Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, Mountain range in northern Colombia.
Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta is a mountain massif on the Caribbean coast of Colombia, with peaks rising nearly 5,800 meters less than 50 kilometers from the sea. The range extends across three departments and forms the tallest coastal mountain system on Earth.
Spanish explorers reached the range in the early 16th century and soon founded Santa Marta as the first permanent European settlement on the South American mainland. The indigenous inhabitants retreated to higher elevations to preserve their way of life and beliefs.
The four indigenous groups still inhabit the slopes and guard sacred sites that remain closed to outsiders. Their settlements with round huts and terraced fields show a way of life that has changed little over centuries.
Hiking trips work best during the dry season between December and March, when trails remain passable and visibility stays clear. Travelers should prepare for multiple climate zones, as temperatures range from coastal heat to freezing conditions at the highest elevations.
The range holds every climate zone on Earth within a small area, from tropical rainforest to glaciers that still cap the highest peaks. Archaeological sites with stone terraces and staircases from pre-Columbian times lie hidden in the forest and show evidence of an advanced civilization.
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