Santa Isabel Summit 4 days

Day 1: Otún River Valley and Beginning of the Páramo Ecosystem

• 7:00 AM: Breakfast in Pereira, then a trek through the cloud forests. Hike from 2,130m to La Pastora farm at 2,500m for lunch.
• 1:00 PM: Continue hiking to a mountain farm at 3,150m near a waterfall. Spend the night in a traditional Colombian farm.

Day 2: Entrance to the Páramo and Otún Lake

• 7:00 AM: After lunch, trek to Otún Lake viewpoints at 3,600m . Enjoy a stunning view and lunch. Register at the national park entrance and receive a welcome talk.

Day 3: Enchanted Lake “Laguna Verde”

• Morning: 4×4 drive to The Cisne shelter at 4,100m. Acclimatization and preparation for the summit. Afternoon hike to Laguna Verde and back.

Day 4: Nevado Santa Isabel Summit Attempt

• 1:30 AM: After a hot drink, start trekking towards the summit and the glacier. After a short, demanding walk on the ice, and depending on the climate and physical abilities of the group, reach the Summit with panoramic views over most of Colombia at 4700 meters of elevation. 
• 8 AM:  Descent to the trailhead and return to Manizales by 4*4.

7:00 am: After a traditional breakfast in Pereira, we will head to the rugged, well-preserved cloud forests that span three conservation reserves: Otún Quimbaya Fauna and Flora Sanctuary, Ucumarí Natural Regional Park, and Los Nevados National Park. If we’re fortunate, we may spot some howler monkeys. The trek begins at an altitude of 2130 meters. By midday, we will reach La Pastora farm at 2500 meters, where we will have lunch.

1:00 pm: We will resume our hike to the mountain farm, located at an altitude of 3150 meters, at the edge of the subpáramo zone, and overshadowed by a beautiful waterfall. We will spend the night there, sharing in the Colombian mountain culture around the warmth of a wood stove.

7:00 am: After a traditional breakfast at the mountain farm, we will start our trek to the Otún Lake viewpoints, which showcase the most beautiful and largest lake in the national park. The hike will lead us through the unique páramo ecosystem, found in only 4 countries worldwide. With some luck, we might see the Quindio Paramillo mountains, Santa Rosa Paramillo, the three glaciers of Santa Isabel, and the Tolima summit.

2:00 pm: We will arrive at the Otún Lake viewpoints and enjoy lunch with a stunning view. Afterward, we will proceed to the national park entrance, where we will register in the park book and receive a welcome talk from the park rangers.

After breakfast, a 4×4 will pick us up for a 50-minute drive to The Cisne shelter at 4,100 meters. During the journey, you’ll witness the breathtaking beauty of the Central Andes.

Start a 3hr hike ascending through the most well-preserved path in the area, leading us to Laguna Verde, a true gem of The Nevados National Park situated in the heart of the páramo ecosystem.Spend  few minutes admiring the extraordinary view before beginning our return to the shelter.

This day is dedicated to altitude acclimatization, ensuring we are fully prepared for the Santa Isabel summit attempt. Once back at the shelter, we will discuss techniques, the use of glacier equipment, and final recommendations for climbing the peak on day 4.

1:30am: Enjoy a hot drink and some energy bars. A 30-minute drive will take us to the trek starting point at 4,100 meters. We will traverse 3.7km through páramo and superpáramo ecosystems along a controlled path maintained by local operators. Estimated trekking time is 3 hours.

6:30am: Upon reaching the glacier’s edge, the guide will decide between the central and north peak based on the weather, the group’s experience, and condition. We will gear up and begin the summit attempt.
Once you reach the summit, delight in the spectacular view of the various peaks of the Central Mountain Range as the Ruiz and Tolima mountains, the Quindio and Santa Rosa páramo ecosystems, and possibly the Huila mountain. Take a moment to feel the satisfaction of achieving a great accomplishment. Here, you will feel the majesty of seeing the world from above and feel grateful for life.

Then return to our vehicle via the same path, stopping at the mountain lodge for lunch before descending to the city.

Optional Extra (Monday to Friday for private groups): During the car descent to Pereira or Santa Rosa, it is possible to take a break at the natural thermal baths (Termales San Vicente) for an additional cost. This option is usually unavailable on weekends due to high demand. Accommodation at the baths in a private cabin or classic room is also available.