The Puracé National Natural Park (Spanish: Parque Nacional Natural Puracé) is a protected area in the Andean region of Colombia. It is located southeast of the city of Popayán in the Cordillera Central mountain range. The park's most important feature is the active volcano Puracé, which is one of Colombia's most active volcanoes. Four major rivers in the country begin in the park: the Magdalena River, the Cauca River, the Japurá River, and the Patía River.

General

The park was created in 1961 and became the first national park in the Cauca Department. During the 1990s, the FARC guerrilla group used the park as a base. However, their presence declined after a military campaign in 2002 led by President of Colombia Álvaro Uribe.

The only active volcano in the area is Puracé, which reaches 4,580 meters (15,030 feet) above sea level. At the base of this volcano lies the Paletará valley. Nearby are two taller volcanoes: Azúcar at 5,000 meters (16,000 feet) and Coconuco at 4,600 meters (15,100 feet). Four additional volcanoes have elevations between 4,400 meters (14,400 feet) and 4,500 meters (14,800 feet).

To reach the park, travelers must go through Popayán, the capital of the Cauca Department. Popayán is accessible via the Pan-American highway, which runs from north to south across the country. From Popayán, take a road to the town of Puracé, located at the foot of the volcano. This road is 44 kilometers long and takes about one hour to travel. The road is in good condition. From Puracé, continue to a place called "El Crucero," then travel 1 kilometer further to the Pilimbalá recreational area, located in the northern part of the volcano. Alternatively, the park can be reached from an old Colombian police base at 4,000 meters above sea level. This base is accessible by vehicle after passing through the sulfur mines near Puracé.

Starting from Pilimbalá, a moderate-paced hike in good weather may take about 3½ hours to reach the crater. If the route is taken through the military base, the journey is much shorter, lasting approximately 1½ to 2 hours.

Climate

The highest temperatures during the day range from 14 to 16 °C (57 to 61 °F), while the lowest nighttime temperatures are below freezing. The average yearly rainfall is 2,500 millimetres (98 inches), and this amount usually decreases as elevation increases. Frost happens often above 3,000 meters (9,800 feet) and nearly every day above 4,200 meters (13,800 feet).

Flora and fauna

The park is home to more than 200 orchids and species that are in danger of disappearing, such as the Colombian Pine, Andean Oak, and Wax palm tree. It has more than 160 bird species, with hummingbirds, ducks, and birds of prey being the most common. Several types of mammals live in the park, including the spectacled bear, mountain tapir, cougar, pudú, and the Andean condor, which the San Diego Zoo helped bring back to the area in the 1990s. The forests at lower elevations are home to four primate species: the woolly monkey, howler monkey, gray-bellied night monkey, and tufted capuchin.

Communities

The park's area is an indigenous reservation for the Coconuco ethnic group in the Pilimbalá sector. The community provides comfortable places to stay and traditional meals. There is also an indigenous Guambiano settlement in the same area.