Cerro Pintado

Cerro Pintado is a mountain summit in Sierra de Perijá rising to about 3,660 meters (12,000 feet) along the border between Venezuela and Colombia. The rock surfaces are covered with many carved designs and markings.

The mountain surface holds over 350 petroglyphs carved into the rock between 500 and 1450 AD. These ancient carvings show that people lived and used this region across many centuries.

Indigenous groups in the area view the mountain as a sacred place connected to their spiritual life and traditional ways. The site remains meaningful to their communities today.

You need to arrange permits and hire a guide through the Sierra de Perijá National Park administration before visiting. The climb is demanding and requires proper equipment and fitness due to the altitude and difficult terrain.

The carved figures depict snakes and giant Amazonian centipedes, showing a direct link between the mountain carvings and local wildlife. This specific imagery is unusual for rock art from this period and region.

Elevation above the sea: 3,660 m

GPS coordinates: 10.33592,-72.90474

Latest update: December 14, 2025 11:04