Before colonization, this was a pre-Columbian trail used by the Muisca and Panche indigenous peoples to connect the Bogotá savanna (the land of the Minga) with the Magdalena Valley. Later, the Iberian colonizers widened the trail to allow the passage of horses and mules.

Built entirely of stone steps, polished by the passage of dozens of generations over hundreds of years, the colonial trail retains a centuries-old feel and is now part of the cloud forest. Walking along it is like stepping back into a distant and tranquil past.

This trail is divided into two sections and connects the upper and lower parts of Chicaque. It begins near the park entrance where the steps of the main viewpoint end and finishes near La Playa stream, just 500 meters from the Refuge. It is the shortest route between the entrance and the Refuge.