Arrival in Bogotá
Reception at the airport and transfer to hotel. The hotel is located in la Canderia, the colonial part of the capital’s downtown.
At arrival you will receive a Welcome Call from the Andes World Travel Team.

Bogotá – Full day city tour (2660 m)
Full-day private city tour to the historic part of Bogotá. After breakfast, meeting with guide for a city tour in Bogotá’s colonial downtown. The first visit is a cable car trip to the Monserrate Sanctuary, an iconic church located at an altitude of 3152 m, overlooking the city. Then the tour will continue by foot to see the charming colonial area known as La Candelaria and its main attractions: La Plaza Bolivar (Bogotá’s mains square), the museum of the famous Colombian artist Botero and the world famous gold museum.
Duration 6-7 hours.
Included meals: Breakfast

IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR BOGOTÁ CITY TOUR:

– The Gold Museum is closed every Monday, including Mondays that fall on a holiday.

– The Botero Museum is closed every Tuesday.

Trekking: Chingaza National Park – Trek to Siecha Lakes (3620 m)
An early drive to the entrance of the National Park in Guasca (3150 m), which will take roughly 2 hours, depending on traffic.

Upon registration, the team will commence the hike to the Siecha Lakes. The hike ascends through the Andean highland, known as the “paramo,” with its characteristic flora and fauna. First, we will pass by the National Park’s Paso Hondo Refuge, then ascend to the first of the lakes known as De Los Patos Lake. Next is Guasca Lake, and finally, the sacred Siecha Lake (3620 m). This last lake is where the Muisca indigenous ancestors practiced the legend of El Dorado, covering their bodies with gold dust to bathe and offer it to the lake and Mother Earth.

After the hike, we will drive back to Bogotá.

Ascent: 470 m / Descent: 470 m / Highest Altitude: 3620 m / Distance: 5.18 km one-way / Activity duration: 5-6 hours
Included meals: Breakfast, Picnic

Bogotá – Ibague – Anzoategüi – Palomar (2900 m)
Departure from Bogota early in the morning for a road trip descending from the Eastern Andes Cordillera into the Magdalena River Valley. It’s a very scenic mountain road where we can experience the change in vegetation and temperature as we descend in altitude. The Magdalena River is the country’s main river and historically served as the most important fluvial connection between the Caribbean coast and the Andes.

We’ll drive southwards, following the western margin of the river until reaching the city of Ibague, the capital of Tolima state. From here, it’s an 80 km transfer to the town of Anzoategüi via a paved road, followed by a 24 km stretch on a dirt road to El Palomar (2900 m). The entire journey takes approximately 6 hours. The team will stay at El Palomar rural Posada in shared dormitories for the night.
Night in shared dormitories.
Included meals: Breakfast, Picnic, Dinner

Trekking: “Vancouver” farm (3630 m)
Departure from “El Palomar”, taking a well-marked trail that starts at a place called: La Punta and it progressively gains altitude through the Andean highlands (Paramos). After 3,5 hours we’ll reach La Bombona Lake, very nice spot where we’ll have our lunch and a good break before the last section up to Vancouver Farm.

The second part of the hike continues over the humid “Paramo” vegetation until “Vancouver” farm (3630 m). Located in a shallow valley and a great view to Tolima volcano, it offers a nice dry place to stay.
Night in shared dormitories.
Ascent: 767 m / Descend: 286 m / Highest altitude: 3700 m / Distance: 10 Km / Activity duration: 6-7 h
Included meals: Breakfast, Picnic, Dinner

IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR VISITING LOS NEVADOS NATIONAL PARK:

In accordance with park regulations, Los Nevados National Park closes to visitors four times a year during the following periods:

* Easter Week: The week immediately after Easter, from Monday to Friday.
* May: From the third Monday of May until that Friday.
* September: From the fourth Monday of September until that Friday.
* November: From the fourth Monday of November until that Friday.

If you are planning your trip around these dates, please check with us in advance, as the exact closure dates may vary each year.

Trekking: “Cañon” campsite & Hot springs (3964 m)
Today’s hike is not as long as the one the day before, but it is though in acclimatization terms, to have a moderate altitude gain and boost the acclimatization before moving to the high camp.

The hike continues over the “Paramo”, moving westwards, heading towards the eastern flank of the volcano. It takes about 5 hours to cover the distance and the idea, is to reach the next camp “Cañon” (4000 m) around noon. Lunch will be served and the campsite setup.
This campsite has its own hot springs, which can be enjoyed and, if the weather is clear, a panoramic view to the Tolima Volcano.

For the active hiker, an additional short hike that can be done before leaving “Vancouver” farm and it is an ascent to Cerro Gabillo peak (3978 m), located close to the farm. The ascent will take about 2 hours depending on client’s physical shape and acclimatization.

Night in tents.
Ascent 411 m / Descend: 77 m / Highest Altitude: 3964 m / Distance: 8 Km / Activity duration: 5 h (With Cerro Gabillo Peak it will be 7 hours in all and 2,6 Km. more)

Included meals: Breakfast, Picnic, Dinner

Trekking: Tolima’s high camp (4345 m)
Today’s aim is to reach the Nevado del Tolima’s high camp. The team will have an easy-going morning, getting all the gear ready for the climb. The group will leave before midday, hiking by the El Placer valley, which present a gentle ascent and a very pleasant hike, with an enjoyable landscapes and view to both the volcanoes and the valleys below. The last section of the hike, follows a bit steep mountain side up to a ridge known as “El Calvito” and from there a short walk until the campsite called “Arenales”, which lies over a yellow sandy moraine. This camp can be quite windy and exposed, but with a very nice view. After setting up the camp, the guide will do a briefing about next day’s climb and help getting everything ready. There will be porters to carry equipment, food, water, etc. up to the campsite.
Night in tent.
Ascent: 381 m / Highest Altitude: 4345 m / Distance: 6,5 Km / Activity duration: 4 h
Included meals: Breakfast, Picnic, Dinner

Climb: Nevado del Tolima (5221 m)
Very early departure from the high camp, climbing up by a series of moraines of different steepness and few scrambling passages, before reaching the glacier at 4750 m. Here the group will prepare for the glacier crossing, starting on a very easy slope passing a couple of icy steep before the final plateau, where the main crater is, and then reaching the summit. Nevado del Tolima is an active volcano and the third highest summit in the central cordillera. The climb is not technical, but physical demanding, not only because of the ascent but also due to the distance to be cover. The descent follows the same trail down to the camp. After a good break and packing down the camp, the team will head down to the Primavera/Playa farm.
Night in tent.
Ascent: 876 m / Descend: 1452 m / Highest Altitude: 5221 m / Distance to the summit: 2,8 Km & from the summit back to the farm: 11,2 Km / Activity duration: 8-10 h
Included meals: Breakfast, Picnic, Dinner

Trekking: Salento (1919 m) by the Cardenas valley
Last day in the mountains! Leaving after breakfast back up to “La Linea” mountain pass (4019 m) and descending to the Quindio river (3804 m), after crossing a short ascent to the abandoned “Buenos Aires” farm. After about an hours, the “La Argentina” farm will come into view. Descent through beautiful landscapes and rainforest, making a semi-circular ascent ending the trail at the famous Cocora Valley, an spectacular valley located at 2425 meters adorn with Colombia’s national tree: The Wax Palm. Once in the Cocora Valley, the group will be picked up and transferred to the lovely town of Salento, by the traditional Willies jeeps (25 min.) that are a symbol of the coffee area´s coffee culture. Upon arrival in Salento, the group will be taken to a hotel located in the colonial part of the town. There will be good time to enjoy the town and drink some of Colombia’s best coffee!
Night in hotel.
Ascent: 250 m / Descent: 1594 m / Highest Altitude: 4019 m / Distance 16,5 Km / Activity duration: 6-8 h
Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Salento (1919 m) – Bogotá
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 for a last night at the capital.
Night in hotel.
Included meals: Breakfast

Departure
Pick up at hotel and transfer out to Bogotá’s Airport (1 h) – End of services
Included meals: Breakfast