Los Nevados: From Cocora Valley to the Otun valley 3d
Where : Los Nevados National Park
Tomplanmytrip connects you with this local expert for a moderately difficult trek in Los Nevados.
3 Days
Spanish, English
50% deposit and the remaining 50% before departure.
With us, no overpay!
An extraordinary environment
Discover Los Nevados National Park through its wax palms, cloud forests, páramos, and local inhabitants.
Imagine yourself on a mid-mountain trail, perfect for nature lovers and hiking enthusiasts wanting to experience a multi-day trek. Los Nevados is an extraordinary playground. Explore unique ecosystems like the páramos, found in only four countries worldwide, and witness the harsh daily life of the families living in these highlands who welcome you into their homes.
Roadmap
3 Days
- Day 1 Cocora Valley & Cloud Forest | 9.5 km | 1200 m ascent | ~5 hours
- Day 2 Immersion in the Páramo | 9.5 km | 850 m ascent | ~7 hours
- Day 3 Otún Valley | 17.5 km | 450 m ascent | ~7 hours
What to expect
Today's stage: 9.5 km | 1200 m ascent | 200 m descent | Max Altitude: 3400 m | ~5 hours
Depart from Salento in a Jeep Willys, heading towards the Cocora Valley. Start your hike by observing the wax palms, the giants that have become iconic in Colombia.
Continue your route up the Cardenas River Canyon. Feel the humid atmosphere of the cloud forest through which you walk. This ecosystem plays a crucial role in the water cycle in this part of the country.
Enjoy a picnic with a memorable view of the valley and the mystical jungle before heading to the traditional farm that will host you for the night.
This is a wonderful opportunity to share a warm moment with the family, learn more about the daily labor of these farmers, and understand the harshness of life in these highlands.
Depart from Salento in a Jeep Willys, heading towards the Cocora Valley. Start your hike by observing the wax palms, the giants that have become iconic in Colombia.
Continue your route up the Cardenas River Canyon. Feel the humid atmosphere of the cloud forest through which you walk. This ecosystem plays a crucial role in the water cycle in this part of the country.
Enjoy a picnic with a memorable view of the valley and the mystical jungle before heading to the traditional farm that will host you for the night.
This is a wonderful opportunity to share a warm moment with the family, learn more about the daily labor of these farmers, and understand the harshness of life in these highlands.
Today's stage: 9.5 km | 850 m ascent | 550 m descent | Max Altitude: 4250 m | ~8 hours
After breakfast, head towards the edge of the Paramillo del Quindio and take in the dazzling mountain with its shades of brown, orange, and yellow.
Enter the páramo ecosystem and its fields of frailejones, an iconic plant of this landscape. This ecosystem is a vital water reservoir for small and large cities in the Andean region, making its importance paramount in Colombia.
If the weather permits, try to glimpse Nevado del Tolima's conical shape before descending to Finca Berlin for the night.
After breakfast, head towards the edge of the Paramillo del Quindio and take in the dazzling mountain with its shades of brown, orange, and yellow.
Enter the páramo ecosystem and its fields of frailejones, an iconic plant of this landscape. This ecosystem is a vital water reservoir for small and large cities in the Andean region, making its importance paramount in Colombia.
If the weather permits, try to glimpse Nevado del Tolima's conical shape before descending to Finca Berlin for the night.
Today's stage: 17.5 km | 450 m ascent | 1800 m descent | Max Altitude: 3900 m | ~7 hours
Leave the farm and descend into the Otún Valley to discover a new cloud forest, even better preserved than the previous one, thanks to the protected areas established here.
Cross Los Nevados National Park, Ucumarí Regional Natural Park, and the Otún Quimbaya Flora and Fauna Sanctuary, three important natural areas for biodiversity conservation.
Along the way, you might encounter or hear howler monkeys if they decide to show themselves. Conclude your adventure at Vereda El Cedral, where a vehicle will be waiting to take you to Pereira.
Leave the farm and descend into the Otún Valley to discover a new cloud forest, even better preserved than the previous one, thanks to the protected areas established here.
Cross Los Nevados National Park, Ucumarí Regional Natural Park, and the Otún Quimbaya Flora and Fauna Sanctuary, three important natural areas for biodiversity conservation.
Along the way, you might encounter or hear howler monkeys if they decide to show themselves. Conclude your adventure at Vereda El Cedral, where a vehicle will be waiting to take you to Pereira.
Must know
- Click on the "contact this expert" button and complete our online form (1min).
- Tomplanmytrip will receive your answers and create a WhatsApp group to put you in touch with the agency.
- Once the group has been created, you can chat freely with the agency to get all the answers you need.
- Then it's up to you to decide whether or not to book your experience.
- The variety of ecosystems traversed makes this hike special. In 3 days, you will move through the upper Andean forest, cloud forest, and páramos.
- Guides trained in high-altitude mountaineering and certified as wilderness first responders will accompany you.
- Moderate difficulty. A decent physical condition is enough to complete this trek.
- The environment is very humid so that you might get wet. Nights are cold.
- The experience starts in Salento and ends in Pereira.
- If the three treks we recommend with this agency don't suit you, they offer other hikes ranging from 1 to 7 days. Check with your expert.
- Prices are for a private tour, but there's an option to join a group for better rates.
- Medical assistance insurance for 3 days.
- Transport from Salento to Cocora and from Cedral to Pereira.
- Local and trained mountain guide (Spanish or English).
- All meals: from breakfast on day 1 to lunch on day 3 (meals at farms or picnic lunches).
- Daily snacks.
- Accommodation (2 nights in a mountain farm - shared rooms with 2 or 3 bunk beds per room).
- Hot drinks in the shelters.
- Loan of trekking poles and rain ponchos.
- Water purification throughout the trip.
Prices:
- Prices are indicative and are to be confirmed with your expert.
- Prices depend on the options chosen, the number of people, and exchange rate fluctuations.
Choose your package:
- The prices on the page correspond to a private 3-day/2-night stay with a certified guide who speaks Spanish or English.
Why choose this option:
- The variety of ecosystems you traverse in just 3 days makes this route attractive.
- Guides are from the region and trained in high-altitude mountaineering.
- Perfect logistics allow you to hike with a relatively light pack. No tent or sleeping bag is needed. You only carry food for the day and your belongings for 3 days.
- Share and discover a bit of the daily life of the families who host you in a warm atmosphere.
- This trek is accessible to people in good physical condition and offers a great overview of Los Nevados's landscapes.
- It's a wonderful experience if you want to try a multi-day trek.
What may disappoint:
- You'll be in a humid and cool environment. The paths can be muddy, and visibility might be low.
- The shelters are basic but have what you need: beds, blankets, hearty meals, and a warm atmosphere.
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