Los Nevados National Park Trek
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The Tolima Volcano is perhaps the most attractive mountain for trekking and climbing in Colombia. The conical volcanic shape offers unique opportunities for outdoor adventures, set inside the Los Nevados national park. During our 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. 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)
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Starting point: Salento – Quindío (book hotel on your own)
Difficulty: (High) Day 1: Cocora Valley – Up to the páramo (07:00) – Meeting in Salento main square (or pick up in your accommodation in Salento), after that a Jeep ride towards Cocora Valley. Once you received the final previous recommendations from our team and from the authorities we will start the trek towards La Primavera farm. On the way up, you will optionally pass by the hummingbird house and have lunch on the way at a point called Estrella de Agua. This will be a challenging trek (especially in rainy season) and will end with accommodation in bunk beds in a farmers’ cabin at 3.400 m.a.s.l. Day 2: Base camp and acclimatization (07:00) – Breakfast at the cabin and after that you will do the softest hike of the expedition with a length of 10 kms through super-páramo ecosystem having great views of the mountains of the national park. On this day we will aim to get to the campsite at the skirts of the Nevado del Tolima volcano at an area that is rocky. We will set the camp there and will have lunch, then you will have rest and will have dinner in the late afternoon, resting for the next day challenge. Day 3: Summit attempt (02:30) – Beginning of the trek towards the snow-border line at 4900 m.a.s.l. (16,000 ft), once there you will have breakfast and will prepare all the gear in order to attempt the summit of the snow-capped mountain at 5220 m.a.s.l (17,125 ft) in groups of maximum 4 travelers per expert guide, having to be at the top before 7:30 AM. If somebody feels altitude sickness at any point of the expedition, the guide will analyze the situation and will take decisions. After the summit the group will head back towards La Primavera farm where you will have rest and the meals of the day sleeping again in bunk beds. Day 4: Back to Salento (07:30) – Breakfast in the cabin and then trek back towards the Cocora valley where you will pass again by Estrella de Agua point, a place where the Quindío river is originated, having lunch there and during this day you will walk at your own pass in order to enjoy the trail and the last part of the expedition before arriving to Cocora valley and be taken back to Salento in a traditional jeep. Can add on airport transfers at extra cost Included:
• Summit attempt of the Nevado del Tolima volcano. • Professional ice-climbing equipment. • 62 kms guided trek in the magnificent Los Nevados National Park and passing by different ecosystems of Colombia. . All the main meals during the expedition (in the cabins and with portable stoves). • 2 nights of accommodation in bunk beds in a typical farmers’ cabin. • 1 night of high mountain camping with all the professional equipment included. • Jeep transfer Salento – Cocora valley and back. • Donkey for carrying 1 backpack of 10 kg per person. • All the professional camping equipment for the camping night. • Spanish-speaking mountain guides (1 guide every 4 people). NOT included: Snacks & souvenirs. • Other expenses not explicit in the plan. EXTRAS AND OPTIONS: • Transportation Bogotá – Salento – Bogotá (or from any other city), which we can help you to coordinate by ground or plane. • Accommodation the night before or the night after to the expedition in Salento area. (It is mandatory to have good rest before the expedition). • Other languages speaking guides or translators (For this we need to confirm availability of the guides). |
2022-2023 price per person in US$ (subject to currency exchange fluctuations): with 1 person = $1188 with 2 people = $750 with 3 people = $725 with 4 people = $688 
ACCOMMODATION IN MOUNTAIN FARMS:
Contrary to developed nations, you will not find in the Colombian mountains, except in a few cases, well organized and spacious mountains huts or chalets supplied by helicopter and which have all the facilities. To know the best Andean places of the country you have no other option but to sleep in local mountain farms, what enables their owners to improve their everyday life. The thermal insulation of walls, toilets, the comfort of beds and mattress is frequently rustic. With the increased tourism, some local people has begun to better equip their farm (in some farms from this year, you will find hot showers) but they still have a long way to go before reaching the European or north American standards. The cooking is most often done with charcoal. 
Basic equipment required:
Note: Please try to take as little equipment as possible. |
