Discover the Natural Wonders of the Snow-capped Volcanoes of Santa Isabel and Tolima, both famous destinations for hiking in Colombia. Find here useful information for your hiking trip to these two beautiful mountains in the Central Andes of Colombia.
The Andean Mountain Range
A large part of Colombia belongs to the so-called Andean highlands, consisting of the three Andean ranges which spread across a vast part of the territory.
Los Nevados National Natural Park is in the middle of one of these ranges, in what is known as the “Cordillera Central” or Central Andes (the middle range), splitting its territory through 4 departments named Tolima, Caldas, Risaralda, and Quindío.
At Los Nevados National Natural Park you will enjoy 6 volcanoes: Ruiz, Tolima, Santa Isabel, Cisne, Quindío and Paramillo de Santa Rosa.
Snow-capped Santa Isabel volcano
Santa Isabel volcano, also known as Poleka Kasue which translates “maiden of the mountain or princess of the snows”, was named after the ancient tribes of the area.
The Santa Isabel volcano is between the provinces of Risaralda, Tolima and Caldas, and sits in-between the other two snow-capped volcanoes: Ruiz and Tolima.
Santa Isabel is the lowest glaciated mountain in Colombia and one of the few equatorial glaciers in the world.
It consists of three main peaks:
- The Northern one at 4,964 meters above sea level,
- The Central one at 4,934 meters and
- The Southern peak at over 5,100 meters above sea level.
Hiking to the summit of Santa Isabel
Considering its moderate altitude it is not necessary to have experience in climbing snowy mountains. But it is important to take a day or two on a farm nearby the hiking trail to the summit to get used to the lack of oxygen and the weather.
For a better experience, 2 days of travel is highly recommended.
Nevado de Santa Isabel
Nevado de Santa Isabel (4,965m) is the most accessible glaciated peak in Colombia’s Los Nevados National Park. The standard route from the La Laguna trailhead crosses spectacular páramo landscapes dominated by frailejón plants before reaching the snowline at approximately 4,700 meters. While the glacier has retreated significantly due to climate change, the route still offers Colombia’s most approachable high-altitude snow experience.
The hike typically takes 2-3 days with overnight camps at designated sites. No technical mountaineering equipment is required for the standard route, though proper altitude acclimatization is essential — spending time in the Coffee Region at 1,800 meters provides an ideal warm-up before ascending.
Nevado del Tolima
Nevado del Tolima (5,215m) is a far more challenging objective — a symmetrical volcanic cone requiring 4-5 days round trip and basic mountaineering skills for the final glacier section. The approach passes through cloud forest, sub-páramo, and open páramo before reaching the volcanic cone itself. The Andean Condor is frequently spotted soaring above the thermal currents generated by the volcanic landscape.
Practical Considerations
Both hikes depart from the Cocora Valley area or from Ibagué’s Cañón del Combeima. Local guides are required for park access and essential for navigation, especially in the frequent cloud cover above 4,000 meters. The dry seasons (December-February and June-August) offer the best summit chances with clearer skies and firmer trails.
Equipment requirements include layered cold-weather clothing, rain protection, and for Tolima, crampons and ice axes for the glacier section. Hiking in Colombia at these altitudes demands physical fitness and respect for the mountain — altitude sickness is a real risk above 4,000 meters.
Sara Colmenares holds a Doctor of Science (D.Sc.) in Ecology from the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro and a Master’s degree in Botany from the same institution. Her doctoral research focused on palm ecology in the Atlantic Forest, supported by the Rufford Foundation conservation grant.
A published researcher in the Brazilian Journal of Plant Physiology and a member of the Association for Tropical Biology and Conservation (ATBC), Sara has presented her work at international conferences across Latin America and beyond. She was awarded the COLCIENCIAS “Virginia Gutiérrez de Pineda” fellowship, one of Colombia’s most competitive academic distinctions for young researchers.
Sara founded the Sula nature tourism brand in 2018, applying her scientific expertise to develop birding and wildlife experiences across Colombia’s six natural regions. Her fieldwork took her from the cloud forests of the Andes to the Amazon basin, the Pacific coast, and the plains of the Orinoquía. She combined deep ecological knowledge with firsthand experience to create content that is both scientifically accurate and practically useful for nature travelers.
She holds a B.Sc. in Biology from the National University of Colombia, where she also taught plant ecophysiology. She speaks Spanish, Portuguese, and English.