OPTION 1

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: 7km
Distance to High camp: 7km
Estimated time: 5 – 6hrs
Altitud gain: 3700m – 4300m

Early, continue for a short day inside páramo ecosystem, slightly hilly terrain will conduct us through the first slopes of the Tolima volcano. Hike besides “Toche” river; the hike will spot some of the unseen scenarios, like the vast peatlands and extensive marshes. Get the best view of the Toche valley, Cauca valley and the mountain massif complex (Ruiz-Tolima) with all the glaciers in the park; home of the Andean Condor, the Black Chested Buzzard Eagle, the Buffy Helmetcrest hummingbird among others.
Camp on the upper slopes of the Tolima Volcano and get ready for the Summit day.

Day 3
Total distance: 3km to the Summit and Back to camp / 8km to Next farm
Estimated time: 5hrs to Summit / 4-5hrs to Next Camp
Altitud gain: 4300m – 5220m – 3700m

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).
The climb on the ice is 200m, at the last bit it is a crevasses field and once cross it, We climb a small cornice and walk till the summit.

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 4.
Total Distance: 17km
Estimate time: 7 – 8 hours
Altitud gain: 3700m – 4000m – 2400m

From the 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.

OPCION 2

Day 1.
Total distance: 10km
Estimated time: 6-7 hr
Altitud gain: 2400 – 3400m

Begin the trip from Cocora valley 2,400m (7,874ft), a very well known place in Salento; Stay at “la Argentina” Farm located close to the borders of Los Nevados National Park 3.400m (11.154ft).

Day 2.
Total distance: 13km
Estimated time: 7- 8hrs
Altitud gain: 3400m – 4000m – 4300m

Early, continue for a long day inside páramo ecosystem, slightly hilly terrain will conduct us through the first slopes of the Tolima volcano. Hike besides “Toche” river and spot some of the unseen scenarios, like the vast peatlands and extensive marshes. Get the best view of the Toche valley, Cauca valley and the mountain massif complex (Ruiz-Tolima) with all the glaciers in the park; home of the Andean Condor, the Black Chested Buzzard Eagle, the Buffy Helmetcrest hummingbird among others.
Camp on the upper slopes of the Tolima Volcano and get ready for the Summit day.

Day 3
Total distance: 3km to the Summit and Back to camp / 12km to Next camp
Estimated time: 5hrs to Summit / 4-5hrs to Next Camp
Altitud gain: 4000m -5220m – 3750m

Over the 5,000m (16.404ft) after the sketchy and exposed scrambling the ice appears, the Team ropes up and push upwards to the top. summit, located at 5.220m (17.126ft).
The climb on the ice is 200m, at the last bit it is a crevasses field and once cross it, We climb a small cornice and walk till the summit.

Back at the farm the day ends with warm dinner,welcoming laughs, and great stories to tell.

Day 4.
Total Distance: 17km
Estimate time: 7 – 8 hours
Altitud gain: 3700m – 4000m – 2400m

From the 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 and two breakfast at one of the closest farms of Tolima volcano
• Dinner for the pre summit day
• One Picnic after summit and light breakfast for the summit day
• Snacks for the hike
• Bilingual guide
• Water treatment (When necessary)
• Insurance
• Mules

• Mountain gear

Not Included:

• Packs
• Rain Gear

Book – done with 50% payment 

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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

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−”).