- CATEGORY: ADVENTURE / TREKKING
- DURATION: 2 DAYS
- NAME OF THE ROUTE: LOOKOUT NATURE
- DESCRIPTION:
This two day trek takes you deep into the central Colombian Andean range, where you will journey through the various mountain ecosystems found in the Los Nevados National Park. From the Cocora Valley with it’s iconic wax palms, the high Andean forest with botanical riches beyond belief, as well as the majestic paramo ecosystem- we have the opportunity to experience it all!
Lookout nature trek is the ideal option for first-time hikers who are looking to explore the Andes, interact with the local communities, search for unique and exotic birds and spend a night closer to the stars during their visit to Colombia.
- PLACES OF INTEREST:
- Cocora Valley ( Salento) / wax palms
- ‘Piedras gordas’ hill 4.200msnm
- Viewing point for the Nevado del Tolima and Paramillo del Quindío (weather dependent)
- Delicate Páramo ecosystem
- Full cultural immersion with the local farmers
- DIFFICULTY: CHALLENGING
For the physically active, with a spirit of adventure and who have some experience in traveling through mountainous terrain with a light backpack. Hikes from 6 to 7 hours a day, with distances between 10 and 14 kilometers (≈ 6-9 miles). The terrain is hilly, with steep slopes, irregular roads with mud and some sections without shade (direct sunlight). The elevation change is of minimum 1,000 meters and maximum 1,600 meters (≈2,000 – 5,200 feet), with an maximum altitude of 4,000 meters (≈13,000 feet).
- ITINERARY:
DAY PRIOR TO THE TREK: We ask all clients to please come to the Paramo Trek office in Salento (before 4pm) where we take you through a pre-departure briefing. We double-check you are adequately equipped (hiking shoes, clothes for the cold, waterproofs etc.) as well as complete any outstanding payments. We do have some equipment available for rent, however, this is on a first come first served basis.
DAY 1: We all meet at the Paramo Trek office at 7am where you are introduced to your guide/s before heading to our breakfast stop. Once full from our hearty breakfast, we all jump into a traditional Colombian ‘Willis’ jeep to our start of the trek at the Cocora Valley. We start walking at an altitude of 2,390 meters towards the forest, where you can see the valley of wax palms. A day dominated by ascent, we continue ascending through the forest until we reach our final destination of Day 1, the farm “La Argentina”, at an altitude of 3,400 meters.
DIA 2: After a typical rural Colombian breakfast, you will depart for your visit to the magical paramo ecosystem. From a starting altitude of 3.400 meters at finca la Argentina we ascend past the abandoned farm ‘Buenos Aires’ before reaching our goal, 4.000m of altitude, within the majestic paramo ecosystem within the Los Nevados National Park. From this point we have the possibility of seeing the Paramillo Del Quindio mountain 4,750 meters and the Nevado del Tolima glacial summit (5,210 meters)- weather depending.
(Here we have the option, depending on the group and weather conditions to continue ascending towards the ‘piedras gordas’ hill).
After an in-depth discussion about the importance of the Colombian paramos by your guide, the group start the descent, enjoying a hot drink when passing ‘La Argentina’ farm before continuing down the same path towards the Cocora Valley. After taking our private transport back to Salento, we finish our adventure by celebrating at dinner (included in the package price) at one of the finest restaurants in Salento.
