Páramo La Culata

Páramo La Culata is a mountain ridge in the Andes that sits at extreme altitude and supports adapted plant life. The terrain features vegetation specifically suited to high-altitude conditions, creating a distinct environment found only in such elevated regions.

Indigenous peoples shaped this mountain landscape in pre-Columbian times by building terraces that allowed them to farm at high altitude. These structures reveal how early inhabitants engineered solutions to cultivate crops despite the challenging environment.

The ridge serves as a living space where local Andean communities have adapted their way of life to extreme altitude for centuries. Walking through, you can observe how traditional farming methods continue to shape the landscape and the relationship between people and this high-altitude environment.

Plan for extreme altitude and cold conditions, allowing time to adjust to the elevation before hiking. Proper gear and physical preparation are essential for safely exploring the trails here.

The ridge shows traces of ancient glacial movement that shaped valley formations and rock deposits across the landscape. These geological features tell a story of erosion and landscape change that you can observe while walking through the area.

Location: Mérida

Elevation above the sea: 4,261 m

GPS coordinates: 8.75910,-71.11340

Latest update: December 6, 2025 17:41