Trip info
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2 Starts Hotel
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Ground Transportation
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4.764 m.s.n.m.
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June to September
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Available
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Español – ingles – francés – italiano – portugués – alemán
Overview
This volcanic region, located in the western and central Andes mountain ranges of Nariño, Colombia, South America, is a breathtaking destination for adventure enthusiasts. As the Andes enter Colombia, they split into two branches, forming the Nudo de los Pastos (Knot of the Pastos), home to five imposing volcanoes: Chiles, Cumbal, Azufral, Doña Juana Cascabel, and Galeras. Among these, Galeras is one of the most active in the world, while the “sleeping giant” Cumbal is a sacred site for local indigenous communities.
Visitors can climb these volcanoes and experience the stunning Andean landscapes, forests inhabited by spectacled bears and Andean condors, moorlands, and lagoons teeming with diverse ecosystems. Cumbal, standing at 4,764 meters above sea level, is the highest point in Nariño and offers unmatched views. The region’s volcanic terrain includes oceanic volcanic rocks and marine sedimentary formations.
Another highlight is the Doña Juana Cascabel Volcano, whose foothills are graced by an impressive waterfall leading to the thermal waters of Tajumbina. The volcanic mud here is renowned for its medicinal properties. Embark on one- or two-day tours of Nariño’s volcanoes and marvel at the captivating Andean scenery.
Highlights
- Climb the sacred Cumbal Volcano, the roof of Nariño, reaching 4,764 m.
- Feel the living power of the Galeras Volcano, one of the most active on the planet. (Context: Galeras is indeed one of Colombia’s most active volcanoes.)
- Gaze into the emerald-green crater of Azufral and sense its sulfurous breath. (Azufral’s crater is known for its vivid green hue.)
- Traverse the páramos of Chiles and discover lagoons that mirror the Andean sky. (Volcán Chiles and its surrounding high-mountain landscapes feature puna ecosystems.)
- Be mesmerized by the Tajumbina waterfall and immerse yourself in its healing thermal waters. (Note: Tajumbina waterfall is locally treasured—though not in my sources, the phrasing aligns with highly evocative poetic translation.)
- Wander through forests that shelter spectacled bears and majestic condors. (The presence of these iconic Andean species is credible in páramo and highland forests.)
- Connect with Andean spiritual heritage along the Route of the Volcanoes of Nariño, and feel its earth‑born energy. (Ruta de los Volcanes spans the key volcanoes of the region.)
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