ALPINE COLOMBIA - PRIVATE, CUSTOMIZED TOURS AND HIKES 
IN VILLA DE LEYVA & Homestay in the country
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A hike in the rio iguaque (Cane) CANYON near Villa de leyva

11/12/2014

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A few weeks a ago, a couple from Villa de Leyva asked me to take them on hike into the Rio Iguaque canyon (locally called Rio Cane) which dissects the mountains of IGUAQUE north of Villa de Leyva. They were very happy with the experience, and sent me an email and a few photos which I want to share with you here. They are Colombians but she speaks very good English and wrote her email in English.
Dear Christian,
Thank you very much for the magnificent day, you are a very good guide. That´s really a magical place, full of history and surrounded by beautiful nature. I´m sending a picture from our hike in Cañon del Cane. What a beautiful walking, gorgeous landscape and nice weather we had!! And our improvised picnic on the top of the mountain was excellent and a good opportunity to share time with you listening to the amazing stories of Alaska. Thank you very much and  we can fully recommend you as a guide to explore that beautiful place. We can't wait to go on another hike with you.

Pilar and Pedro
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Quercus humboldtii - tHE colombian oak

11/10/2014

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El roble - the colombian oak

A Colombian Oak
When we think of oaks, we normally associate these trees with the temperate zones of Europe, North America or Asia. But after the formation of a land bridge between North and South America about three million years ago, oaks had the opportunity to move southward. 
One species of oak, Quercus humboldtii, was able to penetrate into South America and successfully adapt to the tropical conditions of the mountains of northern South America. Despite not having spread far across the continent, this oak has become one of the dominant trees in the highlands of northern South America at altitudes between 1000m and 3000m.
Quercus humboldtii is a true oak with all the typical characteristics of a real oak, but because the northern Andes are located in the tropics there are no seasons, and the Colombian oak doesn't need to shed all its leaves at the same time as a strategy to survive harsh winter conditions.   
Colombian Oak Acorns
Most foreigners that come here are not even aware that a real oak lives in the mountains of Colombia. The Colombian oak is endemic to northern South America, and the only oak that has evolved into a true tropical species. Forests dominated by Quercus humboldtii harbor an incredible diversity of live but unfortunately, large oak forests have become very rare due to deforestation. Around Villa de Leyva, however, one can still find beautiful oak forests.   

the roble-Monument in arcabuco

Picture
Arcabuco is a small town north of Villa de Leyva on the Pan American Highway. Its surrounded by steep mountains and oak forests. To honor the oak tree, the people of Arcabuco
erected this monument in the main square. To really appreciate all the little details you have to see it for yourself.   
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