The Sierra Nevada: A Journey Back to the Heart

It’s hard to put into words what it feels like to stand between the mountains and the sea — to breathe in the mountain air while hearing the distant echo of the Caribbean waves. The Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta is one of those rare places where the elements seem to converse with each other, creating a geography that feels both sacred and alive.

Colombia, by nature, is a land of diversity — not just in its people, but in everything. More than 100 ethnic groups coexist here, each with its own music, culture, and traditions. It’s one of the most musically diverse countries in the world, home to over 1,000 different rhythms — from the drums of the Caribbean coast to the string melodies of the Andes. And in just a few hours, you can move from high-altitude mountains to tropical beaches, from dense jungle to desert plains. That constant change of landscape also becomes an invitation: every shift in scenery feels like an internal renewal.

For Colombians, this diversity is an everyday privilege. If you’re tired of the cold city air, you can simply drive a few hours and find yourself surrounded by warm breeze, ocean, and vibrant green. Every region has its own rhythm and personality — and the Sierra Nevada’s essence is undoubtedly mystical. It’s a place that doesn’t just change your surroundings; it transforms your energy.

The Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta is the highest coastal mountain range in the world, rising nearly 5,700 meters (18,700 feet) above sea level — from coral reefs to snow-capped peaks. From its glaciers flow countless rivers that give life to the surrounding rainforest, one of the most fertile ecosystems on Earth. Two of Colombia’s most sacred Indigenous communities — the Kogi and the Arhuaco — live here. They call themselves “the Guardians of the Heart of the World,” and they see this mountain as the Earth’s spiritual center, where balance must be preserved.

Maybe that’s why, every time I return, I feel something shift inside me. The ocean feels like it cleanses, the river feels like it recharges. Here, water isn’t just an element — it’s a teacher. In Kogi cosmology, there is a deep understanding of energies: of how the negative and the positive coexist and feed transformation. In the Sierra, judgment softens, and whatever you’re ready to release becomes fertile soil. It’s a place that invites stillness, introspection, and renewal.

Over time, the Sierra has also become a sanctuary for travelers seeking both comfort and connection. Hidden among the trees are boutique eco-lodges that combine natural luxury with ancestral wisdom. You can spend the morning hiking to a waterfall guided by locals, the afternoon meditating by the sea, and the evening enjoying fresh, organic food under a sky full of stars.

What makes it truly special isn’t just its beauty — it’s how it makes you feel. If you arrive tired, you’ll leave lighter. If you come with questions, you’ll probably find the silence that helps you hear the answers and if you are looking for inspiration, the fertile nature will inspire you. 

For me, the Sierra Nevada is a place to return to the heart — to cleanse, to reconnect, and to remember what really matters.

Because some places you visit.
And some places visit you.