Day 1
Hotel pick-up, transfer to the airport for the flight (1 hour) to the city of Pereira, located at the heart of the Coffee area. Meeting at the Pereira airport. Transfer to the city, where there will be a short stop to buy food and missing news, and then to the beginning of our trail leading to the mountains. First, the journey takes about 2 hours along the banks of the Otun River, bypassing the rural areas of "La Florida" and "La Suiza", to the beginning of the trail known as "El Sedral" (2105 m). From this place the group will follow a very beautiful trail with a moderate ascent rate for 2.5 - 3 hours to the "La Pastora" refuge, located in the cloud rain forrest, the place to spend the night.
Overnight in a tent.
Ascent: 355 m / Highest altitude: 2460 m / Distance: 5.9 km / Activity duration: 2.5-3 hours
Meals included: picnic, dinner
Day 2
Breakfast, departure from "La Pastora" along the same trail as the day before, but in steeper terrain. The road to the very famous farm "El Jordan" will take about 2.5 hours. It is located in an idyllic setting between volcanic hills, covered with dense vegetation and decorated with waterfalls with crystal clear waters. From here, the vegetation begins to turn into paramo and the forest begins to open up. The last section is quite steep, following a long walk up to the ridge of the El Agrado valley, which will lead to the next farm "Berlin" (3848 m). This is one of the most beautiful places in the park, in a little-visited area.
Overnight in a tent.
Ascent: 1388 m / Highest altitude: 3848 m / Distance: 10.9 km / Activity duration: 4 hours
Meals included: Breakfast, Picnic, Dinner
Day 3
After breakfast, today's trekking begins with an ascent along the valley of the "El Agrado" River up the old trail that passes through the "La Amargur" Pass (4220 m), the border between the states of Risaralda and Quindio. For hikers, there is the opportunity to take a longer hike, climb Pico Chispas (4378 m), and then follow the trail again. After the "La Amargura" pass, a rather steep descent will take you to the Quebrada Cardenas Valley, where the Quindio River flows towards the Coora Valley. After crossing the river (3804 m), we go along a muddy path to the mountain pass "La Linea" (4019 m), which separates the states of Quindio and Tolima, as well as an excellent view point at the "Paramillo del Quindio" (4745 m), the highest peak of the state of Quindio, and Nevado del Tolima in a nearby valley. From the pass, you can easily descend to the "Primavera / La Playa" farm (3769 m), another modest place, where the hot local drink "agua de panela" (hot drink with raw sugar) or coffee.
Overnight in tents.
Ascent to La Angustia: 372 and ascent to La Linea: 215 / Descent to the Quindio River: 416 m and descent to La Primavera / La Playa: 250 m / Highest altitude: 4220 m / Distance: 12 km / Activity duration: 5- 6 hours
Meals included: Breakfast, Picnic, Dinner
Day 4
Today's goal is to reach the high camp of Nevado del Tolima (4345 m). The team will have a calm morning, they will prepare everything necessary for the ascent. The group will leave the camp before midday and walk through the Tolima Valley, which is a gentle climb and a very pleasant hike, with beautiful landscapes and views of the volcanoes and valleys below. The last part of the hike goes up a steep mountain slope to the ridge known as "El Calvito" and from there a short walk to a camping site called "Arenales" which lies over the yellow sand moraine. This camp can be quite windy and exposed, but with a very nice view.
After setting up the camp, the guide will do a briefing about next day’s climb and help getting everything ready. There will be horses to carry equipment, food, water, etc. up to the campsite.
Night in tent.
Ascent: 576 m / Highest Altitude: 4345 m / Distance: 8,4 Km / Activity duration: 4-5 h
Included meals: Breakfast, Picnic, Dinner
Day 5
Very early breakfast and departure from the high camp, ascent along a series of moraines of different steepness and several climbing passages to the glacier at an altitude of 4750 m. Here the group prepares for the glacier trek by starting on a very light slope, passing a couple of ice cliffs before the final plateau where the main crater is located, and then reaching the summit. Nevado del Tolima (5221 m) is an active volcano and the third highest peak in the central cordillera. The ascent is not technical, but it requires physical effort, not only because of the ascent, but also because of the distance that must be overcome. The descent follows the same trail down to the camp. After a good break and packing down the camp, the team will head down to the Primavera/Playa farm.
Night in tent.
Ascent: 876 m / Descend: 1452 m / Highest Altitude: 5221 m / Distance to the summit: 2,8 Km & from the summit back to the farm: 11,2 Km / Activity duration: 8-10 h
Included meals: Breakfast, Picnic, Dinner
Day 6
Last day in the mountains! Leaving the camp immediately after breakfast, we go back to the "La Linea" pass (4019 m) and descend to the Quindio River (3804 m). Further, after a smooth crossing, a small ascent to the abandoned farm "Buenos Aires". In about an hour, the farm "La Argentina" will open in front of you. Descent through beautiful landscapes and rainforests, a semicircular climb that completes the trail in the famous Cocora Valley, an impressive valley located at an altitude of 2425 meters, decorated with the national tree of Colombia: Wax palm. Once in the Cocora Valley, the group will be picked up and taken to the beautiful city of Salento (1919 m) on the traditional Jeep Willys (25 min.), which are a symbol of the coffee culture of the coffee house. Upon arrival in Salento, the group will be taken to a hotel located in the colonial part of the city. You will have a good time to enjoy the city and drink the best coffee in Colombia!
Overnight at the hotel.
Ascent: 250 m / Descent: 1594 m / Highest altitude: 4019 m / Distance 16.5 km / Activity duration: 6-8 hours
Meals included: breakfast, lunch
Day 7
After a well-deserved rest and a quiet morning, the group will embark on a coffee excursion to one of the area's traditional coffee farms. The Coffee Tour shows the entire coffee production from seed to final product. It also includes a very pedagogical coffee tasting to learn about the different types and properties of local coffee. Lunch will be at one of the typical Salento restaurants. Then you will have some free time to enjoy this quiet town and a wide range of crafts and local products. For the active traveler, there are many optional tour options such as the La Casa Botanical Tour, led by fauna and flora experts, horse riding trails, mountain biking trails and much more.
Overnight at the hotel.
Meals included: breakfast
Day 8
After breakfast transfer out to Armenia’s airport (30 min) and flight (1 h) to Bogotá. Upon arrival transfer to hotel.
End of the tour.
Included meals: Breakfast
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