The largest tree in Colombia has grown pillars to support its branches due to its enormous diameter.

What tree is the largest in the world? General Sherman is undoubtedly the front-runner, but have a look at this.
There is a tree that some people wrongly refer to as “The Tree of Guacar” in the Caribbean region of Colombia. This big tree was located nearby and resembled the tree we are introducing here in terms of appearance.

In the 1990s, a picture of that tree, the Samán of Guacar, appeared on 500-peso coins issued in Colombia. It was a Samanea saman tree, sometimes referred to as a rain tree, and it was down in 1989 when its substantial branches started to split off.
However, the tree covered on this page is distinct. Although it appears to be another famous Samanea saman, it is not. No, it’s a Ficus, also known as a fig tree, which is a common ornamental plant that can be found in gardens and homes all over the world. And it has gotten very big.

The gigantic fig, regarded as Columbia’s largest tree, is so enormous that you might mistake it from a distance for a hill. As you get closer to it, you feel small and dwarfed. Though we could not locate conclusive evidence, the images support the claim that the giant is 75 meters in diameter and 30 meters high.

The tree has stunning foliage that resembles a green mountain, and its branches kiss the ground as though honouring Mother Earth. Additionally, they serve as supports that the tree has produced, with aerial roots growing from branches that extend farther from the trunk and kissing the ground.

A wonderful scene. According to Viajar en Verano, standing beneath this enormous tree gives the impression that you are in the basement of a large building because all the columns support the enormous mass. Due to the “feet”, it uses to ensure its growth, some Latin Americans refer to it as “The Tree That Walks.” The pillars it has grown into are like limbs through which it advances to cover a larger area with its branches, to receive the sun’s rays more directly, or to find more fertile land to feed on.

Even more fascinating is the fact that the Tree of San Marcos is not a tree. It is several trees.
Ral Ospino Rangel, a historian, provides a detailed explanation of the formation of the green mass.

It all began in 1964 when the farm owner, Alejandra, wanted to protect a yellow cedar tree he had planted. Six fig tree poles were set around the seedling to prevent livestock from harming the young cedar.
However, the opposite occurred: instead of supporting the yellow cedar, the fig tree struts sprouted buds and branches, eventually absorbing and devoured the cedar tree.
Therefore, the ‘Giant Fig of San Marcos’ consists of six distinct plants joined and strengthened by aerial roots that serve as ground supports.

If you ever find yourself on the Atlantic coast of Colombia, you must visit San Marcos and be enveloped by the shadowy limbs of “The Most Beautiful Tree in Colombia.” Before entering the Alejandra farm, approximately three kilometres away, you will catch your first glimpse of the enormous ‘green mountain.’
Protected by this tree’s branches, one feels small but enriched by its potent energy. Let’s hope it stands for a very long time.

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El Caucho or Guacar Tree is located in the municipality of San Marcos Sucre at kilometre 38 of the road that leads from El Viajano to San Marcos; it is notable for its size, with a diameter of approximately 75 meters and a current age of approximately 40 years; however, the most notable aspect of the tree is its roots; having to support branches of such a size, they hang from the branch until they take root and become a new trunk. Being under this tree is quite a sight owing to the copious amount of shade and the tree’s enigmatic floating roots.

It has a natural entrance that resembles a cave, and it is hard for the human eye to codify and systematically store in memory the multitude of forms made by crossing branches of the foliage as it progresses towards the central trunk. The distinct atmosphere and temperature of a natural paradise are enjoyed.
Walking around the main trunk as the visitor gets closer, one has the sensation of being dwarfed until one feels insignificant. Hundreds of aerial roots begin to sprout from the branches alongside other longer ones that get closer to the ground. Many have already reached the ground and become new trunks supporting the enormous structure.

Numerous legends surround the proper name and origin of this massive oak. It is undeniable that this natural marvel has awe-inspiring beauty.