4 Days 3 Nights
Colombia
4
2
NEVADO DEL HUILA 4D3N
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.
Itinerary
Itinerary Expand All
Day 1 - ARRIVAL TO BELALCAZAR
On this day, we can optionally take you or you have to get by yourself to Belalcazar, which is a village located 4-hrs. away from Popayan or Neiva, by some unpaved but beautiful roads in the heart of the Colombian Andes. This is a quiet town located in indigenous territories, where you will be isolated from big cities and will feel the indigenous culture. You will check-in at the hotel and will have lunch. In the afternoon you will have a preparation talk for the expedition
Day 2 - HUILA SUMMIT ATTEMPT
On this day, at 03:30 am you will depart by car from Belalcazar to the indigenous community of Caloto Wila. It is at 2.100 m.a.s.l. and here you will be welcomed by the Nasa ethnic group, will have breakfast and will get to a point called “Dublin”. Once in the place and some instructions regarding the route you will start the hike to the campsite one. On this day of the ascent, you will rest in a camp located at 3.600 m.a.s.l.
Day 3 - HUILA SUMMIT ATTEMPT
On this day, you will start by having a light breakfast at 06:00 AM. You will gain altitude quickly, trekking by a rough and demanding terrain that can be very muddy. At noon we aim to reach the monitoring zone towers, where you will take a break and lunch. This day’s goal is Mars Base Camp at 4600 m.a.s.l. Later you will do an ice climbing gear practice, where we will address practical lessons for the summit attempt of the next day.
Day 4 - HUILA SUMMIT ATTEMPT
On this day, you will start with a light breakfast. Early in the morning we set off to the edge of the snow at 4.800 m.a.s.l. where you will wear the ice climbing equipment and will walk on the glacier with the objective to reach the highest point of the South Peak of Nevado del Huila located at 5.200 m.a.s.l. As you descend the glacier you will arrive at the base camp, where you will enjoy a delicious lunch and will continue descending till campsite 1.
Day 5 - HUILA SUMMIT ATTEMPT
On this day, this day you will begin with the descent from the campsite 1, to the point called Dublin, where the vehicle will pick you up and will take you to the indigenous community of Caloto Wila to enjoy a delicious meal. At the end of the day, you will get by 4x4 car to the town of Belalcazar, which was the starting point of this experience and will rest in a hotel of the town. We can optionally take you to Popayan or Neiva on the next day.
Cost Info
Cost Info
Included
- ACCOMMODATION Hotels in the towns of El Cocuy and Guican.
- ROOMS - Posada del Molino or similar: Private double, triple or multiple rooms.
- ACTIVITIES All the activities mentioned in the plan, all in private or shared tours and transportations of maximum 5 people per guide.
- MEALS - 3 breakfasts, 4 lunches and 3 dinners.
- TRANSFERS All land transportations in private vehicles.
- GUIDANCE Spanish speaking guides throughout the trip for all activities.
- MEDICAL ASSISTANCE CARD The tour includes a travel assistance card for all the days that covers possible accidents, medical attention, and emergency transportations for a quick response in case of being necessary according to the evacuation time during the activities and level of medical attention at the destination.
Not included
- National and international flights..
- Activities, additional drinks or elements not described in the plan
- Tips, snacks and souvenirs.
- Personal items not described in the itinerary.
- English or other languages speaking guides/translators.
Add-ons & optionals
Add-ons & optionals Expand All
- Flights from & to Bogota or any other Colombian city. The price would depend of the dates and the anticipation the flights are booked.
- Ground transfers to & from Belalcazar to major cities.
- English or other languages speaking guides/translators, according to availability of guides for the desired date, in this case it is advisable to book in advance.
- Accommodation in the town of Belalcazar, which offers basic hotels with private rooms and hot showers.
What to take?
What to take?
- Hat and/or other protection for the head and neck.
- Sunglasses to protect your eyes from the reflection of the sun.
- Appropriate clothing for activities and the treks under cold temperatures and take clothes for change in case of getting wet during the activities.
- Appropriate footwear for the hikes, a pair of trekking boots + a pair of rubber boots for the muddy parts are mandatory and at least one pair of sneakers for change. Footwear can get very wet during the hikes.
- Trekking poles might be useful.
- Sunscreen.
- Protection for electronic devices since they may be susceptible to damages due to humidity and/or rain.
- Non-disposable rigid container to refill water (canteen or thermos).
- Hands-free backpack, wheeled suitcases must be avoided.
- Flashlight.
- Personal documents and count with your own medical insurance.
- Personal medicines and first aid kit.
Map
Map
Gallery
Gallery
Recomendations
Recomendations
The ecosystem of Nevado del Huila, is a snow-capped volcano in the tropical zone, which makes it very special, therefore it is important to follow the recommendations in order to avoid or diminish any negative impact on them, as well as being prepared for a pleasurable experience, according to that:
- It is necessary to have an excellent physical condition and previous mountaineering experience for this expedition, since you will do several treks of long distances at a high altitude and will need to use ice-climbing equipment to get to the summit.
- This destination is located at a high altitude of the Colombian Andes, so it is necessary to have good acclimatization and cautions to avoid altitude sickness. Ask your doctor in case of having any special condition that requires extra caution or may affect you at a high altitude.
- The consumption of alcohol and/or psychoactive substances is forbidden for this experience as it might be very risky for your own health in these kinds of activities.
- It is important to reduce waste generation (single-use plastics). According to that, it is important to take your own rigid non-disposable recipient for liquids.
- Follow and abide by the instructions of the guides and authorities during each of the routes and tours.
- This trip passes by some indigenous territories; therefore, it is important a good and respectful behavior regarding their traditions and spaces.
FAQ'S
FAQ'S
WEATHER CONDITIONS & BILINGUISM
It is necessary to be properly prepared for the weather conditions of the destination, which are detailed below but as this is an approximation, please note that they may vary. Also, keep in mind that there won’t be bilingual staff or people at the destination.
Nevado del Huila:
- Temp. Min: -5ºC Max: 14ºC, humid climate / (2150-5364 m.a.s.l.)
ATM´S
It is necessary to carry cash for extra expenses during the trip since the last town where you will have access to ATMs is Belalcazar, after that there won’t be any ATMs or dataphones.
PHONE SIGNAL & WIFI
You will visit a destination where there is poor phone and internet signal in the town, but once you leave the town you will hardly have any phone or internet connection.
TIPPING
Tipping is not mandatory, but if you consider you can tip the guides and/or other staff with an amount from 20.000 to 50.000 COP (5 to 12 USD approx.) per day of service.
SEASONS
- It is very much advisable to visit this destination in the dry season, as during the rainy season the challenge is bigger due to the extremely muddy and difficult conditions of the trails
- The dry season in Colombia ranges from Mid-November till March, in this period of the year you can expect to have easier hikes and less rain in general.
- Getting by car to off the road paths will be easier, making the transportation times shorter to those spots in very rural areas.
- The rainy season starts in April and ends in mid
-November, being May and October the rainiest months in Colombia and from June to September a softer rainy period.
- If you decide to attend this trip in the wet season you need to take
