Destination: Mountain Activity

This experience is reserved only for the most daring adventurers with previous mountaineering and ice-climbing experience. This is the southern route for this wild volcano, starting from the town of Belalcázar (Cauca), requiring a 4-days trek. This is a very challenging journey and recommended to be done only during the dry season, from December to March due to the muddy trails and agressive conditions of this very little explored mountain.

This 4-days experience at El Cocuy National Park, is designed for real adventures and people with great physical conditions, as you will have 1 day for a visit to the town of El Cocuy plus and acclimatization hike, before hiking by all the 3 different trails available inside the protected area in a row on the next 3 days. In this plan you will get three times to the snow border line located at 4,900 meters above sea level (16,000 feet) by the “Pulpito del Diablo”, “Laguna Grande de la Sierra” & “Ritacuba blanco” trails.

During this expedition that begins at 2.400 m.a.s.l. (7.800 ft) you will pass by different ecosystems of Colombia such as the rainforest, cloud forest, “paramo” (moor), “super-páramo” ecosystems and finally getting to the one of the few glacier ecosystems of the country, only found at the highest mountains of the Andes. Once there you will do a summit attempt of this volcano with its peak located at more than 5.200 m.a.s.l. (17.000 ft).

During this 2-day experience you will enjoy the landscapes of the Los Nevados National Park from one of its highest mountains. On the first day you will visit the splendid Otún lagoon, sleeping at traditional cabins, on the second day you will wake up very early in the morning, doing the trek to attempt to get to the summit of Nevado de Santa Isabel where you also will have a great panoramic of the whole National Park.

Paramillo del Quindío is one of the highest peaks in the Los Nevados National Natural Park, with an altitude of 4,750 m.a.sl. This mountain was known as El Nevado del Quindío, but due to climate change, in the last two decades it lost its snow. However, it remains as a demanding, enigmatic and charming mountain. On a three-day walk through this unique area, you will have a great experience getting to know different types of vegetation without needing to use ice-climbing gear.

This 3-days experience is the most popular tour to visit El Cocuy National Park, being a perfect balance between lenght of the tour and great landscapes, visiting 2 out the 3 available hikes inside the protected area. In this plan you will get twice to the snow border line located at 4,900 meters above sea level (16,000 feet) by the “Pulpito del Diablo” & “Laguna Grande de la Sierra” trails. You will need to be physically prepared in order to accomplish the hikes of 50 kms approx. in total in 3 days.

This 2-days experience is designed for people who want a quick visit to get to the snow-border line located at 4.900 m.a.s.l. (16.000 ft). If you have limited time to visit the snow-capped mountains of this destination, this is a great option. You will first discover the beautiful green & white town of El Cocuy, having an acclimatization day and then will visit one of the trails inside the National Park where you will be able to see the glaciers of this region.