The Art of Vertical Camping: Sleeping in the Farallones del Citará Without Being an Expert Climber

Available Options

If you think sleeping in the Farallones del Citará is only for climbers with harnesses and years of experience, I have news for you: it's not. Adapted vertical camping is a modality that's gaining traction among local mountaineers in Medellín, and it involves camping on natural rock ledges, not hanging from a wall. That is, you sleep on a kind of stone balcony at 3,500 or 4,000 meters above sea level, with the starry sky above and the Cauca Valley at your feet, but without needing to rappel or use technical climbing equipment.

The highest mountain in Antioquia, with its 4,020 meters above sea level, is the secret playground of Paisa mountaineers. Unlike other peaks near Medellín, such as Alto de La Virgen or Páramo de Belmira, the Citará demands serious physical effort, but the reward is in another league: rock formations that seem from another era, giant frailejones, and a silence only broken by the wind.

In August 2026, the dry season in the western mountain range makes the natural ledges at their best for camping. However, there are three main options to experience this, depending on your comfort level:

• Full guided camping: Local operators in San Antonio de Prado offer two-day packages with a certified guide, tent, hot food, and transportation from Medellín. Ideal if it's your first time and you don't want to worry about logistics.
• Semi-independent camping: You only hire the guide for the route and advice on safe ledges, but you bring your own gear and cook your own food. More economical, but requires you to bring a tent, sleeping bag, and stove.
• 100% independent camping: Only for mountaineers with previous high mountain experience who have already done the route at least once. I don't recommend it for beginners, because a mistake in choosing the ledge can mean spending the night on an uncomfortable slope or, worse, in a rockfall risk zone.

Updated Costs

Reference prices for August 2026, consulted directly with local operators, are as follows:

• Certified guide per day: between $150,000 and $200,000 COP per person, if the group is 4 to 6 people. For smaller groups, the price goes up to $250,000 COP per person.
• Transportation from Medellín to San Antonio de Prado: $30,000 COP per person in shared service (round trip). If you prefer to go in your own car, parking at the starting point costs around $10,000 COP per day.
• Rental of a three-season mountain tent: $40,000 COP per night at specialized stores in El Poblado or Laureles.
• Rental of a sleeping bag for sub-zero temperatures: $25,000 COP per night.
• Rental of trekking poles: $15,000 COP per day.
• Food (breakfast, lunch, and freeze-dried or canned dinner): between $50,000 and $80,000 COP per person for the two days.

In total, a full guided camp with rented equipment can cost you between $350,000 and $500,000 COP, depending on the operator and the number of people. If you bring your own gear and only pay for the guide, the cost drops to about $250,000 COP. Note: these prices are for reference and are subject to change, so check directly with the operator before booking.

Estimated Times

Access to the Farallones del Citará is from the township of San Antonio de Prado, in the southwest of Medellín, or from the municipality of La Estrella, in the south of the Aburrá Valley. The most used starting point is the El Llano village, in San Antonio de Prado, at about 2,400 meters above sea level.

• From Medellín to San Antonio de Prado: 45 minutes by car or 1 hour by bus from the Centro Comercial Los Molinos (San Antonio de Prado route).
• From San Antonio de Prado to the trailhead (El Llano village): 30 minutes by private car or hired 4x4. There is no public transportation there.
• Ascent to the base camp on the natural ledge (approximately 3,500 meters above sea level): between 4 and 6 hours, depending on pace and stops. The terrain is a steep trail, with sections of loose stone and high Andean forest areas.
• From base camp to the summit (4,020 meters above sea level): 2 to 3 additional hours, with a final rocky section that requires using your hands, but without needing a rope.
• Full descent to the starting point: 3 to 4 hours, because going down is faster but requires care with your knees.

The typical plan is to leave Medellín at 5:00 am, start the hike at 7:30 am, arrive at camp at 1:00 pm, set up the tent, explore the surroundings, watch the sunset over the mountain range, and sleep. The next day, wake up early to see the sunrise, go up to the summit if you have energy, have breakfast, and descend before 2:00 pm to avoid afternoon rains.

Practical Tips

Here are the recommendations I wish I had received before my first camp in the Citará:

1. Choose your ledge in daylight. It sounds obvious, but when you arrive tired at 2:00 pm, the temptation to set up camp on any flat spot is great. Look for a ledge that doesn't have loose rocks above it, that is at least 5 meters from any edge, and that has a slight incline towards the rock wall, not towards the void.
2. The tent doesn't need anchors. On the natural ledges of the Citará, the ground is hard rock, so you won't be able to drive in stakes. Use large rocks from the area to secure the corners of the tent, or bring fabric bags that you can fill with rocks and tie to the tent straps. That's enough to withstand the night wind.
3. The weather changes in minutes. At 3:00 pm it can be sunny and at 3:15 pm it can be hailing. Always carry a waterproof and windproof jacket in the top part of your backpack, not at the bottom.
4. Food weighs less than water. There are water sources along the way, but not all are safe to drink without purifying. Bring water purification tablets or a portable filter, and thus you only carry 1.5 liters of initial water instead of 4 liters.
5. Don't forget sunscreen and sunglasses. At 4,000 meters, UV radiation is much more intense than in Medellín, and the sun's reflection on light-colored rocks can burn your skin and eyes without you noticing.
6. Fun fact: In the Citará, you'll find the only frailejones of the Colombian western mountain range that survive at this altitude, and some specimens are over 100 years old. Don't step on them or pull them out; they are a protected species.
7. Environmental regulations: The area is part of the Regional Integrated Management District Cuchilla Jardín – Támesis, so making campfires, leaving trash, or straying from marked trails is prohibited. Fines can exceed $500,000 COP.
8. Local wildlife: It's possible to see Andean condors in the morning hours, and there are also pumas, although they are very elusive and don't pose a threat if you store your food in a bag hung away from the tent.

If it's your first time, I recommend looking for a local guide certified by the Regional Autonomous Corporation of Central Antioquia (Corantioquia). They know the safe ledges, reliable water sources, and the exact spots to see the sunrise without exposing yourself to the edges.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need previous climbing experience to do vertical camping in the Citará?

# Adapted vertical camping does not involve climbing walls or using a harness. You only need good physical condition to walk 4 to 6 hours uphill, and have a minimum of balance to move on rocky terrain. If you can climb the stairs of Cerro Nutibara without running out of breath, you're ready to try it.

What happens if it rains during the night?

The natural ledges of the Citará have a slight slope that allows water to drain, but it's essential that your tent has a good waterproof rating (at least 3,000 mm of col