In northern Colombia lies a little-known place that holds a natural beauty unique in the world: Los Estoraques of La Playa de Belen. This natural sanctuary, declared a protected area, is a true paradise of rock formations that look as if they were hand-carved by ancestral artists, but in reality, are the result of thousands of years of erosion.
Its uniqueness, combined with the cultural richness and warmth of the local community, makes it an ideal destination for those seeking authentic experiences away from Colombia’s conventional tourist routes.
Los Estoraques of La Playa de Belen, Colombia: a landscape from another planet
@publii.drone 🌄✨ Vuela con nosotros sobre un tesoro natural único en Colombia ✨🌄 Desde las alturas, la Reserva Natural Única Los Estoraques revela su majestuosidad: formaciones rocosas esculpidas por el tiempo, paisajes que parecen sacados de otro planeta y una tranquilidad que solo se vive en el corazón de La Playa de Belén, Norte de Santander. 📍 Este destino no solo es uno de los pueblos más bellos del país, sino también la puerta de entrada a uno de los escenarios naturales más impresionantes de nuestra geografía. 🎥 En estas tomas aéreas capturadas con drone, te invitamos a dejarte maravillar por la magia de Los Estoraques y a descubrir por qué este lugar debe estar en tu lista de próximos viajes. 💚 Respira aire puro, camina entre gigantes de piedra, y conecta con la naturaleza en su máxima expresión. 📸 #LosEstoraques #PlayaDeBelén #TurismoNorteDeSantander #ColombiaEsIncreíble #ViajaPorColombia ♬ The Epic Adventure – SoundGrenade
Colombia’s Unique Natural Area of Los Estoraques is characterized by its rock columns, spires, and clay-rock canyons that reach up to 30 meters in height. These structures, resembling medieval castles, towers, and walls, were formed over millions of years by the erosion caused by wind and water on the soft soil.
The result is a landscape many describe as “martian” or “fantastical,” where visitors feel small before the magnitude of these natural sculptures. The site has been considered one of the most photogenic settings in Colombia, ideal for landscape photography and quiet contemplation.
Biodiversity also abounds: between the narrow rock corridors and trails grow frailejones, mosses, lichens, and plants adapted to dry climates. In addition, birds such as tanagers, hummingbirds, and woodpeckers complement the experience for wildlife enthusiasts.
How to get to the park
La Playa de Belen is located about 140 kilometers from Cucuta, the capital of the Norte de Santander department. From there, the road trip takes about 4 hours by private car or intercity bus.
For international travelers, the most common option is to fly into Cucuta from Bogota, Medellin, or Bucaramanga, and then continue by road to the municipality. Once in La Playa de Belen, access to Los Estoraques Park is simple: it is just a few minutes’ walk from the town center, making it an easily accessible attraction.
Tourism and culture in La Playa de Belen, Colombia
Visiting Los Estoraques is not only a geological and natural experience, but also a cultural one. The municipality of La Playa de Belen, with fewer than 2,000 inhabitants, preserves impeccable colonial architecture: whitewashed houses with clay-tile roofs, cobblestone streets, and flower-adorned balconies. The peaceful atmosphere makes visitors feel as if they have traveled back in time.
Among activities one can find are:
- Guided tours of the unique natural area of Los Estoraques, where visitors learn about the formation of these structures, the region’s biodiversity, and the myths associated with them.
- Ecological hikes along trails that cross canyons and stone valleys.
- Landscape photography, one of the most frequent activities among photography enthusiasts, as the light of sunrise and sunset transforms the earth’s colors into reddish and golden tones.
- Cultural tourism in the town center, visiting the main church and enjoying the region’s traditional gastronomy, with dishes such as mute santandereano (a hearty soup) and arepas de maiz pelao (corn cakes made from maize kernels that are boiled, peeled, and ground before cooking, a traditional preparation of the Andean region).
@recorriendoconestiven Este es el hermoso municipio La Playa de Belen, que hace parte de los 17 municipios patrimonio de Colombia 🇨🇴 Municipio con mucha cultura colonial, historia y paisajes únicos que no te puedes perder !! Y esto también es Norte de Santander ❤️🖤 #nortedesantander #turismo #pueblitosmagicos #cucutatiktok #laplayadebelen #ocaña #ocañanortedesantander #musicaclasica #estoraquescolombia ♬ sonido original – Recorriendo con estiven