Colombia's Sierra Nevada del Cocuy Trek
- Andean trekking in the Sierra Nevada del Cocuy
- Optional ascent of 5100 metre-high Pan de Azucar
- Visit Bogota, its markets and Gold Museum
- Acclimatisation hike above the charming town of Villa de Leyva
- Explore More - the best adventure holidays on the planet
Some of the most pristine and least well-known territory for trekking in the whole of Latin America can be found in the Colombian Andes. This groundbreaking itinerary starts out in the capital, Bogota, where we have time to explore the Candelaria district and its famous Gold Museum. We then transfer to the remote Sierra Nevada del Cocuy, stopping off for an acclimatisation walk above the picturesque town of Villa de Leyva, with its amazing central square. At Cocuy Village, we complete a further acclimatisation walk above the sheep farm and lodge at La Esperanza, before proceeding to the start of the Cocuy traverse. Accompanied by our local guides and trek crew, we trek through the heart of the range, crossing high passes and camping beside beautiful mountain lakes. Finally, above the mountain lodge at Susima, there is the option to make the ascent of the snow-covered Pan de Azucar (5100m), which has a summit panorama encompassing range upon range of glaciated peaks. You can be amongst the first to explore this magnificent region!
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This trip is one of our ‘Explore More' range of outstanding adventure holidays which we are running in conjunction with our friends at Allibert (France's leading adventure travel operators). The trips we have chosen for this range are undoubtedly some of the finest adventures on the planet. They are also ‘specialist' and will appeal to those who have ‘been there, done that' in many parts of the world and are now looking for something new. The cosmopolitan nature of the groups will be an important part of the Explore More experience!
Is this holiday for you?
The core of this Colombian adventure is the continuous 6-day trek through the Sierra Nevada del Cocuy. We spend a week in the country before embarking on this trek and for most of this time we are at elevations above 2600 metres, which is great for our acclimatisation. In addition, we have 3 acclimatisation hikes during this time, which will take us up to around 4000 metres and provide further, excellent preparation. The trek through the Sierra Nevada del Cocuy is reasonably sustained, walking for an average of 6 hours each day and crossing several passes above 4500 metres. Underfoot conditions are generally good, although there are sections of trail that are not well marked, as well as some boggy and rocky sections. Throughout this continuous trek, group members will carry their personal equipment (clothing and sleeping bag), with the group's communal equipment (tents, food etc.) carried by mules on the first 2 days and porters thereafter. On our last day in the Cocuy, there is the option to make the ascent of the peak Pan de Azucar at 5100 metres. This is not a technical ascent, but it does involve crossing glaciated terrain and crampons and trekking poles are required. The local guide will carry a rope during this ascent and climbing harnesses and ice-axes are provided from the mountain lodge at Susima.
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