The Nevado del Huila is an active stratovolcano located in the Central Cordillera of Colombia. Its summit reaches 5,364 m s. no. m. being the fourth highest mountain in the country after the twin peaks of the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta and Ritacuba Blanco. The snowy peak, which is the central point of the Nevado del Huila National Natural Park, is territorially divided between the departments of Huila, Tolima and Cauca, its summit being the highest point of the three. It has a glacier cap of more than 20 km².
Initially, people who are going to participate are recommended to arrive one day before the point where the expedition will begin, outside the days (5 days) that are planned. To do this, you have to arrive to the City of Santander de Quilichao, located in the southwest of the country, in the middle of the central mountain range. So, to get to this place it is necessary to locate ourselves in the city of Cali as it is the closest city to the meeting point. It can be done by land or air
Upon arrival.
TREKKING TOUR: The Huila Glacier, (north route)
DAY 1:
Departure from Santander de Quilichao. We will start our first day of expedition boarding the transport, which in the early hours of the morning will take us to the cabins of Páez. Once in the place we will be received by a family of the Nasa indigenous people who will be sharing and guiding aspects of the community. After that, a brief walk will be undertaken through magical settings of our high Colombian mountains, in which the sacred site "LAGUNA DE PAEZ" stands out, where we can appreciate the magic of one of the most important water mattresses in the region. This journey will take us three hours to go and return.
Day 2:
Cabins of Páez - Colombian Camp
Departure from the cabins in the morning in order to get a good day of trekking. We will get up at 05:00 am, considering that the journey is made up of high mountains and therefore is quite complex. We will have a good breakfast and we will get ready to start the second day of ascent. As we advance along the path, altitude is rapidly gaining, which is why it is necessary that we find ourselves well hydrated, especially in such rough and demanding terrain. It is recommended to collect plenty of water.
Our purpose for this day is to reach the Base Camp or "Colombian" at 4400 masl. As planned, we will camp in this place, where all the protocols for the rapid installation of the tents will be followed, followed by a delicious hot drink, since this place is characterized by strong winds and low temperatures. We end the day with a dinner that compensates for the energy lost during the ascent.DAY 3 : Colombian Camp. "Acclimatization"We will wake up in the morning to enjoy the great view of the north, crest and central peaks of the snow-capped HUILA. The purpose of this day is recovery and rest, important conditions to consider for a good acclimatization and adaptation to the heights. During the day, we will have a brief talk concerning the management of climbing equipment. We will end the day with a delicious dinner and we will prepare to rest so that we can get up early to attempt the summit of the North Peak.DAY 4: Summit attempt ascent.We start the day with a delicious aromatic followed by a pleasant breakfast very appropriate for the conditions that will be at the mercy of this day.Early in the morning we set out to the edge of the snow at 4800 masl. Those who want to climb and attempt the summit with us have to leave base camp at least at 03:00 in the morning, and must bring required equipment for climbing such as: ice axes, crampons, harness and other elements. The others who do not want to attempt the summit will be on the edge of snow, accompanied by another team enjoying the glacier. They will be able to visit different places and live unique experiences in places that are characterized by their incredible views. In the afternoon we will begin our return to the base camp where the team will offer you, in addition to dinner, a delicious fruit cocktail. We will spend another night there.Day 5: DescentIt will begin with the descent from the Colombian camp, to the Cabañas de Páez point, where the vehicle will pick us up. From there we will return to Santander de Quilichao in order to return to our homes.