NEVADO SANTA ISABEL SUMMIT

In this post, we’ll share our experience summiting the Santa Isabel Glacier, which will soon become a Paramillo 🥲(mountain that has lost its permanent glacier due to climate change). If you're reading this, we’ll leave you all the information you need to visit this place.

👉 Click here to know more details about the tour to Nevado Santa Isabel 🗻.

YOU WILL FIND THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION:

Let's start this adventure!⛰.

[ See this post in Spanish version SP]

INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT NEVADO SANTA ISABEL 🧑‍🏫

As an interesting fact about Nevado Santa Isabel, we have to mention that it is located near the central mountain range of Colombia. It has an altitude of 4.965 meters over the level sea 🏔. Then, this place borders Risaralda, Caldas, and Toluma departments, which is the highest peak of Risaralda.

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.

Nevado Santa Isabel will be the next Nevado to lose its glacier completely during 20230. Nowadays, it has less than a square kilometer of snow, so it is considered the lowest and most accessible snowy summit in Colombia.

LOCATIONS OBSERVED DURING THE ASCENT OF NEVADO SANTA ISABEL

TOURS TO NEVADO SANTA ISABEL SUMMIT 🧳

As you may be aware, Natural National Parks only allow a certain number of tourists each day, so we advise you to make a reservation as soon as possible.

Depending on the time of year, the cost to climb the peak of Nevado Santa Isabel can change. It typically costs between $1,150.000 COP and $1,850.000 COP (per person). The number of people affects this expense.

This tour includes:

  • 🚌 Transportation from Pereira to Manizales
  • 2 🥨 Breakfast
  • 2 🍝 Lunch
  • 1 🍝 Dinner
  • ⚕️ Medical insurance assistance
  • 🛌 Lodging
  • 👨 High mountain guide certified by Natural Parks
  • 🪖 Ice equipment: Harness and carabiner, helmet, ice axe, gaiters, headlamp, and crampons.

To see group outings to natural parks, click here 👈 .

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WHERE IS LOCATED NEVADO SANTA ISABEL?

As previously stated, it is situated close to Colombia's central mountain range, which includes the departments of Risaralda, Caldas, and Tolima. Additionally, as you may already be aware, it features two snow-capped peaks: one to the north and one to the south.I would like to remind you that the northern peak receives the most snowfall.

Something very important here, is that we want to highlight How to get to Nevado Santa Isabel, you could do it in different ways as we will point out later

  • First, you can take a Jeep from Santa Rosa (Risaralda) to Potosi, a community that provides access to Laguna el Otún, which takes four hours. Once you arrive in Potosí, it will take you six hours to hike to the Nevado Santa Isabel southern peak, which is not sufficiently snow-covered.

  • The other location that the agencies use the most is by traveling through the El Cisne zone, which is the highest tourist destination in Colombia and is located 4.152 meters above sea level. The northern peak (most snowy summits) is simpler to reach from this location, which is about three hours away by car from Manizales. We'll explain it here.

HOW TO GET TO NEVADO SANTA ISABEL 🏃 ?

DAY #1

At five in the morning, the agency we hired transported us to the city of Pereira, where our journey began. We used the opportunity to take a quick picture after picking up the car because we had to get up early to complete packing our bags and making our travel plans 😴. We stopped for brunch as our first stop along the way. Furthermore, we were aware of the cold as we were eating breakfast.

Banner Chaqueta

Along the way, we also stopped to talk with the other members of the group. We were shocked to see so many visitors who were in amazement of the incredible scenery.

The guide came to us to explain that the acclimatization hike would start in a lake after engaging in a fascinating conversation with our guests.

LAGUNA VERDE

Visit this beautiful lagoon, it was a hike really demanding for us moderate but demanding at least, but full of landscapes (total duration of the hike, 4 hours)

Photo: Laguna Verde

Photo by: @vanecarmona91

After the hike, we were driven to the hotel, where we had lunch and spent some time learning more about the area. Since they phoned us in the afternoon to have a ´´Introductory equipment conversation´´, they instructed us on how to make use of all the equipment we would need to climb the top 🧗‍♂️, including crampons, ice axes, helmets, harnesses, and more.

It is advised that you exercise caution once you are equipped to ascend the peak. Examine the crampons thoroughly because one of the group members had to have them changed due to an adjustment issue.

Once the conversion concluded, we had our time for dinner. When we finished, we headed toward rooms to check the fronto luz (flashlight)was working in excellent conditions and fully-charged, and packing our luggage that we would need to the climbing such as: gloves, thermal lycra, waterproof pants, fleece jacket, waterproof jacket, long-sleeve fleece (you can find all this clothing visiting our online store) by clickinghere.

I admit that mos to us could not sleep to think about the time to reach the peak 😅.

LODGINGS NEAR TO NEVADO SANTA ISABEL 🛌

As you may be aware, the unique lodging near Nevado Santa Isabel is the El Cisne visitor center, which is only accessible with a Natural Parks-certified guide and with a prior reservation because visitor access is restricted.

Photo: Accommodation at El Cisne

ROUTE TO THE PEAK OF NEVADO SANTA ISABEL 🚶🏼🏔

DAY #2

Approximately at 1:00 a.m, the cars arrived to take us to the starting point of the hiking route. I'll admit that most of us were a little anxious because we didn't know how difficult the climb would be, and even though the weather was pleasant with a light drizzle, it was raining during the night. We therefore made the decision to put on our waterproof coats. Before we started, the guide at least came to us with a few suggestions.

Photo: Ascent to Nevado Santa Isabel

Photo by: @juancanon.ph

There were a number of rock-filled, gently sloping climbing zones. A few minutes later, we noticed some snow-covered boulders. When we reached the completely snow-covered area, we put on our gear and began the climb. Little lakes were seen as we climbed, which stood in stark contrast to the lovely forest with frailejón plant🌲. We eventually made it to the top of Santa Isabel 😍 after a great deal of fog and rain.

Photo: Summit of Nevado Santa Isabel

Foto por: @juancanon.ph

Once we reached the peak, the excitement was so great that we couldn't believe we were there 😮🤩, that's why despite the weather conditions, the ascent, and the journey, we finally made it and felt completely privileged to have enjoyed this magical place. So if you want to take this tour, enjoy every second, every moment, every place you pass through because it is simply amazing.

RECOMMENDATIONS TO VISIT NEVADO SANTA ISABEL

  • If you want to travel on a weekend during peak season, we recommend making the reservation at least 2 months in advance.

  • In case you are climbing and start to feel any complications such as dizziness or headache, you must inform the guide immediately.

  • Wear appropriate clothing for this route, such as waterproof pants and jacket, as well as a thermal fleece. (Apply the onion technique, which consists of wearing several garments in different layers to protect yourself from the cold, instead of one thick one).

This is the end of the route to Nevado Santa Isabel, don't forget to follow us on our social media to discover more places like this👉 Instagram and Youtube.