Astonishing four days trip. We will be departing from Salento to go up to the Nevado Santa Isabel Summit, while enjoy the forest, moorlands and wetlands.
Los Nevados National Park is located on the central mountain range of the Colombian Andes and has an extension of 61.200 hectares, a maximum altitude of 5.321 meters (Nevado del Ruiz summit), and a minimum altitude of 2.600 meters at the Andean forests. The park is located between Caldas, Risaralda, Quindío and Tolima departments. Its wide geography features three volcanoes (Ruiz, Santa Isabel and Tolima), large paramo areas (alpine moorland), forests, lakes and rivers where many species of animals and plants live; some of theme endangered species.
This is an amazing journey through Los Nevados National Park. The trip we design for you is a beautiful four days journey starting at Cocora Valley, we will assent through the cloud forest and lagoon to finally climb to the top of Nevado Santa Isabel, and finish it in Manizales or Pereira.
The trip starts in the beautiful and picturesque town of Salento, Quindío, in the coffee region. After breakfast, we will meet at the main square where a traditional Willys Jeep will take us to the beautiful Cocora Valley, 12 Km from Salento. Once at the valley, we will leave the luggage for the mules to carry it to our destination.
During the beautiful ascent we will go across creeks and cloud forests that will finally turn into paramo, a very special ecosystem that only exist in five countries. During our hike we will enjoy a typical lunch wrapped in leafs. We will continue our trip until we reach a humble, heartwarming place called La Argentina, which has a beautiful view to the canyon. In La Argentina, we will have dinner and also the opportunity to share with locals that inhabit the place. We will spend the night there in shared rooms.
Duration: 5 hours (10 Km)
Altitude gain: 1.000 meters
Altitude loss: 80 meters
Initial altitude: 2.400 meters
Maximum altitude: 3.400 meters
Final altitude: 3.400 meters
We will start our day with a delicious breakfast prepared by locals. Then we will start our trip to the paramo, a very special ecosystem that only exist in five countries and is recognized by its biodiversity and water sources. During approximately 4 – 5 hours through this magical ecosystem we will reach Berlín farmhouse, a heartwarming house on the mountains that opens its door for us, there we will have lunch and spend the afternoon and evening sharing with the locals.
Duration: 4 – 5 hours (10 Km)
Altitude gain: 800 meters
Altitude loss: 400 meters
Initial altitude: 3.400 meters
Maximum altitude: 4.200 meters
Final altitude: 3.800 meters
After breakfast we will carry on with our trip through the beautiful paramo ecosystem until reach the Otún Lake. An incredible natural place where we can enjoy about 2 Km of fresh water adorned with frailejones, and recharge our energy. After a while, we will go back to our path until a place named Potosi where we will spend the night. Before our attempt to summit, we will receive a talk from the National Park officials and check the technical equipment we will use.
Duración: 4 – 5 hours (19 Km)
Altitude gain: 700 meters
Altitude loss: 600 meters
Initial altitude: 3.800 meters
Maximum altitude: 4.150 meters
Final altitude: 3.900 meters
Very early in the morning we will initiate our transit to Conejeras in a 4×4 car; once there we will start our trekking to the Nevado Santa Isabel Summit under the light of the stars. On our way we will experience the beautiful sunrise from the Colombian Andes, thus, with this motivation, we will carry on with our way to the summit. Once we reach the glacial, we will put on our equipment to continue over the snow and, if the weather is really good, we will be able to enjoy an amazing panoramic view from the top of Nevado Santa Isabel (4.950 meters).
On our way back we will go through the same path all the way to Conejeras where a car will be waiting for us in order to take us to Potosí. We will have lunch there and carry on with our descent by car to the city of Manizales or Pereira. This is the end of our journey.
Duration: 6 – 8 hours (14 Km)
Altitude gain: 800 meters
Altitude loss: 800 meters
Initial altitude: 4.200 meters
Maximum altitude: 4.950 meters
Final altitude: 2.200 meters
+ Professional guide authorized by the National Park.
+ Medical insurance.
+ Climbing equipment: crampons, ice axes, helmets, harnesses, ropes, etc.
+ Mules to carry our luggage.
+ Full meals in the mountain, from lunch in day 1 to lunch in day 4.
+ Snacks kit for every hike.
+ Land transport: Salento – Cocora Valley and Potosí – Conejeras – Manizales.
+ Accommodation: three nights in peasants houses.
+ Entrance permits to Los Nevados National Park.
+ Permit to climb to Santa Isabel summit.
+ All the activities described in the itinerary.
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+ Sleeping Bag.
+ Insulating.
+ Not specified expenses.
The landscapes were beautiful, from the access road, across the paramo and the snowy mountains. The Otún Lake is a wonderful place to camping. The starry nights were dreamy. The guide was excellent. You can see his knowledge and respect for this place.
Thank you SAWA for this magical experience.
Olga Lucia Cardona
Amazing mountains. We were lucky to reach the Summit and see the Tolima and Ruíz snowy mountains. The weather was with us despite the wind was hitting us hard. I hope to be able to keep getting to know this territory.
No doubt I will recommend SAWA to those who want to visit this place.
Esteban Gil
The place is charming…with every new landscape you realize the cold, the tiredness and the long walks are all worthy. The guide we had was really good, very professional, but above all with a great sense of humor!
Thank you for this unforgettable experience.
