Rock Paintings in Cerro Azul Guaviare: Ancient Indigenous Murals

Climb to ancient rock murals and read the secrets of indigenous people carved into stone.

A full-day tour to Cerro Azul Guaviare in Colombia takes you on a 4-kilometer walk with a local guide to rock art murals created by indigenous peoples more than 10,000 years ago. The guide leads the ascent to the tepuy (table-top mountain) where the oldest rock paintings in America are preserved, and interprets what the carvings reveal about the cultures that made them. Hotel pickup is included, and the tour runs 6 to 8 hours.

Step-by-step itinerary

Visit ancient rock paintings

• Arrive at Cerro Azul hunt
• Meet baqueano guide
• Ascend to the tepuy
• Contemplate oldest rock art murals

The experience

You arrive at Cerro Azul and meet your baqueano guide (a person trained to navigate this terrain), who leads you up the mountain. The walk covers roughly 4 kilometers and requires moderate fitness, but the payoff is standing in front of murals that have survived over 10,000 years. These are not small or faint: the rock paintings are substantial enough that deciphering them (trying to understand what the ancient artists meant) becomes the real work of the day. Your guide interprets the symbols and helps you see what the carvings say about the people who made them.

The tour includes a Spanish-speaking guide and hotel pickup from your accommodation. If availability allows, the itinerary can include a stop at Finca el Chontaduro to learn about the coca leaf and its role in the region. A bilingual guide in English or French can be arranged for an additional cost. The full experience takes between 6 and 8 hours.

What’s included

• Spanish-speaking baqueano guide.
• hotel pickup.
• access to the rock art murals on the tepuy.
• optional stop at Finca el Chontaduro to learn about coca cultivation (subject to availability).

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 06:00 and 08:00

Book up to4h before

AgesAdult (18 to 59 years) · Senior (60 and older) · Youth (14 to 17 years) · Child (6 to 13 years) · Infant (2 to 5 years)

GroupUp to 9

Live guideSpanish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup is optional; you can also go straight to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.You can choose from 3 pickup points.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated 4 days ago

Good to know

Moderate physical level

Operated by Geotours del Guaviare

Is this one for you?Book this tour if you're visiting Cerro Azul for the first time and want a guide who knows the terrain and can interpret what the ancient rock paintings mean. The small group size and local guide make the walk manageable even if you're not an experienced hiker, and the 6- to 8-hour timeframe fits a single day without rushing.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (14 to 17 years); Child (6 to 13 years); Infant (2 to 5 years).

How difficult is the walk to the rock paintings at Cerro Azul?

The route covers approximately 4 kilometers and requires at least a moderate level of physical fitness. The ascent to the tepuy is the main physical demand of the day.

What are the rock paintings at Cerro Azul, and how old are they?

The rock murals are manifestations created by ancient indigenous peoples and are more than 10,000 years old, making them among the oldest rock art in America. The paintings are carved into the stone of the tepuy and reveal symbols and stories about the cultures that made them.

Does the tour include transportation from my hotel?

Yes, hotel pickup is included in the tour price. Your guide will arrange to collect you from your accommodation at the start of the day.

Can I add a guide who speaks English or French?

A bilingual guide in English or French can be arranged, though this incurs an additional cost beyond the standard tour price. Confirm availability when you book.