Colombia’s Andes: Geography

Overview

Explore Colombia’s magnificent Andes while discovering how to protect its unique ecosystems and alien-like paramos. Students connect with the country’s extraordinary natural biodiversity and learn ways of lowering their carbon footprint. This program includes a visit to an award-winning bio-construction project that is helping to preserve the surrounding Andean rainforest.

Details

Where: Los Nevados National Park, Quindio
Duration: 3 days +
Number of participants: 6 +
Cost: From $499 p/p*
Language: Spanish or English
Courses: Geography, geology, environmental science, tourism, STEM
Carbon emissions: 61kg of CO2e p/p – we offset 100% of these emissions plus your journey here! See below for more details.

Available Activities

Single and multi-day trekking in Los Nevados National Park
Camping and outdoor cooking
Coffee farm tour
Workshops with environmental conservation projects
Visit to thermal springs
Guest lectures from local experts
Reforestation
University visits and workshops
Agroforestry experience

Itinerary

Day 1: Arrivals

Private airport transfer from Manizales or Pereira airport to our mid-mountain lodge located in the Andes. Intro to the program, dinner and a bonfire under the stars.

Day 2: Hiking unique ecosystems

Today, students experience a páramo ecosystem with a hike to Laguna del Otún. As well as a spectacular hike, they discover unique flora and fauna in this unique ecosystem that only exists in this part of the world.

Altitude: 3,950m

Walking Time: 5-6 hours

Day 3: Hiking unique ecosystems

The students’ next hike heads up one of three volcanoes in Los Nevados – Santa Isabel. They reach the misty glacial peak, passing otherworldly ecosystems like mysterious cloud forests and bizarre vegetation like frailejones.

Altitude: 4,700m

Time: 5-6 hours

Day 4: Coffee farm visit in Salento

Transfer to the region’s most popular and beautiful colonial towns, Salento. Coffee farm visit, discovering a sustainable way of production. Free evening in the town.

Day 5: Award-winning forest conservation

Visit to a natural reserve that is helping to protect surrounding rainforest. Tour the site, take part in a reforestation project and bio-construction innovations.

Day 6: Hiking in Los Nevados National Park

Students head into the Valle de Cocora, hiking under one of the tallest palm tree species in the world, through cloud forests and to a beautiful humming bird sanctuary. Overnight camping.

Altitude: 3,800m

Walking Time: 6 hours

Day 7: Hiking in Los Nevados National Park

Students set off early, ascending an alternative route in the Cocora Valley and enter a different ecosystem. Return to Salento for farewell dinner in the town centre.

Altitude: 2,400m

Walking Time: 6 hours

Day 8: Departures

Private airport transfer to either Pereira or Manizales airport.

More Information

Free faculty places (contact us to find out more)
Overnight stays in hotels, mountain lodges and campsites
Internal transfers
Risk assessment and vital safety protocols
Health insurance
Full liability
Private and public transport
All meals (we’ve chosen varied dishes to give a real taste of Colombia)
Local biologist guides
Expert Kagumu local guides

We have worked out this trip generates an average of 61kg of CO2e per person. This includes all the carbon equivalent emissions (CO2e) from your trip including accommodation, food, transport, guides, and staff operations.

Extra potential CO2e emissions from your journey to and from Colombia
New York – Bogota; Bogota – Pereira: 531kg (round trip)
Panama – Medellin; Medellin – Pereira: 183kg (round trip)

You can read more about how we measure our carbon emissions by reading our climate action policy here.

Flexible bookings

Book now, pay later. Due to changing circumstances we make it easy for you to reserve your educational trip without paying a deposit upfront!.