Tolima volcano Expedition

Day 1.
Total distance: 10km
Estimated time: 5 – 6 hrs
Altitud gain: 2400m – 3400m

Starting from the Cocora valley 2,400m (7,874ft), one of the most visited places in Salento; the corner of biodiversity; over more than 1000 wax palms; home of the Black-and chestnut eagle, hunting and breeding area. We will ascent trough the canyon of the “Cardenas” creek, which is the main flowing of the Quindio River. Lodging in a traditional milk farm at 3,400m (11,154ft) with a “Salento” family, creator of the extinct “Salentina” potato cultivar.

Day 2
Total distance: 20km

Estimated time: 8 – 10hrs
Altitud Gain: 3400m – 4750 – 3700m

Enjoy the views of the Tolima Volcano, and far away the imposing Quindio Volcano, with Its rare colors and variety of textures your mind will blow up. Within Its direction you will notice many changes in the vegetation; progressively from the bottom of the crater until the arid and silently summit of the Volcano 4,750m (15,583ft); You will get drawn but this giant mountain, composed by the stratification of ashes and small plants of the Super- Páramo ecosystem such as many lichens and Senecio genus within Its many endemism.

Next move towards the farm to get rest and fuel up for the rest of the expedition.

Day 3
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 4
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 5.
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.