The Payandé waterfalls are also known as the Chicala waterfalls. The place is famous among the people of Tolima for having 7 waterfalls one after the other, enjoying an incredible climate of more than 30 °C and because to get to them you must pass 5 kilometers along an uncovered road (not paved) in the middle of a landscape with a magnificent breeze of pure air and contact with nature. If you do not have a vehicle, you can walk from the corregimiento or there are other ways to get there that we will explain later in this guide.
Once you do the walk you will find a house where they sell water, mecato, and other food. It also works as a restaurant where you can have lunch trying the gastronomy of the Ibaguereños such as the typical sancocho de gallina, the rellena, or the meat skewers with arepas among more options. Lunches range between $7,000 and 12,000 pesos (3 dollars), we recommend you order it for later as soon as you arrive because you may run out of lunch when you return from the waterfalls. If you go by car or motorcycle, there they provide you with a parking service or if you want to stay overnight, at the end of the guide we explain what you can do.
Half a kilometer from the restaurant is the entrance to the Payandé Waterfalls. You must pay an income value since this tourist paradise is on private property, the cost per person is 3000 Colombian pesos (1 dollar).
The first ravine is 5 minutes from the entrance, access to each one within the reserve is done by paths that are perfectly demarcated by those in charge of taking care of the place. You will find 7 waterfalls of clean, refreshing, and transparent water and all of them have natural pools to bathe without any problem; Each waterfall is separated by about 5 minutes one after the other and we recommend you start with the highest waterfall and go down to the first one to have a general view of the place.
In each natural pool, there is information about its depth and the name of the waterfall; the largest is called "El salto del Águila" which has a depth of more than 8 meters and its waterfall a height of 800 meters above sea level. It is here where you can jump from the top or practice adventure sports such as climbing, rappelling, canyoning, or torrenting where you descend through the waterfall while tied to a harness. The tour through all this water wealth lasts approximately 45 minutes.
How to get to Payandé Waterfalls?
To get to the waterfalls from Ibagué you must take a bus from the terminal that goes to the municipality of San Luis. On the way, the bus enters the village of Payandé, making a stop in its urban area and that is where you must get off; The value of the ticket is approximately 4,000 Colombian pesos (1 dollar). When you arrive at the corregimiento, you must walk towards the detour to the waterfalls, which is 5 minutes away, and from there is where the 5-kilometer walk begins along the uncovered road.
The path is not to be missed as it takes you little by little and in some parts, it is well signposted. The walk lasts approximately 1 hour and it is recommended that you go in a group or a caravan, especially if you go during the week, since this route is very lonely and there is no local police presence.
If you don't want to walk, from the farmhouse park there are jeeps, motorbikes, and horses that take you up to the booth where the restaurant and the parking lot are. The value of the fare for each transport varies but is on average 3,000 Colombian pesos.
Map, schedule and telephone number
The place of the waterfalls is open to the public every day of the week from 8 in the morning and closes at 4:30 in the afternoon. During the week very few people attend so if you want to take good pictures for your trip these are the best days to go.
Finally, the January season is when most people from the towns of Tolima go for a dip.
If you want more information, you can contact the San Luis municipal mayor's office at cell phone 3115047992.
Hike
On the 5-kilometer walk before reaching the booth you will come across a small path to appreciate the flora and fauna of the entire area. This tour lasts an hour on average following the signs, you can also do it by bicycle, but the most important thing is that you do not try to take shortcuts because it is very easy to get lost if you go through the jungle part.
Once at the site, its staff offers the possibility of doing another slightly more demanding hike that starts from a cabin located at the top of the hydric zone. At the end of the tour, you will arrive at a spectacular view of all the nature that surrounds you and a much larger and more precious waterfall.
Parking
The parking lot is in the same restaurant after walking the path. 5 minutes from this is the entrance to the first waterfall. The parking lot is priced at $3,000 for the entire instance.
Recommendations
Before visiting this beautiful natural paradise, I present these recommendations for within the areas of the waterfalls so you will not ruin your trip.
- No food allowed in
- It is not allowed to make bonfires or pot walks
- No pets allowed
- until waterfall number 5 can be under age
- If it's raining the place is closed. Also during the rainy season, it is only open up to the second waterfall.
- Bring a bathing suit, sunscreen, water in a thermos, light luggage, and a garbage bag.
Campsite
The part for camping and resting is found along the trails within the private zones where each one handles different camping rates. The price is very minimal.
Hotels near the Payandé Waterfalls
Very close to the Chicala Waterfalls there is a hotel with different accommodation options, we leave you more information about him here.
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