HIKING COFFEE REGION
If you visit only one area of Colombia, make it the Coffee Region/Eje Cafetero. Not only is it the source of the best coffee in the world, but it is also a magnificent representation of the country’s varied geography, its immense biodiversity, and its farming culture.
Colombia’s Eje Cafetero is located in the centre of the country, usually referring to the departments of Caldas, Risaralda, and Quindío. The region is situated deep in the Andes Mountains, specifically in the Cordillera Occidental, and is home to fertile, volcanic soil perfect for growing coffee. While the three aforementioned departments encompass the heart of the coffee region, coffee culture is also highly present in the surrounding regions of Valle de Cauca, Tolima, and southern Antioquia. As such, the coffee region is at the heart of paisa culture, a socio-anthropological term referring to residents of the region. Paisa culture is built around coffee, not to mention some of the most hospitable people and delicious food to be found in the country.
Many of Colombia’s most iconic attractions are in the Coffee Region, including Los Nevados, a collection of glaciated volcanoes that loom over the region. Cocora Valley with its hummingbirds and 60-meter/200-foot palm trees, and the quaint town of Salento, with its colonial houses and beautiful scenery, and of course, the coffee farms that produce the finest beans in the world. The Valle de Cocora is one of the top tourist attractions in Eje Cafetero. The Parque Natural Bosque de Palmas is the biggest draw of the valley and is so impressive that it inspired the setting for the famous Disney movie, Encanto.
The region also has lesser-known but equally amazing places with the unique páramo environment, found only in Colombia, Venezuela, and Ecuador. Cloud forests full of exotic birds and flowers; glacial lakes high in the mountains that supply drinking water to the pueblos and Andean fincas/farms thousands of meters/feet up and away from civilization. The Eje Cafetero has many outstanding hiking opportunities besides the Valle de Cocora, including simple jaunts in the cloud forests of the Eco Parque Los Yarumos in Manizales and serious summiting adventures on the 17,457 foot/5,321 metre high Nevado del Ruiz, also located near Manizales.
For our blog on hiking Valle de Cocora, click this link Hiking Cocora Valley
HERE ARE SOME HIKES OTHER THAN VALLE DE COCORA:
OTÚN LAGOON & PÁRAMO CALDAS
Los Nevados National Park is located on the central mountain range of the Colombian Andes and has an area of 61,200 hectares/151,228 acres with a maximum altitude of 5,321 meters/17,457 feet, the Nevado del Ruiz summit. The lowest altitude of 2,600 metres/8,530 feet is in the Andean forests. The park is located between the Caldas, Risaralda, Quindío, and Tolima departments.
The park features special and unique flora and fauna. Its wide geography features three volcanoes, Ruiz, Santa Isabel, and Tolima. Large páramo areas of alpine moorland, forests, lakes, and rivers where many species of animals and plants live, some of which are endangered species.
Los Nevados National Park is, thanks to an extensive number of hiking and trekking trails, the hikers’ paradise, and the choice of the best trail for you only depends on the time you have and on your level of fitness. Some hikes can be accomplished in one day; however, if you choose a one-day hike, check the elevation first because of the risk of altitude sickness. It is more common to spend at least one night, not only to enjoy the scenery but also to connect with locals living at the farms further in the park.
It is suggested that the best time to visit Los Nevados National Park is from January to February and from July to August. These months are when the weather is drier and less cloudy. This way you can avoid hiking muddy and potentially more dangerous trails, while enjoying breathtaking views. However, páramo weather is unpredictable, so it is possible to have sun followed fairly rapidly by rain and fog.
No matter if you are an experienced hiker or a beginner who has always wanted to enjoy stunning nature firsthand, Los Nevados National Park is here to reveal the beauty of the Colombian Andes.
Distance & Duration:
14 km/9 mile round-trip taking 6 to7 hours.
Highlights:
High altitude trail through páramo with fascinating frailejones, unbelievable views of Nevado del Ruiz, Otún Lake, and flower-strewn meadows.
Difficulty:
Moderate to hard due to the high altitude of about 3,900 metres/12,795 feet.
Tips:
Dress in layers as the weather is unpredictable, with rain and sunshine alternating constantly.
CERRO GOBIA RISARALDA
The park covers an area of 272 hectares/560 acres, with altitudes ranging from 1,900 meters/6,234 feet above sea level to 1,315 meters/4,314 feet. The vegetation is entirely secondary forest in an excellent state of preservation. Around one hundred and fifty species of birds have been identified, of which four are endemic to Colombia. It has become an important reserve for the conservation of flora and fauna.
There are defined trails with guides available, two rock lookout points called Cristo Rey and Ultima Piedra with excellent visibility where one can observe much of the municipal area, as well as the nearby mountain ranges and hills.
Distance & Duration:
2.7 km/1.7 miles and will take about 1½ hours round trip.
Highlights:
Vista point with panoramic views over Quinchía and magnificent Andean landscapes.
Difficulty:
Moderate with some elevation gain and thus suitable for a half‑day hike.
BARBAS BREMEN RESERVE FILANDIA
Howler monkeys
Experience an unforgettable adventure in the Barbas-Bremen Reserve, just minutes from Filandia. There are 4 kms/2 ½ miles of trails with dense vegetation, birds, the imposing Howler Monkey and a stunning waterfall of crystal clear water.
These monkeys produce a sound that can be heard up to 3 miles away, thanks to an enlarged hyoid bone in their throat, which acts as a powerful resonator. It is the males who make these calls to mark their territory. The hike has trails through dense Andean rainforest, so it is recommended to hire a local guide to navigate the trails and to help observe the fascinating wildlife.
Hike details:
Total Distance: 2.4 miles/3.9 km
Hiking Time: 3 hours
Hiking Inclination: 6,233 feet/1,900 metres to 6,594 feet/2,010 metres
The hike has trails through dense Andean rainforest, so it is recommended to hire a local guide to navigate the trails and help observe the fascinating wildlife.
NEVADO DE SANTA ISABEL SUMMIT
The unique Nevado Santa Isabel Glacier, or Poleka Kasue in the ancestral language, is found in the Central Andean mountain range in Colombia. This tropical glacier, due to its rapid rate of retreat, is studied and investigated internationally to establish the effects of Global Warming. With a highest point of approximately 5,100 meters/16,732 feet over 80 km2/31 square miles, the Santa Isabel Glacier is perfect for those with little time to spare but the skill and prior experience to attempt this summit.
Encircled by lakes, the ascent to Nevado Santa Isabel is notable. Of particular interest is the complex of domes that crown its summit, making it one of the continent’s rarest snow-capped mountains.
Find yourself on top of the world at 5,000 meters/16,404 feet above sea level. From the city to the top of a glacier, with tropical forests, cloud forests, sub-páramo, páramo, and super páramo ecosystems in between. A unique experience that will stay with you for the rest of your life.
Hike details:
Distance: 7 – 10 km/4.4 – 6.2 miles round trip
Time: 4 – 6 hours
Elevation: 4,000 – 4,800 m/13,123 – 15,748 feet
Highlights: Approach to the glacier zone of one of Colombia’s remaining snow peaks, Páramo landscapes, frailejones, and stunning views. Excellent intro to high-altitude hiking without technical climbing
Tips:
Needs 4×4 transport to the trailhead from Manizales
Requires park entry coordination (with guides, permits)
Dress for extreme cold; an early start is recommended
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