El Pico rises to 360 metres at the heart of Providencia, making it the highest point in Colombia's Caribbean island territories. The trail to the summit starts from the road near the village of Bottom House and climbs through dense tropical forest — mango, papaya, and guava trees low down, giving way to cloud forest near the top with orchids and bromeliads clinging to the branches.
The view from the summit is the reason to come: on a clear day you can see the full extent of the barrier reef surrounding the island, its colour shifting from deep blue to pale turquoise over the coral heads. The sea really does look like seven different colours from up here, which is the source of the island's most often-used marketing phrase. The hike takes around two hours return and the path is well marked; a local guide is optional but adds context.