A major air and land search has been called off after a woman missing in remote bushland in far north Queensland was found alive today.
Colombian national Juliana Castrillon, 36, was last seen heading off on an eight-hour hike on Saturday morning, south of Cooktown in southern Cape York.
Queensland Police have confirmed that she has been found alive and was being walked back to Home Rule by SES volunteers, where she will undergo a medical assessment.
Earlier, police said she had attended the Orin Aya Festival at the Home Rule camping ground before embarking on a walk from Cedar Bay.
Inspector David Perry said Ms Castrillon had no supplies with her, was wearing just shorts and a singlet and may have been attempting to walk from Cedar Bay to Home Rule — an eight hour hike through thick rainforest and several creek crossings, popular with bushwalkers.
"It's a 14 kilometre walk which our National Parks classify as strenuous activity, with some extremely difficult terrain once you get off the walking track," he said.
Inspector David Perry said Ms Castrillon, who owns a business in Byron Bay, was reported missing by friends and family on Sunday afternoon.
He said an aerial search of the area was conducted on Monday and Tuesday, but efforts had been hampered by poor visibility due to the dense terrain.
Ms Castrillon's sister, Lina, arrived in Cooktown this morning, while the missing woman's friends had taken to social media to spread word of her disappearance.
The Orin Aya Festival describes the event as "four days of arts, music and culture" with dancing, fire-twirling and music.
