On your trip to Colombia, do you dream of climbing to eternal snow? Direction la montagne to visit Los Nevados National Park!
Moonscapes, Andean peaks with white hats... Welcome to Los Nevados! The third most visited national park in Colombia, Los Nevados Park will not leave you indifferent. Nestled in the central cordillera, it houses no less than eight volcanoes. Each year, mountaineers and mountaineers enjoy high mountain hikes to discover it. You have to say that there is something! Nature lovers fall to them under the charm of the Cocora valley. Luxuriant, she's adulterated for her giant wax palms.
So, how to visit the Los Nevados pac? Follow the guide to discovering an exceptional natural treasure.
History of Los Nevados Park in Colombia
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Los Nevados Park is located in the centre - west of Colombia. It covers fifty-eight thousand hectares in the departments of Tolima, Quindio, Caldas and Risaralda. Dominé par le volcano Nevado del Ruiz which reaches 5320 metres of altitude, five other peaks follow him closely: the Nevado Del Tolima (5215 metres), Santa Isabel (4950 metres), the Olleta (4850 metres), Quindio (4760 metres) and El Cisne (4636 metres). Its glacial activity not only sculpts moraine mysteries! With its water, it also supplies more than two million localized coffee plants in the region.
For its part, its exceptional flora is home to incredible mammals such as the tapir of mountains and the bear with glasses. In particular, you will be forced to cross unique bird species such as the snow parrot or the Andes condor.
What to see and do in Los Nevados Park?
Many treks on one or more days are possible to visit Los Nevados Park in Colombia.
The Cocora Valley
Photo credit: Shutterstock / Exequiel Schvartz
The Cocora Valley is a must-see place where giant wax palms grow. Some can even reach sixty meters high!
Two options are available to you to visit the Cocora Valley:
- A two-hour hike (back trip) : to go to the feet of the giants
- A five-hour hike (fifteen kilometers) : to discover the whole valley, the tropical forest and the house of the colibri. As a bonus, a Jeep Willy’s collection awaits you on Salento Square to transport you to the site entrance.
The volcano Nevado del Tolima
Photo credit: Shutterstock / Sebastian Delgado C
Duration 3 or 4 days
To see absolutely : the volcano, the Acaime reserve, the Canon thermal baths, the Encanto lagoon, the Niebla bosque.
Mountain hiking lovers, if you have three or four days in front of you, the Nevado del Tolima is to put up your list. Hiking takes you to the foot or to the top of this volcano whose altitude reaches more than five thousand two hundred meters.
You will find a variety of unique ecosystems in the world. In addition to the Cocora Valley, you will discover the Acaime Reserve, ideal for the observation of the hummingbirds. Then, if the smell of pain does not pose a disadvantage, you can revitalize yourself in the baths del Canon .
You will then bypass the Nevado del Tolima until reaching the lagoon del Encanto and the Paramo de Romerales where the famous frailejones . On three days, you'll be in trouble Niebla's bosco sheltering lush vegetation and a variety of birds such as the rare blue toucan. Over four days, you will climb the glacier to its summit.
The volcano Paramillo del Quindio
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Duration 3 days
To see absolutely : volcano and lake
The Paramillo del Quindio offers one of the most beautiful views of Los Nevados Park. A three-day trek from Salento will take you to the heart of the volcano. Your look will light up against the changing colors of the lake that fills it, going from yellow to blue due to the suffering and minerals. Due to its geomorphology, its impressive sandy slopes and its location between volcanoes Tolima, Santa Isabel, Nevado del Ruiz, the Paramillo del Quindi o is considered to be one of the places not to be missed if you come to visit Los Nevados Park in Colombia.
The volcano Nevado del Ruiz
Photo credit: Shutterstock / Jiri Hrebicek
Duration One day
To see absolutely : lunar landscapes
The Nevado del Ruiz is the highest in the chain. However, due to its high volcanic activity for several years, visits to this part of the park are subject to restriction. His last volcanic eruption dates back to November 13, 1985 and killed more than twenty thousand people, stripping the city of Armero from the map.
When possible, a one-day trek from Manizales takes you to the hut at four thousand eight hundred meters above sea level. The climb is only by bus. Nevertheless, you can observe beautiful lunar landscapes until they meet with the eternal snows of the Nevado del Ruiz.
The Lagoon of Otun
Photo credit: Shutterstock / Andres Withedo
Duration One day
To see absolutely : the birds, the sanctuary of Otun Quimbaya
Located almost four thousand meters above sea level and powered by the glacier melt Santa Isabel , laguna d’Otun is a must if you come to visit Los Nevados Park in Colombia. Accessible from Pereira, it is ideal for camping and recreational fishing of rainbow trout. Important breeding site for birds, some endangered species find refuge there, such as the paramos becassin, the spotted spit and the torrent merganette. The sanctuary of the fauna and flora of Otun Quimbaya is also famous for its screaming monkeys whose cry can be heard up to ten kilometers.
The glacier Nevado Santa Isabel
Photo credit: Flickr – sergejf
Duration One day
To see absolutely : the sunset, the Baths of San Vicente
The glacier Nevado Santa Isabel is considered one of the most accessible and requires no technical experience. At the beginning of Pereira, three paths allow its ascent: the one from the farm of Potosi by continuing on the path of conejeras , the way El Cedral crossing the bosco Niebla or by continuing the El Bosque trail that leads to the laguna d’Otun.
The most popular ascent is realized via the Conejeras trail and you reach the central glacier. Starting early in the morning, and if the weather is ideal, you will be marvelled in front of a beautiful sunrise rising behind the Nevado del Ruiz . On the return of your trek, don’t hesitate to take a break in the baths of San Vicente to revitalize you.
How to go to Los Nevados Park in Colombia?
By plane
To access the park, you will have to go to Salento, Manizales or Pereira. These last two cities have airports for internal flights. If you come from Bogota or Cartagena de Indias, it is best to opt for the faster and often more economic air route. Do not hesitate to compare the ticket price on our partner website Ulysses .
By bus
From Cali or Medellin, buses go to Manizales or Peireira and the journeys count only a handful of hours. To reach Salento, buses depart daily from Pereira or Armenia. Don’t hesitate to ask for schedules in bus terminals.
Prices and times of Los Nevados Park
Photo credit: Shutterstock / iFerol
HORARI
Except for weather or volcanic restrictions, hiking in Los Nevados Park is possible throughout the year .
RATES
Los Nevados Park
To visit Los Nevados Park in Colombia, with the exception of the easily accessible Cocora Valley, it is essential to use a Local guide . In fact, the mountain climate is continuously changing and the paths are not marked or passing through private fields, you run great risks on your own. We invite you to get closer to the travel agencies of Salento, Manizales and Pereira to get all the information on the proposed treks.
♪ rates depending on the location, the number of days and the number of people, do not hesitate to compare them between several travel agencies.
The Cocora Valley
- Right of passage : 7000 pesos (about 1.85 euros)
- Round trip to Jeep Willy’s from Salento : 8000 pesos (about 2.10 euros)
- House of Colibri : 5000 pesos (1.30 euros) included drink
BON A LEARN
- The dryest periods to achieve the treks are January and February or July and August. The heavy rainy season goes from April to May.
- The hikes in Los Nevados Park are more than four thousand meters above sea level. A good physical condition is necessary. Take the time to acclimatize and moisturize to avoid altitude evil.
- The weather is capricious in the mountains. Always take with you a hat, a sun cream, glasses with UV protection and rain clothes.
- The temperature in the park varies between 14° and -3° and can quickly fall at night. Don't neglect the polar and a good sleeping bag.
– Always provide water bottles with you as well as purification tablets.
- After the effort, comfort! Do not forget to bring your swimsuit to revitalize you in the natural baths!
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