Valle de las Tumbas
A rocky scene near Nevado del Ruiz.
Ulughmuztagh — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Ulughmuztagh — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Msolerg — CC BY 4.0 · Msolerg — CC BY 4.0 · Johan Andrés Toro — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Alejandro Bayer T. — Public domain
Los Nevados National Park lies in the Cordillera Central of the Colombian Andes and holds the country's highest and northernmost active volcanoes: Nevado del Ruiz, Nevado del Tolima and Nevado de Santa Isabel, with their icy summits. It spans four departments and supplies water to more than two million people. The park closed temporarily on 31 March 2023 amid fears of an eruption of Nevado del Ruiz, reopening that August. Sources say entry through the northern Brisas sector goes only as far as the Valle de las Tumbas while the orange alert stands. The glaciers are retreating severely: three peaks lost theirs completely by the 1960s, and those on Tolima and Santa Isabel are expected to vanish between 2030 and 2040. The high moorland called páramo covers about 80% of the park, home to the strange frailejón with its silvery furry leaves. Above it lies a lunar land of rock and ash. Lakes such as Otún and Laguna Negra mirror the mountains. You may see the Andean condor, and spectacled bears and mountain tapirs live here, though they are rarely seen. The mapped park point is 34.7 km in a straight line south-east of Manizales. The altitude is very high, so acclimatise first, and go down at once if you feel badly dizzy. The weather is cold and changeable, so bring warm clothes. Check the volcano status on the Colombian Geological Service site, and ask which sectors are open before setting out, as a guide is obligatory in some.
A rocky scene near Nevado del Ruiz.
Silver-leaved plants of the páramo.
An ice-capped volcanic cone.
Cordillera Central, between Caldas, Quindío, Risaralda and Tolima
Sources say entry from Brisas stops at the Valle de las Tumbas during the orange alert, so ask before going.
It is very high, so acclimatise first and go down at once if you feel badly dizzy or have a strong headache.