Extreme Colombia: From the Wax Palms to the Chicamocha Canyon
Eight days of extreme Colombian adventure: Bogotá, the Cocora Valley with the world's tallest palms, trekking in Los Nevados National Park, and paragliding in the Chicamocha Canyon.
Description
Colombia hides some of South America's most spectacular adventure landscapes, far from its beach-postcard image. This extreme 8-day itinerary begins in Bogotá with the climb up Monserrate to acclimatize at 3,152 meters above the Cundiboyacense savanna. From there, the journey continues to the Coffee Axis, where the Cocora Valley is home to the wax palms, Colombia's national tree: they reach heights of up to 60 meters and grow in a misty valley that seems straight out of a fairy tale. The trek enters Los Nevados National Natural Park, a páramo ecosystem at 4,800 meters with frailejones, glacial lagoons, and the Nevado del Tolima volcano as a backdrop. The adventure culminates in Santander, at the Chicamocha Canyon, a 2,000-meter-deep gorge where paragliding reigns supreme: soaring over the canyon with the Chicamocha River winding below is one of the most thrilling adrenaline experiences on the continent. The trip combines stays in coffee farms and mountain hostels.
Health & safety
- Altitude in Los Nevados: 4,800 m can cause severe altitude sickness
- The Fonce river has strong currents: raft only with a certified guide
- Yellow fever vaccine recommended for rural Colombian areas
Day-by-day itinerary
Bogotá: Monserrate and La Candelaria
Bogotá
Bogotá: Monserrate and La Candelaria
Arrival in Bogotá. Ascent of Monserrate to 3,152m. Stroll through colonial La Candelaria.
Ascent of Monserrate
Culture2hLa Candelaria and the Botero Museum
Culture2hFlight to the Coffee Axis: Salento
Salento
Flight to the Coffee Axis: Salento
Flight to Armenia or Pereira. Transfer to the town of Salento, heart of the Coffee Axis.
Stroll through Salento and its colorful balconies
Culture2hCoffee tour on a traditional farm
Culture2hCocora Valley: hiking among giant palms
Cocora Valley
Cocora Valley: hiking among giant palms
Full trek through the Cocora Valley: the world's tallest wax palms (up to 60m).
Cocora Valley circuit hike
Sports7hLos Nevados National Park: páramo and frailejones
Los Nevados NP
Los Nevados National Park: páramo and frailejones
Ascent to Los Nevados National Natural Park via the Cocora Valley. High-altitude trekking.
Trek through the Los Nevados páramo
Sports8hAndean condor watching
Nature1hTransfer to Chicamocha Canyon
San Gil
Transfer to Chicamocha Canyon
Overland journey to Santander. Arrival in San Gil, Colombia's adventure sports capital.
Stroll through San Gil and Gallineral Park
Nature2hParagliding over Chicamocha Canyon
Chicamocha Canyon
Paragliding over Chicamocha Canyon
Paragliding flight over the world's second-largest canyon (2,000m deep).
Paragliding over the Chicamocha
Sports3hChicamocha National Park (PANACHI)
Nature2hRafting and canyoning in San Gil
San Gil
Rafting and canyoning in San Gil
Rafting on the Fonce River, class III-IV, and rappelling down waterfalls.
Rafting on the Fonce River
Sports3hWaterfall rappelling
Sports3hReturn and farewell
Bucaramanga
Return and farewell
Morning transfer to Bucaramanga. Fried fat-bottomed ants (hormigas culonas) and return flight.
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