Day 1
Meeting at the hotel in the city of Bogota, transfer to the airport, flight (1 hour) to the city of Pereira. Upon our arrival, a transport will already be ready to take the group to the highlands. The trip will take 3-4 hours, depending on road conditions and lunch location. The road trip itself is unforgettable, first on an asphalt road and then on a dirt road that runs through mountain-covered, colorful crops and small farms. The group will stop at one of these local farms called "Campo Alegre" (3970 m). Rest of the day for rest and acclimatization.
Overnight in a tent.
Meals included: picnic, dinner
Day 2
Early breakfast. Our trail starts a few meters from the Campo Alegre farm and leads to the Asomadera lower ridge (4139 m), the border between the states of Caldas and Risaralda. The first part is an old road used only by the national park authorities. The road goes through pasture fields, slowly gaining height to the ridge. From this place, you can take a short walk to the observation deck and look at Lake Otun. From here, the group will follow the trail known as the "enchanted forest" through a very well-preserved forest of giant failejones (endemic plants of the Northern Andes). Further down to the lake drain, from where a beautiful almost flat trail leads to the El-Otun camping (3933 m), located at the hut of the national park. The place is located on the southern shore of the lake and has a beautiful view of the lake.
Overnight in a tent.
Ascent: 169 m / Descent: 206 m / Highest altitude: 4139 m / Distance: 9.5 km / Activity duration: 4-5 hours
Meals included: Breakfast, Picnic, Dinner
Day 3
Exit from Otun camping back to the lake drain. From here, the trail leads down, bypassing Lake El Mosco, and descends along a wide valley, which is called "Cuenca del Rio Otun" to Quebrada Blanca, the lowest point of the day (3606 m). From "Quebrada" begins a gentle ascent along one of the most colorful and beautiful crater valleys on the route. The ascent will lead to the Berlin Pass (3964 m) and then descend to the goal of the day: Berlin Mountain Farm (3848 m), located at the bottom of a deep valley.
Overnight in a tent.
Descent to the Kebrada Blanca: 327 m / Ascent to the Berlin Pass: 358 m / Descent to the Berlin farm: 116 m / Highest altitude: 3964 m / Distance: 9.5 km / Activity duration: 5-6 hours
Meals included: Breakfast, Picnic, Dinner
Day 4
Today is the first ascent of the program and, therefore, a very early breakfast and start is required. The hike begins with an ascent along the valley of the El Agrado River to the La Angustia mountain pass (4193 m). Then a smooth descent to the Quebrada Cardenas valley and a short climb on the northern slope of the valley to the beautiful humedales wetlands area (4193 m). After a good lunch break, the team will climb the extinct volcano El Paramillo del Quindio, the highest peak in the state of Quindio. Most of our trail will be along slippery talus that runs in an almost straight line up to the ridge, called "El Caballet", from where the ascent follows along a very impressive red sandy ridge to the main peak (4745 m). El Paramillo has one of the best views in the park as it is located almost in the center of the park with 360-degree panoramic views. On clear days, all three main peaks can be seen: northern Nevado Santa Isabel (4965 m) and Nevado del Ruiz (5321 m) and southern Nevado del Tolima (5221 m). Descent along the same trail to the wetlands, and further down the southern slope of the Cardenas Valley to the La Linea mountain pass (4019 m), which separates the departments of Quindio and Tolima. From this natural border, you can descend to the farms of La Primavera or La Playa in the Tolima Valley (3769 m).
Overnight in a tent.
In the area of Humedales: Ascent: 345 / Descent: 424 m / Highest altitude: 4193 m / Distance: 16.4 km / Activity duration: 7-8 hours
To the summit of Paramillo del Quindio: Ascent: 897 / Descent: 976 m / Highest altitude: 4745 m / Distance: 19.4 km / Activity duration: 9-10 hours
Meals included: Breakfast, Picnic, Dinner
Day 5
Breakfast, rest, transfer to the high-altitude camp of Nevado del Tolima. We will have trekking in the Tolima Valley, which is a gentle climb 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 above the yellow sand moraine. This camp can be quite windy and open, but with very beautiful views. After setting up the camp, the guide will instruct you about the ascent the next day and help prepare everything. Before the camp there will be horses carrying equipment, food, water, etc.
Overnight in a tent.
Ascent: 576 m / Highest altitude: 4345 m / Distance: 8.4 km / Activity duration: 4-5 hours
Meals included: Breakfast, Picnic, Dinner
Day 6
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 crossing, starting on a very light slope, passing a couple of ice cliffs before the final plateau where the main crater is located. and then reach the top. Nevado del Tolima (5221 m) is an active volcano and the third highest peak in the central Cordillera. The climb is not technical, but it requires physical effort, not only because of the ascent, but also because of the distance that must be overcome. Descent along the same path to the camp. After a good break and packing the camp, the team will head to the Primavera / Playa farm. Overnight in a tent.
Ascent: 876 m / Descent: 1452 m / Highest Altitude: 5221 m / Distance to summit: 2.8 km and from summit to farm: 11.2 km / Activity duration: 8-10 hours
Meals included: Breakfast, Picnic, Dinner
Day 7
Breakfast, packing. Our day begins with a slight climb, and then a 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: the wax palm. Once in the Cocora Valley, the group will be picked up and taken to the beautiful city of Salento in traditional Willys jeeps (25 min.), Which are a symbol of coffee culture. 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: 123 m / Descent: 1467 m / Distance: 15.1 km / Activity duration: 6-7 hours.
Meals included: Breakfast, Picnic, Dinner
Day 8
After a well-deserved rest and an easygoing morning, the group will have a coffee tour in one of the traditional coffee farms of the area.The coffee tour shows the entire coffee production from the seed to the final product. It also includes a very pedagogic coffee tasting to learn about the different types and qualities of the local coffee. Lunch will be at one of Salento’s typical restaurants and then there will be some free time to enjoy this lay back town and the wide offer of handy-crafts and local products. For the active traveller, there are plenty of extra tours options like “La Kasa” botanical tour guided by experts in the fauna and flora, horse back riding itineraries, mountain biking routes, between so many others. There will be an evening flight to Bogota and transfer to hotel.
End of services
Included meals: Breakfast
Brief article about Peru, Colombia and Ecuador - read