Los Nevados from Pereira: Volcanic Peaks & Páramo Wilderness
The Los Nevados National Natural Park — accessible from Pereira in 2 hours — has four glaciated volcanoes above 5,000m; the most accessible approach to the snow line in all Colombia is through the Pereira-side entrance
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Nevado de Santa Isabel Trail
Nevado de Santa Isabel - the smallest and most accessible of Los Nevado's glaciated volcanoes - is accessed from the Pereira side by the El Cedral trail; the trek through the páramo to the glacier edge at 4,800m can be achieved by fit, acclimatised hikers
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Frailejón Páramo Forest
The Frailejón (Espeletia) plants of the Los Nevados páramo - growing only centimeters a year and living for hundreds of years - are among the most distinctive plants in the Americas; the páramo fields with silver-green rosettes create an extraordinary landscape
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Laguna del Otún
Laguna del Otún — a glacial lake at 3,990 m on the Pereira side of the park — is one of the Andes' most beautiful mountain lakes; the trail to the lake goes through páramo and cloud forest with an outstanding view of the volcanoes Ruiz and Santa Isabel
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Cañón del Quindío Hike
Cañón del Quindío — accessible from the park's southern edge near Armenia and Pereira — is a dramatic canyon cut by the upper Quindío River; the trail through the high altitude forest above the canyon is one of the region's finest walks
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Volcanic Geology
Los Nevados is located on one of the most active volcanic systems in South America - the park's geology includes fumaroles, volcanic lakes and lava fields; the visible evidence of volcanic activity, combined with the glaciers, make the park an extraordinary geological classroom
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Wildlife of the High Páramo
The high páramo of Los Nevados has an unusual wildlife adapted to extreme conditions - the spectacled bear, mountain tapir and puma live in the upper park; bird specialties include the Andean condor, which uses the thermals above the volcanoes