Santa Isabel Volcano
Pereira, Colombia
Snow meets big skies at Santa Isabel Volcano, whose towering 16,240-foot (4,965-meter) summit can be reached without technical climbing skills. Instead, trekkers walk up through ecosystems from woodland to paramo wetlands to rapidly melting glaciers. Santa Isabel Volcano is less active than nearby Nevado del Ruiz, which is sometimes closed due to eruption risk.
The basics
Climbing Santa Isabel Volcano is a popular day trip from both Pereira and Salento, which generally combines round-trip transport with a guided hike. Get ready for an early start; some trips depart before 5am and don’t return until dinner. While there are multiple possible hiking routes, one popular option is a trail that’s 4.2 miles (6.75 kilometers) round trip, a challenging trek over varied terrain at high elevation.
Things to know before you go
Plan to wear layered clothing, including gloves and a rain jacket.
Since the sun is intense at this altitude, double up on high-SPF sunscreen.
Many tours stop at small cafés and shops, so bring cash to purchase snacks and souvenirs.
How to get there
Santa Isabel Volcano is within Los Nevados National Park, accessible from the travel hubs of Manizales, Pereira, and Ibagué. Roads into the park are best suited to 4-wheel drive vehicles. Rental sedans won’t cut it on the bumpy, sometimes deeply rutted surfaces, which is one reason most people visit on guided tours.
When to get there
The relatively dry months of December–March and July–August bring sunny skies and adventurous visitors to Los Nevados National Park. There’s a good reason it’s peak hiking season—trails and roads within the park can become impassable with mud for the rest of the year.
The best hikes in Los Nevados National Park
If you’re up for tackling a big, multi-day adventure, consider the 16,400-foot (5,000-meter) Nevado del Tolima, a strenuous climb that generally takes around four days round-trip. Not all the hiking in Los Nevados National Park is so taxing or at such high altitudes. The 9-mile (15-kilometer) walk through the Cocora Valley (Valle de Cocora) crosses a gentler landscape of lush hills and towering palm trees.
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