Ascend from Salento to the summit of Nevado del Tolima in just three days — a perfect adventure for those with good physical fitness and limited time.
Los Nevados National Natural Park is located in the Central Range of the Colombian Andes and covers an area of 61,200 hectares. Its highest point reaches 5,321 meters above sea level at the summit of the Nevado del Ruiz volcano, while its lowest elevation is 2,600 meters in the Andean forests. The park spans the departments of Caldas, Risaralda, Quindío, and Tolima, and its landscape is dominated by three beautiful snow-capped volcanoes — Ruiz, Santa Isabel, and Tolima — surrounded by vast expanses of páramo, forests, lagoons, and rivers. These ecosystems serve as habitat for numerous plant and animal species, some of them currently endangered.
The trek described below aims to reach the summit of Nevado del Tolima (5,240 m a.s.l.) in just three days, enjoying the remarkable diversity of landscapes as we hike through cloud forests, páramo ecosystems, sandy volcanic slopes, and glacial terrain.
🔴 LIMITED SPOTS
+ One guide for every 3 participants.
+ Meals: three breakfasts, three lunches, and two dinners.
+ Full accommodation: two nights in a countryside house.
+ Ground transportation: Salento – Valle de Cocora – Salento.
+ Mules to carry the luggage on days one and three of the trek.
+ Medical assistance insurance.
+ Mountaineering equipment: crampons, ice axes, helmets, harnesses, ropes, gaiters, etc.
+ A complete snack kit for each hiking day.
+ Entrance permit to Los Nevados National Natural Park.
+ All activities described in the itinerary.
+ Unspecified expenses.
+ This 3-day ascent is suitable for participants with excellent physical fitness. We recommend the 4- or 5-day options for those seeking less physical effort and a more enjoyable experience.
+ Accommodation in countryside houses is in shared rooms; if you prefer a private room, please let us know. Keep in mind that one night will be spent in tents provided by the agency.
Our adventure begins in the charming town of Salento, located in the heart of Colombia’s Coffee Region and known for its picturesque beauty. Early in the morning, we will meet at a designated point to enjoy a delicious breakfast before taking a private vehicle for a 12-kilometer drive to the impressive Cocora Valley. There, we will admire the majestic wax palms—the national tree of Colombia—and the extraordinary natural scenery that surrounds them.
After organizing our luggage and loading it onto the mules, we will begin our ascent through lush cloud forests, crossing multiple streams that provide habitat for a wide variety of native birds and plants. As we gain altitude, the landscape gradually transforms until we enter the páramo ecosystem, which will guide us to the welcoming countryside house known as La Playa. From this privileged viewpoint, we will enjoy a beautiful panorama of the Nevado.
The remainder of the afternoon will be free to rest, explore the area, and spend time with the warm local family who hosts us.
Distance: 20 km
Duration: 7–10 hours
Elevation gain: 1,700 m
Elevation loss: 400 m
Starting altitude: 2,400 m a.s.l.
Maximum altitude: 4,000 m a.s.l.
Final altitude: 3,700 m a.s.l.
Our journey begins at night, at 10:00 p.m., with a light breakfast before starting the hike immersed in the silence of the páramo, surrounded by towering frailejones and other unique plants of this ecosystem. As we advance, we gain altitude and enter an area of sandy slopes and rocky formations, where we will witness an unforgettable sunrise.
We will continue ascending until reaching the edge of the glacier, where we will gear up with helmets, crampons, ice axes, ropes, and harnesses—all provided by our agency. Once ready, we will begin the traverse on snow toward the summit. The glacier section takes approximately an hour and a half and leads us to the top at 5,240 meters above sea level. From the summit, we will enjoy a spectacular panoramic view of the surrounding peaks and high-mountain landscapes of the National Park.
After making the most of this unique moment at the summit, we will begin our descent back to La Playa farmhouse, where a well-deserved lunch and time to rest will be waiting for us after this challenging and rewarding day.
Distance: 24 km
Duration: 12–13 hours
Elevation gain: 1,600 m
Elevation loss: 1,600 m
Starting altitude: 3,700 m a.s.l.
Maximum altitude: 5,240 m a.s.l.
Ending altitude: 3,700 m a.s.l.
After enjoying a traditional countryside breakfast, we will load our luggage onto the pack mules and begin our descent toward the Cocora Valley.
The route will differ from the ascent, allowing us to explore new landscapes such as Andean forests and narrow mountain channels that intersect with small creeks, until we finally reach the Cocora Valley. From there, we will take a vehicle back to Salento, where our journey comes to an end.
Distance: 20 km
Duration: 6–7 hours
Elevation gain: 400 m
Elevation loss: 1,900 m
Starting altitude: 3,700 m a.s.l.
Maximum altitude: 4,000 m a.s.l.
Ending altitude: 2,400 m a.s.l.
+ Plastic gear bag carried by the mules (maximum 10 kg per person).
+ Small backpack (20–30 L) for the hikes.
+ Sunglasses with UV protection.
+ Poncho-style rain jacket (not necessary if your jacket is waterproof).
+ Headlamp with spare batteries.
+ Cold-weather clothing: T-shirt, fleece or mid-layer, down or synthetic insulated jacket, waterproof shell jacket, comfortable hiking pants, waterproof pants, thermal base-layer leggings or similar, thick socks, warm gloves, hat with ear protection, multifunctional neck gaiter.
+ Trekking boots, lightweight shoes or rubber boots.
+ Water container (2 L thermos or bottle).
+ Sunscreen.
+ Lip balm.
+ Personal medications.
+ Personal hygiene kit.
+ This is a very physically demanding expedition. Although prior mountaineering experience is not required, participants must have excellent physical fitness. Having completed multi-day hikes in cold or high-altitude environments will help you feel more confident and better prepared for the ascent.
+ We also recommend arriving two days earlier to spend time in high-altitude locations such as Bogotá or Salento, as prior acclimatization significantly improves the body’s ability to adapt and reduces the risk of altitude-related discomfort during the expedition.
+ To prepare for a high-mountain ascent, we suggest maintaining a consistent training routine that includes cardiovascular exercise (such as hiking, running, or cycling), leg and core strengthening, and long hikes carrying a backpack. Training at least 5 to 6 times per week in the weeks leading up to the expedition will greatly improve your performance, endurance, and comfort during the climb.
Our team is equipped with satellite communication devices, first-aid kits, and medical oxygen supplies at the high-altitude camps. In addition, we continuously monitor the physical condition of all participants.
+ Jacket + fleece: $80,000
+Trekking poles: $30,000
+ Thermal pants: $30,000
+ Waterproof pants: $30,000
+ Gloves: mittens + fleece gloves: $30,000
+ Hat, balaclava, or buff: $10,000
+ Sunglasses with UV protection: $30,000
+ Headlamp (with batteries): $30,000
You can reserve your spot with a 20% deposit, and the remaining balance must be paid before the start of the expedition.
Contact us to learn more about available payment methods.
If you are unable to continue due to health reasons or weather conditions, our team will always prioritize your safety. We will accompany you during the descent, and you will receive the necessary medical attention.
Remember that this expedition includes medical assistance and rescue insurance.
Yes! If you can’t match the dates of our upcoming expedition, contact us. We can design a customized adventure or even open a new expedition date especially for you or your group.
