Kankuamo marquezi inhabits Cuchilla San Lorenzo on the northwestern flank of the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, at an altitude of 2000 to 2300 m above sea level, in the lower montane wet forest ecozone. The location where it was found mainly consist of shrubs from the families Arecaceae and Chrysobalanaceae. The area is also inhabited by snakes of the genus Atractus and frogs of the genus Atelopus.