Los Nevados National Park is the perfect place in the coffee region for trekking tours to glaciers and lakes. The park covers 583 km2 and is located in the regions of Caldas, Risaralda, Quindío and Tolima at an altitude of 2660 to 5321 meters. The ecosystems consist of forests in the valleys to glaciers and páramo / super páramo, with limited vegetation and the typical frailejones trees. The 3 highest snow-capped peaks are the Nevado del Ruiz (5,321m), the Nevado del Santa Isabel (4965m) and the Nevado del Tolima (5215m).
Active volcanoIn 1985, the Nevado del Ruiz volcano erupted and devastated the town of Amero, killing 25,000 people. Volcanic activity is still observed from Nevado del Ruiz. PNN los Nevados is open to visitors, but due to possible volcanic activity, the viewpoint at Nevado del Ruiz at 5100 meters is closed to visitors. Volcanic activity is closely monitored, including with cameras.
Tours and trekking tours range from a short car tour (5 km, from the Brisas entrance in Manizales) to an ascent of the Nevado de Santa Isabel glacier or a multi-day trek to the Nevado del Tolima. Trekking tours can be booked through Paramo Trek in Salento, Andes Turismo y aventura in Santa Rosa de Cabal and Ecosistemas in Manizales, among others.
#ColombiaMyWay Hotel Tip
Stay in a hotel with thermal pools
Near the Los Nevados National ParkWe stayed at the Hotel Termales del Ruiz, a former “ski resort”, at an altitude of 3500 meters. (See photo) Its location in a bird sanctuary is spectacular. As well as bathing in the two natural thermal pools, you can hike along the marked hiking trails (with or without a guide) and feed the many hummingbirds. We really wanted to visit Los Nevados National Park, which is 12 km from the Hotel Termales del Ruiz. We were able to arrange a driver through the hotel to take us through the park by car.
How do you get there?
Hotel Termales is located off the beaten track. There is no bus to get there, you can reach it by rental car or private transportation from Manizales. (36km, approx. 1.5h) The hotel is 22km from La Nubia airport in Manizales.
Would you like to know more? Then read here about the trip we took ourselves to Termales del Ruiz and the trip to Los Nevados National Park.
