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Colombia Hiking


Cocora Valley
Los Nevados National Park

Cocora Valley

Cocora Valley hike in Colombia
The wax palms of the Cocora Valley are supposedly the tallest of their kind. There is a popular day hike loop in the area (~10 miles, 1500ft)
La Montana in the Cocora Valley
Wax palms in the Valle de Cocora
Cocora valley loop hike near Salento Colombia
Wax palms of the Valle de Cocora in Colombia

Los Nevados Traverse

Los Nevados National Park hike in the paramo
Frailejones (fray-le-ho-nez) in the paramo
Crested Outdoors arranged a one way traverse of Los Nevados Park, starting in the Cocora Valley and ending on a farm near Laguna del Otun.  The highlight of the trek was reaching the paramo, a high altitude tropical swamp land with unique vegetation.  Los Nevados has the largest section of paramo in the country.
Hiker crossing a bridge
The trip was done during the end of "dry season" in February, the mornings were beautiful and we woke up before sunrise every day to enjoy them.  January offers the best chance for good weather and is the peak hiking season.  
The long climb to the top
It didn't take before the climbing started en route the farmhouse (7 miles, 3000ft gain)
Our group walking ahead
La Argentina Farm in Los Nevados
La Argentina Farm
We stayed with local Andean farmers in the park, who would provide dinner and breakfast.  La Argentina was the better of the accommodations, many generations of the same family have lived here. 
Our group at La Argentina farm
Staying warm in the kitchen
Inside the hut
Hallway in the farmhouse
Chickens at the farm
The chickens sitting on the fence admiring the view
This farm had a great view!
Frailejones on the Los Nevados National Park hike in Colombia
The next morning we continued to climb through the paramo, gaining around 4,500 ft elevation today
Our guide taking a break
Paramillo del Quindio hike in Los Nevados Park
Paramillo del Quindio
We summited Paramillo del Quindio (15,600 ft), which became covered in clouds by the afternoon.  The fog was thick returning from the summit and we could not find the trail.  Our guide, Camillo, acted like it was common to be lost here.
Near the summit
Near the summit
Picture
The farm on the second night was smaller, and had just enough room for the four of us
A farm on our approach to the laguna
It was another beautiful morning and a cold night, I used all eight sheep blankets provided at the farm to stay warm 
Laguna del Otun hike in Los Nevados National Park
Laguna del Otun
We finished our three day hike in the area around Laguna del Otun.  From there it was a long jeep ride to Santa Rosa del Cabal, and a return bus ride to Salento.
Laguna del Mosquito in Los Nevados hike in Colombia
Laguna del Mosquito

Salento

Willys Jeeps in Salento Colombia
Willys in Salento
Coffee Production at Cafe Don Elias
Coffee production at Finca las Brisas where they grow Cafe Don Elias
Playing Tejo at Betatown in Salento
Playing Tejo at Betatown in Salento, like cornhole but with gunpowder. Three points for an explosion

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Contact: darnoldhiking@gmail.com

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