Nevado del Tolima Summit

NIVEL 5. VERY DEMANDING

Only suitable for people physically and psychologically prepared for experiences of great effort and who want to go beyond their own limits. It is necessary to have previous experience in mountaineering. The activities can last more than 12 hours a day, with distances of up to 19 kilometers (≈12 miles) and a change in elevation of 2,800 meters (≈9,000ft). The terrain is rugged, with steep slopes, irregular roads or even without a path (exploratory), some sections with mud, others rocky, others sandy and without shade; Sometimes it may be necessary to use your hands for support and balance. The altitude is above 4,000 meters (≈13,000 ft) with a maximum of 5,212 meters (≈17,000 ft). The luggage will be carried by mules, only the daily equipment will be carried.

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 6am 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 iconic wax palms. We start our ascent in the High Andean Forest (commonly known as ‘Cloud Forest’) bordering the San José River. Our cooked lunch spot is at a traditional farm at an altitude of 3,170meters. After lunch we continue our ascent through the sub-páramo ecosystem until we reach the páramo, full with unique flora and wildlife, until we reach an altitude of 3,800meters. We then spend the final part of the first day descending to our accomodation for the night, the Finca La Primavera 3,700meters. Here the wood-burning oven not only warms us up but is the key ingredient for the traditional dinner cooked by the local family. Weather permitting, this last section provides unparalleled views of Nevados del Tolima glaciar.

Day 2: After having breakfast and arranging the equipment for the mules, the group will begin to walk towards the base camp. During the first couple hours of the morning you will walk between gentle ups and downs, until you reach the base of the Tolima mountain. Here you will have a steep ascent in order to reach the base camp, our home for the second evening at around 4,400 meters above sea level. We normally arrive around 3:00 pm which gives us time to organize the camp, have lunch and rest rest until dinner time at 6:00 p.m., your guide will also give a briefing for the next day, explaining about theice equipment and other important aspects of your safety during the following summit attempt. Throughout this day, you will have the opportunity to see view of breathtaking natural beauty between the páramo and subpáramo ecosystem.

Day 3: We take an early alpine breakfast at 2:30 am before starting our hike soon after. Continuing the ascent to the Heliport at 4,700 meters, the starting point of the steep ascent to the glacial border. From this point onwards it will sometimes be necessary to use the hands for support and balance since the terrain is more rocky, sloping and sandy and it is here that each member of the group puts on the helmet and the harness. At the beginning of the glacier at 4,800 meters the team organises their ice equipment(crampons, ice ax, glasses). Between this point and the Nevado del Tolima summit there is 2 km of steep ascent, If you manage to reach the top and the weather conditions and time allow it will be time to take advantage of the view, where you will be able to appreciate the different snowy peaks of the park national. The descent will be by the same route as the ascent. A descent time will be of more or less than 30 minutes to reach the edge of the glacier again there we will remove the ice equipment and begin to descend to the farm “La Primavera” where it is common to arrive around 5:00 pm.

Day 4: Following a delicious traditional breakfast prepared by our hosts, we start our day heading uphill towards our maximum altitude of 4,000 meters. After an in-depth discussion about the importance and problems facing the Colombian paramos by your guide, the group start their descent. This route gives us the opportunity to see the stunning ‘Paramillo del Quindio’ mountain and surrounding area of breathtaking, natural beauty. We mark the halfway stage of our day by enjoying a hot soup when passing ‘La Argentina’ farm, before completing the circuit back 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.

A: Cócora Valley  (2390m)

B: Finca La Primavera (3750m)

C: Campamento Base (4400m)

D: Cumbre Tolima (5210m)

• Undertake some basic acclimatization- ensure to go for a walk in Manizales upon arrival and stay hydrated.
• For your safety always comply with the recommendations of your guide throughout the tour
• Use of psychoactive substances is prohibited
• Do not drink alcohol the day before the activity
• Do not remove any vegetation of organic matter from the National Park
• Please be open and honest from the moment you contact us regarding medical information or other factors that impact upon your safety when isolated in the mountains.

• Adequate shoes (trekking/hiking boots – no sandals or sneakers. Must be at least semi-rigid to be fitted with crampons)
• Rain gear (rain jacket and rain pants)
• Head torch (remember we start the summit climb at night)
• Feather/Synthetic jackets and/or multiple layers of clothing for the cold of the summit.
• Clothes to change into at the end of day 1 and personal toiletries
• Backpack for your personal belongings and the snack packs more than 30liters
• Sunscreen, sunglasses and a hat
• Water bottle, we take care of the refill during the trek

Paramo Trek works according to the Colombian Law 300 that reserves the right to consider compelling reasons and circumstances for non-participation in the reserved and/or contracted activity and the respective reimbursement.

Once the booked activity/service has started, there is no reimbursement of the paid amount.

For cancellation of the booking prior to the agreed start date and time, without cause, will incur a 50% charge of the total value of the booked activity.

In case of a failure to use the service for extreme causes (death, hospitalization, accident duly certified), we will reimburse 80% of the paid amount.

Paramo Trek, due to the very nature of the tours we offer, have to be flexible and constantly evaluating all aspects of safety for our clients. Some of the places we visit are difficult to access with a lack of urban amenities, as well as subject to unpredictable and variable environmental conditions. We therefore consider these experiences to be for the adventurous, with our clients prepared to adapt and to be positive in the face of unexpected change.