Microscopic descriptions of the wood of the six species of Colombian Podocarpaceae were made. The studied species belong to the genera Podocarpus, Prumnopitys and Retrophyllum. Trees were selected from natural forests of the Andean region of central-west Colombia. From each tree, the basal portion of the trunk was collected and the anatomical characteristics of the wood were studied in microtome sections and macerated preparations. In general, there was remarkable uniformity in the characteristics of the six species, although some differences in quantitative traits were found. All of the species were characterized by the absence of axial and radial resin canals, predominantly uniseriate pits on the radial walls of the axial tracheids and the presence of pits on the tangential walls of the axial tracheids. The rays were composed solely of parenchyma cells, with end and horizontal walls smooth, uniseriate and occasionally biseriate, and with height from very low (up to four cells) to medium (5–15 cells). The cross-field pits were cupressoid in all species. Diffuse axial parenchyma with smooth transverse walls were present in five species, but absent in Prumnopitys harmsiana. The principal quantitative differences were found in axial tracheid length, pit size, number of pits per cross-field, ray height and axial parenchyma abundance.