Laguna de la Cocha, Mountain lake near Pasto, Colombia.

Laguna de la Cocha is a mountain lake in the Andes with a water surface covering roughly 39,000 hectares at about 2,800 meters elevation. A small island called Corota sits within the waters, surrounded by nature reserves and green hillsides.

The lake was registered under the Ramsar Convention by decree 698 of 18 April 2000, making it the first Ramsar site in the Colombian Andes. It lies at about 2,680 metres in the eastern slope of the Nudo de los Pastos, fed mainly by the Encano River and drained by the Guamuez into the Putumayo. Its origin is debated: one source calls it a glacial natural reservoir, another a volcanic crater lake.

The lake is sacred to the Quillasinga and still revered by the Camëntsá, Cofán and Inga peoples. The main shore settlement, El Puerto, is known for its stilt houses over the water. Rainbow trout, introduced in the mid-20th century, now supports many fishing families.

Several chalets and hotels line the shore and offer boat trips on the water, with some properties directly accessible by water. The high elevation means cold temperatures, especially in the evening, so warm clothing is essential.

Rainbow trout were introduced to the lake in the mid-20th century and now support many fishing families. The main shore settlement, the vereda of El Puerto, is known for its houses built over the water, which draw anglers and visitors.