The region covers a large extent of the eastern Andean range between the Magdalena River valley and the Eastern Plains and includes the 1,200-kilometer (745 miles) long Cundinamarca-Boyacá savannah at 2 600 meters (8 530feet) above sea level, starting from the capital Bogotá and over most of the Boyacá department

The Cundinamarca-Boyacá savannah is green and fertile and features valleys and gorges of astounding beauty with tiny villages hidden in the mountain slopes.  Much of this land is reserved for cattle ranching, flower plantations, vegetable crops and slightly higher up, potato farms.

The Sierra Nevada del Cocuy, 5 250 meters (17 200 feet) above sea level, has 18 snowy peaks, 14 seasonal snowy peaks and several glaciers that form over 300 high-altitude lakes, some of them over 3 900 meters (13 000 feet)  above sea level.  It’s the ideal place for high mountain climbers and eco-tourism.

There are numerous paramos (Andean moors) of extraordinary beauty.  Colombia has more paramos than any other country in the world.  They are rightfully known as “water factories” because of their spongy vegetation comprised mainly of lichen and moss that condense water in the atmosphere and hold it before letting it run slowly down the mountain slopes, creating streams and creeks that form the country’s major rivers.  Paramos in the region include the Sumapaz Paramo (the world’s largest), and the Pisba, Chingaza and Choachí paramos.

The ancient Muisca tribe originally populated the Cundinamarca-Boyacá region; they were skilled goldsmiths and from their gorgeous work rose the famous Legend of El Dorado and its fabled treasure sought after by Spanish conquistadors all over these lands with no success.

Beautiful colonial architecture with cobblestone streets, large town squares and churches, gorgeous homes and historic monuments seemingly lost in time can be seen throughout the region.  Villa de Leyva and Barichara are two such towns.

There are also many lagoons, lakes and tranquil savannah rivers as well as the rushing waters of rivers such as the Orinoco running out of the mountains and into the Magdalena River basin.

On the slopes of the temperate valleys climbing up from the Magdalena River towards the savannah stretch extensive coffee plantations, fruit orchards, sugar cane fields and spectacular landscapes featuring rock formations, cliffs, waterfalls, rivers and streams tumbling out of the mountains.

The entire region is full of birds and home to an immense variety of flora including an incredible diversity of orchids (Colombia has more orchid species than any other country), soaring palm trees, ferns, bushes, and uniquely beautiful flowers and trees.

The region has several large cities including Bogotá, the nation’s capital, and Bucaramanga and Tunja.