROS DE MAVICURE

One of Colombia's most remarkable places is Cerros de Mavicure, a rock formation that stands in the center of the forest and the Inirida River, and it is rich in natural beauty, mystique, and history.

If you are reading this, you are most likely thinking about this location and may be wondering, Is it convenient to travel with a tour agency or on your own? Is it hard to climb to Cerros Mavicure? Is it safe to travel to this zone? 🤔 All of those inquiries will be addressed in this blog, and you will get additional suggestions for each part to aid in your travel planning. Besides, we want to share some personal experiences in order to have a real idea about how to enjoy this adventure in Cerros de Mavicure 🌿⛰️.

If you want to travel in a safe way🗻 with a local agency. Click here 👈

IN THIS POST YOU WILL FIND:

• Interesting facts
• Video of the route to Mavicure
• How to get to Cerros Mavicure?
• Places to visit in Inirida
• Available tours
• Available lodging

Lets start with the adventure ⛰.

[See this post in Spanish version 🇨🇴]

INTERESTING FACTS 📚

This section will provide you with all the data regarding Cerros de Mavicure that has been gathered by the community and verified by scientific literature. Since we don't want you to believe that these mountains are just large rocks, we'll give you a little lesson on tectonic plates to explain a few points. In reality, these mountains have an extremely rich and old geological past.

-> CERROS DE MAVICURE

What does it imply that Cerros de Mavicure is a part of the Guayanés Shield, you ask? These are some of the Earth's oldest geological formations, dating back more than 1,700 million years. The Cordillera de los Ándes is younger than them. And you ask, if the Earth is the same age , Why are there older mountains than others? Consider a hot water pot. As the base warms up, the warmer water rises to the top and the colder water falls. Similar phenomena take place in the Earth's interior, where the heat from within causes rocks and other materials to move slowly due to their semi-melted state: the coldest descends and the hottest ascends, causing a process known as convection. This video demonstrates how the interior material creates currents that cause the surface to shift as it heats up. The lithosphere's tectonic plates are no different.

Think for a moment, what happens if two tectonic plates collide with each other?. This happened in La Cordillera de los Ándes, that started forming 200 millions years ago although its major Cordillera de los Ándes, which was formed roughly 200 million years ago but witnessed its greatest expansion in the last 65 million years, is where this occurred. It was created by the collision of the oceanic Nazca Plate, which is eroding beneath the continental South American Plate, and the mountain range, which is still being pushed higher to this day to establish the Americas.

The continent Pangaea existed 335 million years ago. Tectonic plate force allowed this continent to break apart, giving rise to the continents that exist today. Last but not least, the Guiana Shield—which consists of portions of Colombia, Venezuela, Guyana, and Brazil—was so strong that it didn't split but rather united to form the Americas.

-> PRINCESA INÍRIDA

According to the legend, Inírida was a young woman of remarkable beauty who was resistant to conquest. A wise man, the community's spiritual leader, was asked for guidance by an infatuated man and recommended that he brew a “Pusana,” or plant-based love potion.

Furthermore, nothing occurred as planned when he administered the love potion: Inírida started to experience severe pains and an odd attraction that was referred to as “jungle.” She kept walking until she arrived at Cerro Pajarito, where she felt a never-ending feeling of calm. Inírida is claimed to have lived in the mountain's interior as a protector of God ever since the mountain opened to admit her. She is still visible on the “ventana” rock where she entered, where she keeps watch and takes care of the area.

VIDEO OF THE ROUTE TO CERRO MAVICURE 🎥

In this video, we'll show you what our trip to Inírida was like. You can see our recommendations in each section.

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HOW TO GET TO CERROS DE MAVICURE ✈️?

The Cerros de Mavicure are located in the department of Guainía, near the city of Inírida, on the border with Venezuela. The easiest way to get there is by plane.

-> FLIGHTS TO INIRÍDA

Only flights operated by Satena Airlines are available at this time. The following are the two cities with direct flights (no stops):

• From Bogotá: The flight to Inírida takes about one hour and half. The ticket prices range from about $400,000 to $600,000 COP, depending on the season, and the departure times are 8:00 and 14:00.
• From Villavicencio Landing at Inírida takes about an hour and fifty minutes. Remember that flights don't depart every day of the week. Depending on the season, the ticket might cost anywhere from 350,000 COP to 550,000 COP. Additionally, there are two departure times: 7:00 and 12:00.

NOTA: To be clear, flights frequently connect to the two cities we show, but occasionally they depart from other places. Prices listed here are effective July 2025. Please let us know.

PARKING NEAR TO THE AIRPORT

We discovered the Parquea y Vuela parking lot online while riding our motorcycles, and we left them there. They provide a complimentary shuttle service to the airport. However, the drawback is that it occasionally takes up to half an hour. In 2025, each motorcycle will have to pay 8,000 COP for 24-hour parking. When we returned from the trip, we asked to be picked up as they suggested. But they indicated they would be there in an hour, and when that time expired, they called to let us know the car was stuck. We ultimately had to take an Uber 😅.

RECOMMENDATION: We should be aware that helmets are not saved on motorcycles that are left outside. Although it is helpful to offer this information, we would like to make it clear that we have no agreement with this parking lot. You can post information about a parking lot with better rates on our social networks: @rutasdelosandes.

LODGINGS NEAR TO THE AIRPORT

We'll include a few lodgings that were recommended to us while we were in Bogotá. We emphasize that there is no benefit to us from it. If you know of any accommodations that are available, please let us know.

• Dorado Gold Hotel
• Los Balcones Hotel

PLACES TO VISIT IN INÍRIDA 🚣

Some of the stunning locations in Inírida are situated within indigenous areas, but there are many more to explore. The maintenance of the hiking trails and their safety is the responsibility of each town. This area has had violence in the past, and because it is a border region, the locals are accustomed to being extremely wary of strangers who come by themselves. Therefore, certain locations are emphasized together with local community members.

RECOMMENDATION: In case you travel in summer, We advise wearing quick-drying pants and a long-sleeved sweatshirt with sun protection.👖. All of those products can be found on our online store. Do not forget to get repellent and sunscreen 🧴🦟

-> MAP OF COMMONLY VISITED PLACES IN INÍRIDA

Here is a map of the locations we visited during our trip to Inírida; you can click on any of them to view additional details. As we did with the Community of Paujil, we might specify that we went to Caño Vitina alone. These two locations can be visited on the same day.

-> CERROS DE MAVICURE

The boat trip from Inírida town to the entrance of Cerros de Mavicure takes around one and a half hours. The distance is roughly 67 kilometers. We encourage you to look through the “Fun Facts” section to learn more about the history of this location. We will outline the route and provide some technical details here.

TECHNICAL DETAILS OF CERROS DE MAVICURE:

• Distance: 2,3 Kilómetros.
• Time of the trip: 4 hours (2 hours by climbing).
• Approximate inclination of the hiking route: 92 a 372 m.s.n.m.

If you have no prior hiking experience, the climb may be rather demanding. Since some agencies do not provide any information regarding the ascent, such as a section of the route lacking ropes or wooden stairs fixed to the rock. Some older people became frustrated when we visited and realized how difficult the route had been (for more details, watch our video of the route). There are a few mountains visible once you reach the peak of Cerros de Mavicure. Among the most representative are:

• Cerro Mono: was where many monkeys lived.
• Cerro Plata: Its name could be due to the silver sparkles that its waters and rocks reflect in the sun.
• Cerro Pajarito: Where princess Inirída rests.

RECOMMENDATION: It is advised to wear tennis shoes with a strong grip when climbing this hill since, as you can see, you have to climb on rocks, which can be very smooth after rain. You should also refrain from bringing your neighborhood dog up because some tourists did so, and the dog perished after falling from the rock 🐶🥺.

-> SAN JOAQUÍN CANYON

This place is about a 15-minute boat ride from the entrance to Cerros de Mavicure. This location is well-known for its crimson waters, which produce stunning scenery. The river level drops in the summer, exposing lovely beaches with soft sand that are ideal for lounging or cooling off. However, the river's flow accelerates and the beaches vanish during the rainy season, providing an entirely different view since they tend to be deep.

RECOMMENDATION: Since a lot of mosquitoes start to show up here after 15:00, we advise bringing repellent. Aside from that, you should be careful when you take a shower in these waters since they tend to be deep.

-> PINK DOLPHINS OR TONINAS

Toninas can be seen in a number of locations, including La Bruja Lake and Matraca Canyon. We should make it clear that you will most likely need to walk a little to get to La Bruja Lake in the summer. You can enter this area by boat during the winter months when it is completely flooded.

NOTE: Toninas or pink dolphins are most active after 16:00.

Photo by: wwf

-> ESTRELLA FLUVIAL

It is located directly on the natural boundary between Colombia and Venezuela, connecting Guaviare, Atabapo, and Inírida with the intimidating Orinoco River. Ramsar Wetland was established in 2014, a global recognition of Humedal Ramsar that emphasizes its significant ecological worldwide

This natural wonderland is about 46 kilometers by boat from the town of Inírida, river up, and opposite Cerros de Mavicure.

photo by: @diegonzalez

RECOMMENDATION: There are dangerous animals like Orinoco's Crocodile here, thus taking a shower is prohibited.

-> FLOR DE INÍRIDA

The iconic Endless Flower is a must-see when visiting Inírida. They allegedly don't wither for a year. In order to observe those flowers and learn more about them, a lot of organizations incorporate a visit to the Ecological Reservoir in their tours.

RECOMMENDATION: Flowers are permitted on airplanes and can be bought in Inírida. They will survive considerably longer if you keep them in the shade, and if you do place them in a vase, make sure it is free of water.

-> VITINA CAYON(SOME AGENCIES DO NOT GO TO THIS PLACE)

This place is located 14 kilometers from Inírida town, and it is known for its reddish waters. As many agencies do not include it in their tourist packages, we decided to visit them on our own. Moreover, we made some mistakes that we want to tell you about to avoid these situations.

• Mistake 1: Do not previously ask for the accessing price: We found a “human toll” with a crossed rope on the road, where we had to pay for the entrance. There was no price table, and the person who was alongside told us that it cost $35000 COP per person. Later on, while we were taking a shower, we met some tourists who mentioned that the real price was about $2000 COP per person (September 2025).

• Mistake 2: The cost of transportation is not clear: We were told that the trip’s cost was $20000 COP, but when we were picked up, the driver of the motocarro wanted to charge $40.000 COP, arguing that, since he went up alone, it was equivalent to two trips.

• Mistake 3: Make this trip with uncertified tour guide: Take this route with a person who is unrecommended by agencies or does not have an agency. It may result in unforeseen circumstances regarding costs and reduced tour security.

LAST FACT: You are dropped off directly in front of the swimming area by the motorbike taxi 🏊. Remember that the water isn't very deep if you intend to swim from the bridge.

RECOMMENDATION:

• Remember that there is no coverage for mobile devices. You could only get cola, fried potatoes, and necessities if you were traveling during the week. Instead, if you travel over the weekend, you can eat lunch, but keep in mind that they only accept cash and not credit cards or transfers.
• It is preferable for foreigners to go to certain locations with a local 😉 to prevent them from imposing entrance and transportation charges.
• While you're enjoying the swim in these waters, take care of your personal belongings. We dropped our camera in the water, and although a child rescued it, it was recorded that he hid it first 🙈. The important thing is that it was found... and thought counts.!! 😅

EL PAUJIL COMMUNITY (SOME AGENCIES DO NOT GO TO THIS PLACE)

This location looks similar to a marketplace where sellers bring their goods to sell. Activities pick up throughout the weekend because there aren't any vendors selling merchandise. The road is in fantastic condition, and it costs $6000 COP for a motocarro to get here. We were advised to consume a common beverage known as "Manaca," which is an açai-based extraction.

NOTE: We purchased some of those items, such as hot chili powder, to be given as presents, but we were not allowed to bring them to the airport—not even in our luggage—or hold them, so you may take them into consideration.

AVAILABLE TOURS 🧳

We want to discuss some common tour-related mistakes before we show you the tours. We collect such errors from tour agency CEOs, tour guides, and boatmen in the hopes that we might learn from them:

MISTAKES MADE BY PEOPLE:

• Traveling and trying to make the tour independently: This is not a place to go backpacking; it may be far more costly than if you used an agency, and you also run the chance that they are unfamiliar with all the locations (this happened to us).

• To get a tour with people who do not have a legally constituted agency: They informed us about instances where they paid for tours with somebody they found on social media, but the person they met in Inírida did not respond.

• Take tours with big agencies: When they are big companies, they take many people with them and shorten the duration of visits in particular locations so that they can enjoy and take photos.

Our mistake: Someone from a start-up agency gave us a tour; however, they were unable to adequately prepare the places to visit. We were unable to see all the locations they had promised due to this. It was really annoying because we tried to get there 🥲

For this reason, we made the decision to get in touch with an agency to offer its trips. In one of the tourist destinations we visited, we had a casual contact with this agency. All the travelers had such a great time with this agency that they paid for an additional day to see more locations.

-> 4 DAYS 3 NIGHTS TOUR

If you're limited in time, this tour is perfect. It covers meals, transportation to the tourist attractions, and lodging for the duration of the tour.

PLACES YOU VISIT:

• 🏞️ Cerros de Mavicure
• 🌄 Dugjin viewpoint
• 🌊 San Joaquín Canal
• ⭐ Estrella Fluvial Inírida
• 🌅 Amanaven
• 🏙️ Inírida City (urban tour)

TOUR INCLUDES: ✈️🚐 transportation from the airport to Inírida, 🍽️ feeding time during the tour, 🛌 lodging during the tour, 🚤 transportation to tourist places, 🧭 guide and 🛡️ medical insurance.

If you would like to see more detailed information or make a reservation click here

-> 5 DAYS 4 NIGHTS TOUR

In contrast to the 4-day tour, this one includes dolphin watching and a workshop on Mañoco and Casabe.

PLACES YOU VISIT:

• 🏞️ Cerros de Mavicure
• 🌄 Dugjin viewpoint
• 🌊 San Joaquín Canal
• ⭐ Estrella Fluvial Inírida
• 🌅 Amanaven
• 🐬 Dolphin Watching
• 🥥 Mañoco and Casabe Cooking Workshop
• 🚤 Curiara Swim
• 🏙️ Inírida City (Urban Tour)

TOURS INCLUDE: 🚐 transportation from the airport to Inírida, 🍽️ feeding time during the tour, 🛌 lodging during the tour, 🚤 transportation to tourist places, 🧭 guide and 🛡️ medical insurance. If you would like to see more detailed information or make a reservation Click here

AVAILABLE LODGINGS 🛏️

Here we will tell you what we could find on our trip about lodgings, and we want to share some recommendations so that you do not have any problems when you choose one.

-> LODGING IN INÍRIDA TOWN

You can find lodgings from $70,000 COP from now on. You can search for most of them on Google Maps, since there are not usually many of them on Booking or Airbnb. Regarding food, prices vary from $15000 COP to $25000 COP.

-> LODGINGS NEAR TO CERROS DE MAVICURE

There are 2 lodgings near to Cerros de Mavicure, both are managed by their communities:

• Venado Community: This lodging is located alongside Cerros de Mavicure.
• El Remanso Community: This lodging is located in front of Cerros de Mavicure, crossing the Inírida River, alongside Cerro Pajarito. Here, we will show you the lodging facilities of El Venado, even though we believe that the conditions of the lodging El Remanso are very similar.
• ¿How are the facilities? Rooms are simple, most of them are room-shared. They do not have doors, and baths are 20 mts away from the lodging. (The video is about the lodging of Venado Community).
• ¿Is there electricity? Yes, There is, however it relies on a power plant that operates during specific hours. The power plant typically shuts down at 21:00.
• ¿Is there mobile coverage?: Yes, There is, simply If Tigo or Claro are your mobile service providers. RECOMMENDATION: The town of Inírida is an hour and a half away from this accommodation. Make reservations well in advance during the busiest times of the year. In general, agencies send food, and communities prepare it; they don't have any prepared meals to sell.

FINAL RECOMMENDATIONS TO VISIT CERROS DE MAVICURE 🏅

Here, we will share all the recommendations we mentioned above, recommendations as: parkings, what tour to take, lodging, additional places to visit.

• Parking in Bogotá: We left our motorcycle in a parking lot called Parquea y Vuela (you can search it on Google). You should know that the motorcycles are outside and that the van that takes you to the airport for free may take a while to pick you up.
• How to choose a lodging: We strongly recommend you to travel with agencies that are safe, and guarantee any issue that can arise. We recommend some tours on our website.
• When you visit places on your own: We suggest booking through an agency; as we mentioned in the piece above, you might be charged extra if you travel alone. They also cost us more to visit various locations.
• Entrance access to Inírida: You might know that if you have to pay approximately a $55000 COP fee per person if you are Colombian. When you are at the airport, you will be requested to show the yellow fever vaccination certificate.
• What clothing to bring? We suggest wearing clothing with sun-protection, sunscreen, repellent and a hat. You may get these clothes in our online store. It's quite sunny there, but if you go in the winter, remember to pack a windbreaker.
• What date is the best to travel? The best season is summer, especially from December to April. This date is much better, since there are so many beaches.

This is the end of the post about Cerros de Mavicure, don't forget to follow us on our social networks to learn about more places like this. 👉 Instagram and Youtube.