LOS NEVADOS NATIONAL PARK

LOS NEVADOS NATIONAL NATURAL PARK WARNING! DUE TO THE RECENT ACTIVITY OF NEVADO DEL RUIZ VOLCANO THE PARK HAS BEEN CLOSED SINCE 31 MARCH. HOWEVER, THIS APPLIES ONLY TO THE NORTHERN PARTS OF THE PARK (NEVADO DEL RUIZ) SO FOR ACCESS TO THE SOUTHERN PARTS CHECK FOR THE LATEST INFORMATION ON THE GROUND ABOUT Los Nevados is a national park located in the Cordillera Central of the Colombian Andes in the departments of Caldas, Risaralda, Quindio and Tolima. The park includes several thermal levels with the Andean forests, páramo, permanent snow and glaciers. It also includes the watersheds of some rivers, such as Otún, Totarito, Molinos, Azufrado, Lagunillas, Campoalegre and Guali, among others. The highest peak of the park - an active volcano...

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LOS NEVADOS NATIONAL PARK

LOS NEVADOS NATIONAL PARK WARNING! DUE TO THE RECENT ACTIVITY OF NEVADO DEL RUIZ VOLCANO THE PARK HAS BEEN CLOSED SINCE 31 MARCH. HOWEVER, THIS APPLIES ONLY TO THE NORTHERN PARTS OF THE PARK (NEVADO DEL RUIZ) SO FOR ACCESS TO THE SOUTHERN PARTS CHECK FOR THE LATEST INFORMATION ON THE GROUND 1. About Los Nevados 2. Getting there and away 3. Accommodation 4. Trekking 5. Nevado del Tolima 6. Other i...

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ABOUT THIS SITE

ABOUT THIS SITE When I first set off for Colombia in February 2011 I found that there is not much information about climbing and trekking in Colombia on internet. Or maybe there is but to find out anything you need to visit at least 15 websites and many of them are in Spanish only. There doesn’t seem to be any guidebook either that would cover all those locations. So, after visiting all the climbing and trekking spots listed on this blog, I decided to put all the information collected along the road together and share it with others travellers. If you are not a climber you should still find lots of useful info about some popular places in Colombia. And, if you don’t feel confident enough about trekking independently or want to give rock climbing a try, I also provided information about guide...

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SIERRA NEVADA DEL COCUY

SIERRA NEVADA DEL COCUY 1. About Sierra Nevada del Cocuy 2. Getting there and away 3. Accommodation 4. Southern Cocuy 5. Northern Cocuy 6. Pan de Azúcar 7. Trekking 8. Other info...

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2012 Climbing season cont'd

Another day = another climbing day. And at a new place too. This time in Kalamarka, Slovakia. I love the Slovak countryside more and more. And I can't believe so few tourists visit the country. Not to mention climbers. They've got everything - from sport climbing to traditional climbing in Tatras and ice climbing on the waterfalls of Slovak Paradise. Shame. ...

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PAN DE AZÚCAR - NORMAL ROUTE

PAN DE AZÚCAR - NORMAL ROUTE To get to the base of Pan de Azúcar (and Púlpito del Diablo) follow the trail from Cabañas del Púlpito (the southern access) that passes Finca Hermanos Herrera. It is a wide, well visible horse trail up to Laguna Pintada. From there the path turns left to what is marked as "Hotelito - Púlpito" and gradually becomes a steeper ascent all the way to Campamento Lagunillas - the base camp for Pan de Azúcar. It is a great place for camping with great views, plenty of water and good protection from the wind. From there walk up north to the rocky plateau and follow the cairns (piles of stones) to the border of the glacier. If you are planning to climb Púlpito del Diablo it might be a good idea to set up a camp here. There...

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SIERRA NEVADA DEL COCUY: CLIMBING PART 2

SIERRA NEVADA DEL COCUY: CLIMBING PART 2 NORTH

ERN COCUY In this part of the massif you will find the highest mountains of Sierra Nevada del Cocuy: Ritacuba Blanco and Ritacuba Negro as well as La Aguja and Picos Sin Nombre. It is a 2-day trek from Cabañas de Kanwara to Laguna El Avellanal  - the base camp for the East Faces of the Ritacubas. The base camp - Las Playitas - for the "normal routes" is located in the western part of the mountains, 3 hours from Cabañas de Kanwara. A good topographic map can be found HERE RITACUBA BLANCO (Ritak U’wa Blanco) elevation: 5,410m / 17,749ft NORMAL ROUTE The normal route (access from the west) is a relatively easy, non-technical climb, though basic glacier travel gear is required....

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ABOUT

ABOUT THIS SITE ABOUT COLOMBIA 1. The Andes 2. Caribbean Region 3. Pacific Coast 4. Amazonia and Los Llanos See: COLOMBIA IN PICTURES ON FLI...

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SIERRA NEVADA DEL COCUY: ACCOMMODATION

SIERRA NEVADA DEL COCUY: ACCOMMODATION There are several accommodation options in both towns - El Cocuy and Güicán as well as higher up closer to the park entrance. Where you stay will depend on your climbing/hiking plans. El Cocuy is the access town for climbers visiting the peaks in the southern part of the park (Pan de Azúcar, Púlpito del Diablo, El Cóncavo, Concavito) and for hikers doing the counter-clockwise 6-day circuit. Güicán, on the other hand, is the best place to start the clockwise trek and for an approach to the highest peaks of the range: Ritacuba Blanco and Negro. In most hostels and haciendas food is served and guides and mules/horses can be hired. For acclimatization, staying in one of the places higher up is recommended...

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SIERRA NEVADA DEL COCUY: GETTING THERE AND AWAY

SIERRA NEVADA DEL COCUY: GETTING THERE AND AWAY FROM BOGOTÁ TO EL COCUY&GÜICÁN: buses leave from Terminal de Transporte (Calle 22 B, No 69-59) in Bogotá ($40,000/12h) usually at 5.00am, 6.30pm and 8.30pm. Timetables in Colombia aren’t always to be trusted so it’s best to either call the terminal to check or, even better, go there in person and buy tickets in advance (especially in high season when the buses may be full) Use the terminal’s search engine (but be aware it’s not 100% reliable) to search by destination. On the lechero truck with the locals FROM EL COCUY&GÜICÁN TO THE PARK'S ENTRANCE: el lechero (the milk truck) leaves from plaza in Güicán at 5.30am, stops in the main square of El Cocuy at 6am and does a counter-clockwise...

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New climbing season has just began!

After all those cold winter months and with the spring a little shy, the temperatures are rising again. We thought therefore that it was time to finally open a 2012 climbing season. This time it was at a local crag in Jakub, Slovakia. Lots of elephant moves but the strength's still there, I have to say! :) Jakub, Slovakia ...

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SIERRA NEVADA DEL COCUY: CLIMBING PART 1

SIERRA NEVADA DEL COCUY: CLIMBING PART 1 SOUTHERN COCUY Southern part of Sierra Nevada del Cocuy is where Pan de Azúcar and Púlpito del Diablo, amongst others, are located. To access this part you need to enter from Cabañas del Púlpito (Cabañas Guaicani on the map), sometimes referred to as Cueva Alta. It takes 1.5 hour from El Cocuy with lechero to get there (see: GETTING THERE for more info). For Púlpito del Diablo, the normal route of Pan de Azúcar and North Ridge of Campanillas Blanco follow the trail to Laguna Pintada and turn left there for what is marked as "Hotelito - Pulpito" and continue to Campamento Lagunilas (4.5h from the entrance). For the East Faces follow the trail at the intersection to Laguna de la Plaza. A good topographic...

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TAYRONA: OTHER INFO

TAYRONA: OTHER INFO ENTRANCE FEE You will have to pay an entrance fee before you’re allowed to enter the park. You will get a wristband and they will make you put it on your wrist. If you’re arriving by boat a park official will charge the fee. Different prices apply depending on whether you’re a foreigner or a Colombian citizen (a little annoying in my opinion). Officially, it is forbidden to bring alcohol, plastic and styrofoam to the park (a bit ridiculous if you ask me as beer, soft drinks, etc. are being sold in all restaurants in the park). Your bag might be searched by police at the entrance and inside the park (see below: DANGERS) El Zaino entrance The current prices are as follows: ADULTS: foreigners $35,000 Colombian residents...

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TAYRONA: ACCOMMODATION

TAYRONA: ACCOMMODATION There is a total of 8 campsites in Tayrona National Park. All of them rent hammocks, some have cabañas (huts), others rent tents (with mattresses and blankets). Anything else you might find on the internet that claims to be in Tayrona is located OUTSIDE the park. Note: all prices here are for low season; they will be higher during high season (e.g. Easter, June-August,  December-January) PLAYA CAÑAVERAL Cabañas in Playa Cañaveral Ecohabs (Aviatur) Camping, cabañas, restaurant, spa PRICES: camping $11,500pp Ecohab from $552,000 (with breakfast, accommodates 4)   PLAYA ARRECIFES  Camping Yuluka Camping Yuluka (Aviatur) Aviatur’s camping ground, cabañas and a restaurant located right...

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