About us

A project dedicated to sharing the cultural and natural richness of Sumapaz through responsible, authentic experiences with the local community.

Our story

From farming to conservation

We are a rural family who found something priceless in Sumapaz: water. Today we work so that more people get to know, protect and restore this ecosystem.

We are a preservation, conservation and restoration project driven by the desire to protect the water sources, flora and fauna of the Sumapaz páramo.

We chose ecotourism as a way to live in harmony with the ecosystem while shifting from farming towards conservation. We also work to give visibility to the socio-environmental conflicts and the rural community living in Sumapaz National Natural Park.

Conserve and restore

We protect the páramo’s water sources, flora and fauna, and restore the ecosystem with frailejones from our own nursery.

Responsible ecotourism

We live in harmony with the ecosystem while shifting from farming activities towards conservation.

Rural community

We give visibility to socio-environmental conflicts and create economic alternatives for Santa Rosa Alta, Santa Rosa Baja and Taquecitos.

Timeline

The path that brought us here

1968-1977
Origin of Sumapaz National Natural Park

INCORA creates the Sumapaz National Natural Park to preserve the páramo's ecosystem services. In 1971, INDERENA reclassifies it as a Protective Forest Zone, and in 1977 through Decree 622, it is reestablished as a National Natural Park, initiating a zoning process and changes in land use.
2000
Arrival to a Land of Life

Like many families who migrated from the countryside to the city, we arrived from Nariño to Bogotá seeking better opportunities. In 2000, we discovered the mountains of Sumapaz, a dreamlike place filled with something invaluable: water.
2013
Sumapaz Vive is Born

We resumed peasant traditions while learning about the crucial importance of the páramo in the hydrological cycle. We founded Sumapaz Vive with the dream of protecting this ecosystem and allowing Colombians to know and preserve this source of life.
2016
Peace Opens New Horizons

The peace agreement between the FARC and the Colombian State marked an international milestone, opening territories previously inaccessible due to armed conflict. Sumapaz began receiving more attention, significantly increasing the number of visitors.
2018
New Law for Páramos

Law 1930 of 2018 establishes provisions for the comprehensive management of páramos, allowing sustainable agricultural activities and ecotourism in harmony with the ecosystem. This legislation marks a turning point by recognizing the importance of integrating local communities in páramo conservation.
2022
United for the Páramo

Thanks to the 2018 law and in compliance with district and national regulations, Sumapaz Vive officially opens its doors. After years of active participation in meetings of the JAC Santa Rosa-Taquecitos and PNN Sumapaz, we managed to include ecotourism in conservation agreements, enabling the transition to sustainable activities that generate resources to conserve and restore the ecosystem.
Present
Our Commitment to Sumapaz

We work for sustainable tourism that respects the páramo and values peasant territory, within the framework of Law 1930 of 2018 and district regulations. We seek economic alternatives for the communities of Santa Rosa Alta, Santa Rosa Baja and Taquecitos, promoting conservation alongside local development, recognizing that the community has historically been the guardian of this ecosystem.