Climbing Ritacuba Blanco in Cocuy Range

Cordillera Oriental – Colombia

Elevation:

(17,749ft/5.410m)

Difficulty

Intermediate

Duration

9 days

Itinerary

Arrive in Bogota. Transfer to hotel in the historical center (-/-/-)
We will be transferred by private transportation from Bogota to Cocuy Village (9,022ft/2.750m), which would take us around 10 to 12 hours depending on the road conditions. Overnight in the hotel (B/-/-)

Today we will be hiking in the surrounding areas from Cocuy Village, it is time to break our “record” of the 3.000m. We will be exploring, how the locals live at this altitude, how they manage to still cultivate and deal with their animals, we will get a “taste” of their culture.  We will come back in the afternoon to the town for the dinner and overnight (B/-/-)

After breakfast, we will drive for up to the mountains to the Valle de Lagunillas for about 1,5 hours at the altitude of 3.750m, where  begins our short hike for  another 1,5 hours to  the Sisuma Refuge (12,795ft/3.900m) on the foot of the Pan de Azucar.  In the afternoon, we will have an exploration walk in the surroundings, we will be over 4.000m, and return back to the refuge for dinner and rest (B/-/D)

We will start very early with the climb of Pan de Azucar (16,896ft/5.150m), we will pass by the “Pulpito del Diablo” It will take about 4 hours to reach the glacier and another 2 hours to reach the summit. We will enjoy for some time, make pictures, rest and come back which will take us another 3 hours to the Refuge. Dinner and overnight here (B/-/D)

Today, we will have a short and nice walk from Valle de Lagunillas trough Valle de Frailejones to reach Hacienda La Esperanza, from here we continue by car to the Kanwara Refuge on the foot of Ritacuba Blanco. Overnight and dinner at this place (B/-/D)

Another very early start, it will take about 3,5 hours to reach the glacier and about 2,5 hours on the glacier to reach the summit of the highest peak of the Eastern Andes Mountain range of Colombia. Great views over the Valle de Cojines and the surrounding peaks, we will  enjoy, the landscape for several minutes, do some pictures, rest and start our descent to the Kanwara Refuge, which will take us another 3 hours (B/-/D)

After breakfast, we will pack all of our belongings ready for our long (10-12 hours) drive back to Bogota, on the way we have the possibility to visit and relax for a few hours at the hot springs nearby Guican village, we will get our hotel in Bogota by late afternoon or  in the night (B/-/-)

Transfer to the airport (B/-/-)

Price: Please contact us

Superior service
A registered and fully licensed Tour Operator
Land transportation and transfers
Professional IFMGA or ASEGUIM mountain guide (ratio 3 climbers -1 guide)
Accommodations in hotels (double room), Sisuma and Kanwara Lodge
All meals during the hikes and climbs (shown above with B: breakfast and D: dinner)
National parks entrance fees
Technical mountain equipment (boots, crampons, ice axe, harness, helmet)
Personal mountain gear (warm cloths, sleeping bags, sun glasses, head lamp, etc.)
International flight tickets
Meals and drinks in hotels (lunch, dinner)
Insurance of any kind
Tips
Other non-specified expenses

Ritacuba Blanco - Colombia