Parque Nacional Los Nevados hike in Colombia, with Santa Isabel ascent

Parque Nacional Los Nevados (Los Nevados National Park) is located in the heart of Colombia’s coffee region, in the Central Range of the Colombian Andes. It stretches over 58,300 hectares and contains a variety of climates and landscapes, including volcanoes, glaciers, valleys, and wetlands.

Our tour will begin in Pereira (1,400 m), the main cities of the Risaralda Department. We will drive to the entrance of the National Park and then hike for around 3 hours to the Laguna del Otun (3,950 m). With a surface of 1,5 square kilometers and a depth of 70 meters, it is the greatest lagoon in the area.

The following day we will hike during 8 hours up to the Nevado de Santa Isabel (4,950 m), a glacial, snow-capped volcano, whose melting feeds the Laguna de Otun. The descent will take us 6 to 8 hours, heading to Finca Berlin.

Our route will then take us 6 to 8 hours up to the Paramillo del Quindio (4,750 m), an inactive volcano located on the south of Parque Nacional Los Nevados. Although it has lost its once eternal snowcap, it is one of the most visited peaks in the area. We will spend the night at Finca La Playa (1,895 m), a typical cattle farm in the Quindio Department.

Finally, we will hike to the Nevado del Tolima (5,200 m), the second highest volcanic summit in the park. Given its conical shape, with high steep slopes, and a small glacier at the top, climbing this peak is pretty challenging. The ascent will take us from 12 to 15 hours.

During the descent we will traverse the Cocora Valley heading to the city of Salento (1,895), our final destination before returning to Bogota. The Cocora Valley is the main location of Colombia’s national tree and symbol, the Quindio wax palm. In fact, it is one of the only places in the world where these trees can be seen in their natural habitat.

The best time of the year to go on this trip is from December to beginning of April. I often do it in June, August and September as well, although the weather during these three months tends to be a little bit unstable.

Join me in this unique adventure in the magical Colombian Los Nevados National Park. Book your trip now!

If you would like to learn about other expeditions in the area, check out the 4-day ascent to the Nevado del Tolima and the 7-day trek from Juntas to Salento.