The Best Parks and Hikes in Jerico, Antioquia

TLDR? Jerico is the perfect place to unwind with the most stunning views of mountains and canyons.

If you like the idea of hiking for a few hours through lush greenery, mountains, and beautiful waterfalls, Jerico is the perfect place for you.

Also called the southwestern Athens of Antioquia, Jerico is a heritage town preferred by tourists for its beautiful topography and architecture.

Prepare some comfortable shoes! Keep reading, and I’ll walk you through Jerico’s best parks and hiking trails. Let’s jump in!

Las Nubes Nature Reserve

This nature reserve is next to the village, so you can get up a little earlier to admire the sunrise while walking. From its hills and mountains, you may feel as if you were in a cloud.

I recommend you contact a guide to walk around the reserve. It’s interesting to know the names of the place’s tourist attractions. Also, they take you through the best trails depending on how long you want to walk and your physical state. 

In my case, we contacted Sebastian, a hiking and trekking guide with 12 years of experience. So you can hike comfortably with someone who knows Jerico like the back of their hand.

It’s an instigating and easy-to-tour circuit. The trail is 3.4 miles long, so it’ll take about two to three hours to go through it, depending on your pace.

Starting the trail, you’ll climb Las Nubes mountain. Las Nubes is over 7381 feet above sea level (2,250m) and has a viewpoint from which you can watch the Cauca River Canyon.

You should also be careful with the ascent and descent in case it has rained as it can be a bit slippery.

From its stone paths and wooden bridges, you can see some representative plants of Jerico, some even in extinction. And if you’re lucky, you might see some animals like:

• Butterflies
• Deers
• A wide variety of birds (Golden eagles, toucans, etc.)
• Howler monkeys
• Armadillos
• Mountain dogs
• Snakes

Location: Mirador Parque Natural Las Nubes. 

Virgen de la Peña Cave

If you follow the path that takes you to the Las Nubes mountain, you can take a detour and go for a 20-minute walk to the statue of the Immaculate Virgin.

Just walk a few minutes, then turn right and cross a wooden bridge.

It’s only half a mile from Jerico’s central park, making it a perfect walk for those who overate at lunch and want to digest the meal.

From this viewpoint, you’ll have a spectacular sight of the village! However, you must be careful with your knees, as there are many steps on the way there.

Location: Gruta de la Inmaculada.

Botanical Garden and El Salvador Hill

Another small tour, this will only take a few minutes! I recommend you go in the evening, to take some fantastic pictures of the Antioquian sunset.

First, stop by the garden to tour its stone paths and take beautiful photographs of the wooden and guadua bridges. Also, it’s a perfect place for bird watching.

On the path that takes you to the hill, you’ll find a restaurant called El Mirador, and then you’ll arrive at the statue of Cristo Redentor.

Don’t expect a statue the size of the real Cristo Redentor from Brazil! This Cristo is just a small-scale sculpture they use for pilgrimage in this small town.

It’ll only take 20 minutes to get there from the central park, as you’ll only have to walk one mile. Overall, it’s a hiking trail recommended for the elderly and children.

Address: Cra 5 #11, Jericó, Antioquia. 

Las Olas Viewpoint

A colorful balcony perched on a hillside that any local villager will recommend! It takes over two hours and four miles to get there – a little longer than the other options.

From there, you can also have a good view of the mountains and the canyon and watch a few traditional colorful birds of Colombia.

You better be on an empty stomach for this, since there’s a small hut that sells typical foods such as:

• Chorizo
• Arepa
• Morcilla
• Grilled meats

It also offers toilet service, and the parking lots are somewhat narrow, so get your legs ready.

Location: El Mirador De Las Olas.

La Leona Viewpoint

Located on a Vereda, a rural neighborhood, La Leona viewpoint is a hiking trail that takes about two hours and slightly over three miles.

Before arriving, you’ll find the farm El Balcon, where they harvest avocados to export to all parts of Colombia.

This small place has several viewpoints from which you can see:

• La Tusa mountain 
• Western mountain range
• Cauca river

For me, this was the best place to take my pets for a long walk! You’ll also find little houses where you can have something fresh and chat with friendly people.

Location: Mirador de La Leona, Jericó.

Hiking up in the Best Parks and Hikes in Jerico

Whether you want to test yourself on a strenuous walk with mud trails or calmly enjoy the bewildering Colombian landscapes, you’ll always find a place to meet nature and relax in Jerico.

We’re sure that you’ll love this beautiful traditional village.

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