La Calera and Chingaza region - beautiful nature close to Bogotá
La Calera is a small town in the Cundinamarca state, very close to Bogotá. It is a popular weekend getaway spot for city dwellers offering wide variety of restaurants and natural beauty. The absolute highlight is the Chingaza natural park, a unique tropical ecosystem.
Last weekend I got away from the city on a one day trip to take a short course with a professional photographer. We visited places around La Calera, a small town just 30 minutes away from Bogotá. The highlights were taking photos of Colibris as well as a short, late afternoon visit to the Chingaza national park. Many thanks to Carlos Andrés Cruz for organizing this awesome trip and for his patience to teach an amateur some tricks and basics. I have been living in Bogotá for almost 20 years and I totally forgot how much beauty there is to be found just in front of our doorsteps.
First stop Colibri observation
Driving up the mountains from La Calera we reached a small farm that allows observing Colibris in their gardens. I never had the chance to shoot Colibris in flight. Here are some of my favorite shots.
Next Stop Chingaza Natural Park
Chingaza Natural Park is a unique ecosystem called "Paramo" that can only be found in the Andean region of Colombia and Venezuela. It features a unique flora and fauna and breathtaking views of mountains covered in fog.
Chingaza is a must visit when you are in Bogotá and even in Colombia. It is one of the Colombian natural parks that is easiest to visit, yet features a unique flora and fauna in altitudes up to 4100 meters. There are options for camping and various trails that can be explored with local guides. As most Colombians avoid the cold you can enjoy the parks beauty without meeting too many other tourists.