Pico Simón Bolívar

Pico Simón Bolívar is possibly the highest mountain in Colombia, with an estimated height of. Pico Bolívar and the neighbouring summit of Pico Cristóbal Colón are the two highest peaks in Colombia and are very nearly equal in elevation. The height difference is about 7 meters. For this reason, it is the fifth most prominent peak in the world. The nearest peak that is higher is Cayambe, some away. There is a permanent snowcap on this peak and on the nearby mountains. It is part of the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta range, along with Pico Cristóbal Colón. The peak is named after Simón Bolívar.

Climbing history

Pico Simón Bolívar was first climbed in 1939 by W. Wood, A. Bakerwell and E. Praolini.
Access to these mountains became very difficult after the early 1990s due to hostile locals, drug traffickers, and FARC guerillas. An expedition in 2015 was one of the first to climb in the range for many years, reaching the summit of Pico Cristóbal Colón.