Day 1.
Total Distance: 17km
Estimate time: 7-8 hours
Altitud gain: 2400m – 3800m – 3700m
Distance to Estrella de agua: 7km. / Time: 4 hours
Hike from Cocora Valley through the “San jose” creek to “Estrella de agua”, biological station located at 3,170m (10,400ft); home of 96 species of Birds and mammals as the uncommon Spectacled Bear, Mountain tapir and much more; enjoy lunch on a traditional wood stove with Doña Ludivia, Don Carlos and their son “Juancho”, whom are doing what they love for this place, maintain the tracks and have them in perfect conditions.
Then continue for another 2km inside the humid high Andean forest, this will be the toughest, steepest and muddiest part, until páramo ecosystem at 3,600m (11,811 ft); at this point you will be stock with awe for the quick changes in vegetation; 15min for a quick rest and to get ready for the final push, another 200m (656 ft) to get the highest point for the first day, 3,800m (12,467 ft). Along the ridge of “la virgen ridge” we will hike 5km more, with the views of the two sides of the inter andean valleys; the towering Tolima volcano and the massive Quindio volcano.
Day 2.
Total Distance: 20km
Estimate time: 11 – 12 hours
Altitud gain: 3700m – 5220 – 3700m
The Day starts very early with our final approach to the mountain. Cold mornings are waiting ahead and our hike have just start. From hilly paths the hike will take around 3 hours before this become steeper and higher. The march get us into the Super – Páramo ecosystem, an scenery arid, a desert left by corrosive action of the ice, ashes and debris left from the past eruption and the so many that have occurred.
Now over the 5,000m (16.404ft) after the sketchy and exposed scrambling the ice appears, the Team ropes up and push upwards for the final try. summit, located at 5.220m (17.126ft).
Even though the Tolima volcano, is not the most difficult climb you ever achieved, the approach is very demanding and one of the most difficult task of the climb, gaining 1.500m (3.281ft) in a one day.
Back at the farm the day ends with warm dinner,welcoming laughs, and great stories to tell.
Day 3.
Total Distance: 17km
Estimate time: 7 – 8 hours
Altitud gain: 3700m – 4000m – 2400m
From the Primavera farm (3,700m / 12,139ft) the hike starts towards “La linea” pass at 4,000m (13,123ft) and next to La Argentina farm, whit the astonishing views of Paramillo del Quindo or Quindio Volcano, an old structure, big caldera with about 2km in diameter.
We will descent trough the canyon of the “Cardenas” creek, which is the main flowing of the Quindio River; here, the presence of the “Black chested – buzzard eagle” many bird life and the rare and endemic “Rufous fronted parakeet”, having crossed the valley, hiked over Páramo and Sub – Páramo, We will descend in direction of the Argentina farm and later Cocora Valley one of the most visited places in Salento; the corner of biodiversity with over more than 1000 wax palms; home of the Black-and chestnut eagle, hunting and breeding area.
Picked up By the traditional Willys and drop back in your Hostel.
Includes:
• Private transfer from your hostel to Cocora valley and back to town
• Two Dinners, one Breakfast at “La Primavera” farm
• Mules
• Lunch at Estrella de agua reserve
• One Picnic after summit and light breakfast for the summit day
• Snacks for the hike
• Bilingual guide
• Water treatment (When necessary)
• Insurance
• Mountain gear
Not Included:
• Packs
• Rain Gear
2-3 people (Price per person) :$350USD
EASY: No experience needed
MEDIUM: Little experience needed
HARD: Experience is needed
Trekking grades
It is very hard to precise the difficulty of the Hike or the Climb; overall it depends on the grade fitness of the client, the altitud, the number of days of the expedition and the time involved during the trip; both fiscally and mental preparation are fundamental. Therefore We have decided to rate the hikes/Expeditions 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6.
Even more the climbs and the hikes are therefore likely to change the grade of difficulty depending on the weather season (Raining/Dry). However please have in mind that this are factors that change with every client and affects different especially the altitud, and thus the ratings are not definitive. This should be use as a guide through out the decision of your trip.
1: Well marked paths; Needed little or none experience. Time of duration 4-6 hrs, Hikes below 4000m. Health and fitness is beneficial.
2: Muddy terrain, uneven paths – Hikes above 4000m – Duration of the hike 6 – 8hrs minimum – Need some hiking gear and especial clothes requirements. Health and fitness is necessary.
3: Uneven paths with rocks and mud – Hikes above 4000m – Duration 8 – 10hrs – Duration of the expedition 3 – 5 days. Health and fitness is necessary.
4: Paths that can get lost during the hike – Some bushwhacking needed in some of the cases – Need some skills with specialised gear – Might need the use of your hand for balance. Fitness and endurance necessary.
5: Hikes below 5000m – May need to rope up, use harness and climbing gear – 4 to 6 days of hiking – 8 to 10hrs or more needed – Experience is required at altitud – Fitness and endurance required.
6: Expeditions +7 days – Climbing skills needed – Experience on remote places is required – Objetives of more that +5000m – Duration of the hikes between 10 to +12hrs – Level of fitness and endurance need to be very high.
SWISS ALPINE CLUB SCALE
SWISS ALPINE CLUB SCALE
International French Adjectival System (IFAS)
F: facile (easy). Straightforward, possibly a glacial approach, snow and ice will often be at an easy angle.
PD: peu difficile (slightly difficult). Routes may be longer at altitude, with snow and ice slopes up to 45 degrees. Glaciers are more complex, scrambling is harder, climbing may require some belaying, descent may involve rappelling. More objective hazards.
AD: assez difficile (fairly difficult). Fairly hard, snow and ice at an angle of 45-65 degrees, rock climbing up to UIAA grade III, but not sustained, belayed climbing in addition to a large amount of exposed but easier terrain. Significant objective hazard.
D: difficile (difficult). Hard, more serious with rock climbing at IV and V, snow and ice slopes at 50-70 degrees. Routes may be long and sustained or harder but shorter. Serious objective hazards.
TD: très difficile (very difficult). Very hard, routes at this grades are serious undertakings with high level of objective danger. Sustained snow and ice at an angle of 65-80 degrees, rock climbing at grade V and VI with possible aid, very long sections of hard climbing.
ED1/2/3/4: extrêmement difficile (extremely difficult). Extremely hard, exceptional objective danger, vertical ice slopes and rock climbing up to VI to VIII, with possible aid pitches.
ABO: Abominablement difficile (abominable) Difficulty and danger at their limit.
Often a + (pronounced Sup for supérieur) or a − (pronounced Inf for inférieur) is placed after the grade to indicate if a particular climb is at the lower or upper end of that grade (e.g., a climb slightly harder than “PD+” might be “AD−”).
