Outdoors
Anyone can climb mountains:
We’ll prove it
Colombia a country full of diversity, mountains, jungle and culture. A complex and fascinating place you truly have to experience
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Crested Outdoors: Where Ordinary People Become Andean Adventurers
#ClimbMOUNTAINS
ABOUT US
At Crested Outdoors, we believe anyone can climb mountains – with the right preparation and guidance. We don’t just take you to the peaks; we equip you with the skills, training, and confidence to make your Andean adventure unforgettable.
Crested Outdoors provides end-to-end mountain ascent support: professional gear selection, customized training, and adaptive climbing techniques to safely achieve your high-altitude goals in the Andes
Why Our Guides Make the Difference
WFR Certified (Wilderness First Responder) – meaning they can stitch you up mid-slope if needed
ACGME Accredited – (Colombia’s toughest guiding standard) – no YouTube-taught cowboys here
Disaster Whisperers – trained to turn “Oh shit” moments into “Good story later” ones
No Cookie-Cutter Adventures
We’ve guided:
• 65-year-old grandmothers to Santa Isabel’s summit (with celebratory aguardiente at basecamp)
#Outdoorlife
Want to Know More? Check Out This Blog Section
Expert mountain guides
Diego Zurek
Co-Founder – Mountain Guide – Logistics Coordinator
I started my mountain career at the age of 25, drawn to long, self-supported hikes. The Andes inspired me to climb and become an international mountain guide.
Co-Founder – Mountain Guide – Logistics Coordinator
I started my mountain career at the age of 25, drawn to long, self-supported hikes. The Andes inspired me to climb and become an international mountain guide.
Benjamin Echeverry
Co-Founder – Nature and Hiking Guide
My motto is to guide the walker through immersive experiences in the countryside, exploring paths, inhabitants, and biogeographical moments, reconstructing memory about a tangible present in Nature.
Co-Founder – Nature and Hiking Guide
My motto is to guide the walker through immersive experiences in the countryside, exploring paths, inhabitants, and biogeographical moments, reconstructing memory about a tangible present in Nature.
Sebastian Monrroy
Mountain and Hiking Guide
My hikes began in 2010 when I discovered the Andean mountains and their life zones. From there, I started learning more to become a guide and teach about wildlife, flora, climate, and cultural surroundings during the tours.
Mountain and Hiking Guide
My hikes began in 2010 when I discovered the Andean mountains and their life zones. From there, I started learning more to become a guide and teach about wildlife, flora, climate, and cultural surroundings during the tours.
Jose Forero
Hiking Guide
From the city of Ibagué, as a reference for M-Sar, a mountain rescuer and member of the Colombian Red Cross, Tolima section, I have been exploring Los Nevados National Natural Park since 2008.
Hiking Guide
From the city of Ibagué, as a reference for M-Sar, a mountain rescuer and member of the Colombian Red Cross, Tolima section, I have been exploring Los Nevados National Natural Park since 2008.
See It All – Dive Into the Gallery
The outbond
“Wow. Colombia is amazing. While we had some wild weather, this was one of the most enjoyable five days of our entire trip. I’m not sure what you have in your head when you think of Colombia, but for me, it sure wasn’t this. I highly recommend a visit.“
Veronica Spann
“If you’re heading to Salento during your travels of Colombia and thinking about going to see the wax palms in Cocora Valley, I would highly recommend not stopping there”.
Verified Nevado del Tolima adventure! Our trip to the Páramo at Nevado del Tolima with Crested Outdoors was absolutely outstanding. The guides demonstrated excellent technical preparation, impeccable service, and an in-depth knowledge of the area. They were the best in every aspect—from ensuring our safety with top-notch equipment to providing hearty, well-planned meals throughout the journey. Their commitment to quality and genuine care made the adventure not only enjoyable but also educational. We highly recommend Crested Outdoors for anyone looking for a memorable and well-supported adventure.Verified Magical Hike Through the Paramo w/ Benjamin My boyfriend and I decided to tack on a four day/ three night hike with Crested Outdoors through Los Nevados before a wedding in Pereira. I felt like I really got a chance to experience the region and one of the most unique ecosystems in the world.The absolutely highlight of our trek - together with the wonder of the ecosystems we got to trek through - was our guide Benjamin. He is an ecologist/botanist by trade who is so passionate about Nevados and the Andes mountains. I learned so much from him (including practicing my Spanish) and appreciated his support and enthusiasm throughout our at times strenuous hike. Our hike started on Monday in Salento, a beautiful mountain town with lots of delicious food and coffee shops. We flew into Pereira late Saturday night and then spent Sunday in Salento acclimating to the altitude (which I definitely recommend).On Monday morning, we were picked up in Salento with our guide and headed to El Cedral. From there we hike a full day through the lower Andean jungle to ElJordan, a small, clean and well run finca at the base of a waterfall. The food at this finca was delicious - soup, rice, plantains, chicken and delicious homemade hot chocolate. On the second day we hiked through the high Andean jungle and into the paramo - an ecosystem unique to this part of the world with a ton of endemic plants and animals. We stayed at Finca Berlin, a larger and also very well run finca with delicious food and cozy double bunk beds.On the third day we hiked from the valley of the paramo up to our highest point (4150m) and down through a dwarf forest to Finca Buenos Aires. We could have summits one of the nearby peaks on this day but the visibility was limited and we felt like we were seeing plenty as is. The final day was all downhill through the different layers of Andean jungle, once again full of plants and animals. The forest and the paramo were truly magical and felt like walking through a world out of a fantasy novel.To summarize, a few tips:-Bring every item listed on the Crested Outdoors packing list (especially the poles). Really. -Be prepared for safe, inviting and cozy but minimalist accomodations.-Be flexible! It’s the wilderness and it is magical and can be challenging (but that’s part of the fun).Verified Hiking the Paramo with Benjamin We completed Crested's "Hike the Paramo" with Benjamin in November 2024. Setting out from the Valle de Corcora early in the morning and, along with our 35L packs, carrying only film cameras that were unsuitable for the climate, we hiked, climbed, waded, stumbled in the mud and fell, and sometimes, when we felt like it, even ran across terrain that became less and less familiar the farther in we got, finally arriving like medieval pilgrims at the remote ranch that was to host us for the night before the next day's trek down. Something about these hills compelled us to think critically as we hiked, energetically — and at times breathlessly — discussing art, philosophy, and literature as we rose higher into those hills (which, in retrospect, may have contributed to the altitude sickness/existential crisis that overcame me on those muddy, boggy moors mere moments before arriving at the ranch). But the night's rest left us all in good health and, with time and the weather on our side, the second day proved even more rewarding, as we looked upon the Paramo's diverse nature and climate now revealed to us by an unobstructed mountain sun. Returning through hill and wood, we made the decision to tack on a couple more hours in order to catch the wax palms we’d bypassed on the way up. While certainly not our journey’s climax — they have, after all, increasingly been marketed as something for tourists to impersonally marvel at — the palms offered some of the best photos from the trip and helped us to feel that our impractical insistence on 35mm film was at least in part justified.I'd also like to specifically acknowledge our tour guide, Benjamin, and how much he contributed to the success of this trip. Beyond his knowledge of the environment and Colombia more generally, his sociability and willingness to participate in conversations with us (which sometimes flickered between Spanish and English as I tried to practice my Spanish) not only made the hike more memorable but also, I hope, created a lasting friendship. All in all, absolutely recommend this hike. As long as you’re in good health and enthusiastic, it is totally manageable (as long as the weather agrees). Just make sure to plan the rest of your Colombia trip accordingly: by the time we reached Bogota the next day, we were overcome with a weariness, both mental and physical, which kept us from properly appreciating the city.Verified Amazing 3-day trek to a volcano summit, with a great guide and delicious sandwiches Diego guided us on an amazing 3-day trek, through the Paramos and to the summit of a volcano (the Caldera loop). We always felt safe and he took great care of us. Along the way we could practice our Spanish with him and learned a lot about Colombia. His homemade sandwiches are amazing! They were vegan (per our request) and they were so good that we encouraged him to start a sandwich shop. Hope you do some day!Thanks for an amazing time. Easily our best hiking experience in Colombia :)Verified Don't Wait - Book It! I did a three-day hike to Nevado del Tolima with Diego, and the whole experience was awesome! The trip was quite spontaneous, but Diego replied super fast from the beginning and helped me out with the equipment. Even though it is a demanding and challenging hike (due to the altitude), I felt in safe hands from the start. He really knows what he is doing. He gave me so many interesting facts about the region, Colombia, and its history. I know many mountain guides in Switzerland, but he topped them all. Even the lunch and snacks he prepared were super delicious!Sleeping at the farm was really cozy, with good food, and the people were very warm and humble. I'm still traveling in Colombia, but I'm not sure if anything could top this experience! Diego is still giving me advice and tips on what to do next. He really goes the extra mile! If you like hiking and nature, I truly recommend it, especially Crested Outdoors!Verified Paramo trek - Great adventure! We did the paramo trek and it was great, we had a very good adventure! Sebastián has been very good guida and very nice with us, he’s very experienced and helped us a lot! The hike was quite challenging in some parts but very worth the pain! Can’t wait for the next one!Verified Los Nevados Quindio Circuit Adventure! We, myself, wife, friend and 11 year old son did the Quindio West Face Circuit without the Volcano summit (i.e. direct to next farm). The hike was amazing, and the guide Diego was exceptional. Diego attentively listened to my son talk about his life in Canada for 4 hours while we hiked down from Finca Argentina, and he taught him how to solve a Rubik's cube. Crested Outdoor is Diego's company and he is incredibly responsive, diligent, and organized. He did everything in his power to assure we had a good time, and to assure our safety. A month later after leaving Colombia I find myself reminiscing more about hike than anything else. The scenery, and people along the way made this the unique experience we were looking for, in contrast to the normal tourist travel activities. If your fit, and tough, do it! Diego has a great list of what you'll need for clothing. A couple things we would have done differently. 1) Left the hiking boots in Canada and rented rubber boots. 2) Possibly found a way to acclimatize more (not sure how)...we spent 1 night in Bogota and 2 nights in Salento prior to trip. For your reference, we found this more difficult than multi-day backpacking/camping trips in the Rockies.Verified Short but unforgetable hike to the paramo We did a short, 1n/2d trek up to paramo and back. It was a bit challenging for our average fitness level but sooo worth it! Amazing landscapes, mule caravans passing us along the way, beautiful nature all around (and a lot of mud ;)), and amazing views. Even sleeping on a farm high in the mountains was an adventure in itself. The trip was very well organized, our guide was awesome - very attentive and fun. Trekking in Los Nevados for at least 2 days is a must if you are in the area and love mountains.Verified BOOK THIS TRIP! I booked the Corners of the Park trip as a solo traveler. The trip was just me and Diego.After reading the outstanding reviews about Diego on this site, I was sold on his trips.As a professional guide myself, I can say that Diego and his company are top of the line. I honestly could not think of anything he could have done differently to make the trip go smoother. He answered my emails right away and thoroughly, met me at my hostel before the trip departed, and once on the trip made safety a top priority. I liked that he would talk in Spanish with me so that I could practice and not just speak in English.Diego went above and beyond to make sure my entire trip in Colombia went well. After our trip he set me up on another trip with his friend and after weeks after our trip was over even gave me a ride to a whole other town when the bus wasn't running.Look no further. Crested Outdoors and Diego are what you are looking for!Verified Best way to explore Los Nevados We did the 2 day 1 night “hiking the paramo” trek with Diego and highly recommend him as a guide. Diego met with us the night before at our hostel to make sure we had all the necessary gear and let us borrow anything we were missing (backpack, walking poles, etc). Throughout the hike he was very knowledgeable and taught about everything from local fauna, Colombian culture, and the various ecosystems we explored. Diego made sure that we were feeling okay throughout the hike (altitude can be an issue for some) and we felt we were in very good hands. We slept in a remote farm called finca Buenos Aires. Though very rustic (it doesn’t have electricity) it was an amazing experience and we really enjoyed Enrique’s hospitality and cooking. On the second day we climbed up to the Paramo and back down to the Cocora Valley. Overall a very challenging but rewarding two day hike with a fantastic guide. Strongly recommend this experience if you are in the Salento region. The only 2 things we wish we knew before starting was how challenging and muddy it will be. We are two relatively fit young adults and found the ascend difficult (do-able, but take caution if you have knee problems that the descent was very hard on our knees). It was raining almost all of our first day and the trail was very wet and muddy. Our shoes were good quality trekking shoes but not waterproof. I’m not sure wearing the rubber boots would have been better since they are less comfortable, but if you have access to waterproof shoes you like consider packing them for this trip.Verified by TrustindexTrustindex verified badge is the Universal Symbol of Trust. Only the greatest companies can get the verified badge who has a review score above 4.5, based on customer reviews over the past 12 months. Read more
Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Our trip to the Páramo at Nevado del Tolima with Crested Outdoors was absolutely outstanding. The guides demonstrated excellent technical preparation, impeccable service, and an in-depth knowledge of the area. They were the best in every aspect—from ensuring our safety with top-notch equipment to providing hearty, well-planned meals throughout the journey. Their commitment to quality and genuine care made the adventure not only enjoyable but also educational. We highly recommend Crested Outdoors for anyone looking for a memorable and well-supported adventure.Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. We had an excellent trek with Crested Outdoors!! Diego and Pablo were extremely personable and took great care to ensure we were prepared, happy, and safe. We did the 4 day trek and summitted El Paramillo del Quíndio. Highly recommend!Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. The Good This hike takes you to the places with truly breathtaking scenery. We learned a lot about the zones that we traveled through from our guide. Benjamin is very knowledgeable about the local plants and ecosystems. He has a wonderful personality. He has interests and knowledge in so many different areas, which makes time spend on the hike twice more entertaining. We were never bored with him. Overall, the hike was worth every drop of sweat! The Bad The highest point of the trail is only worth doing when the weather is clear, which must be happening very rarely. We spent about four hours walking in the fog just to see nothing. One way to improve the experience would be a discussion within the group if the summit should be attempted. If the weather not optimal, enjoying the view from the lower elevation should be an option. The lunch on the last day can't be postponed until arrival to Salento. This is the longest hike of all three days. Hiking 18 km only with early breakfast is not a good way to do it. The Ugly The company must provide the guide with a GPS device, and an emergency communication device. Having lost the path on the way back and making some risky choices didn't give us a good feeling and we felt unsafe at some point.Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. This is the second time we've worked with Diego & Crested Outdoors. The first time was a summit of Quindio in 2017, and this more recent time in October 2024 was a summit of the much more difficult Tolima Volcano. Impeccable service, planning, and coordination. Diego is a pro and will provide for you the trip of a lifetime. Recommended on the highest possible terms.Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. I somehow convinced three of my hiking curious friends to do the 2 day/1 night trek with Benjamin. Diego was so helpful in answering all questions and ensuring we were prepared for the hike. The scenery was absolutely gorgeous, and the hike was perfectly challenging and beautiful. The mileage wasn’t super high but it was mostly straight incline and quite muddy on the first day, so be prepared! The farm we stayed at was also very cold, which we anticipated. We felt the price was very fair, and the service was great. The first day took longer than expected and we ended up hiking past sunset. Additionally, one of our group had some issues and fell and dislocated his shoulder on the second day. Benjamin was extremely patient with this, and he made sure that my friend made it to the end of the hike safely, even going so far as to help him carry his bags. I would definitely book again for a longer trip, but might consider bringing a more experienced friend to hike with. Even with these issues, each of us agreed that it was an incredible experience, and we are so happy we did it! The views were stunning, and it was a lovely time. It was my favorite part of visiting Colombia!!! We are so grateful to Benjamin and Crested Outdoor!!!!Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. We had a great time with Diego. He had expert knowledge of the area, skills and gear required, as well as fun history facts, knowledge about plants and birds, and was a general pleasure to hang out with! He was supportive and encouraging. Would recommend to anyone looking for a mountain adventure in the area!Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Diego guided us on an amazing 3-day trek, through the Paramos and to the summit of a volcano (the Caldera loop). We always felt safe and he took great care of us. Along the way we could practice our Spanish with him and learned a lot about Colombia. His homemade sandwiches are amazing! They were vegan (per our request) and they were so good that we encouraged him to start a sandwich shop. Hope you do some day! Thanks for an amazing time. Easily our best hiking experience in Colombia :)Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. We had an incredible adventure with our guide Benjamin during our 2-day Hike the Paramo route. Benjamin is a wonderful person and very knowledgeable of the different ecosystems we encountered during the hike. We are so glad he was our guide! We have experience hiking but we did find this hike to be difficult, especially the descent when the trail became damp from rain. Still, experiencing the different landscapes and hiking through the paramo is unforgettable and worth the climb! We stayed 1 night at La Primavera farm and Benjamin made sure we had everything we needed. If you like a challenge and want to experience a truly incredible adventure, book this hike!Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. I did a three-day hike to Nevado del Tolima. Diego was my guide, and I am still amazed. The whole experience was awesome! Diego is such a great guide—he is funny, knowledgeable about the region, Colombia, the culture, history, etc., and he makes you feel safe all the time. Sleeping at the farm was really cozy with good food, and the people were very warm and humble. I'm still traveling in Colombia, but I'm not sure if anything could top this experience! If you like hiking and nature, I truly recommend it, especially Crested Outdoors!Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. I did the 2 day Paramo hike with 3 other friends and it was an amazing experience. Admittedly the hike was tougher than we had anticipated and we are all relatively experienced hikers (part of this may have been the altitude and it was a bit muddy due to rain). Still, despite the difficulty the hike was definitely worth it for us. Diego was an amazing guide and helped pace us, show us the forest and wildlife and gave us some hiking tips as well. The views are absolutely stunning and there are multiple distinct landscapes within the hike each with their own appealing aspects and unique sites.