Purace Volcano
Purace volcano is one of the still active volcanoes in Colombia and it has an altitude of 15,256 feet above sea level. Located in the central mountain range of the country, this volcano is part of a chain of 12 volcanoes called “Cadena Volcanica de los Coconucos” (volcanic chain of the Coconucos), and the only still active. This volcanic chain is located in the Purace National Park which is 33 miles from Popayan.
Traveling by car from Popayan, the trip would take around 1 hour and you can reserve a spot on some of the jeeps that take tourists from Popayan. It is required to hire a guide to go up to the volcano. The guides are indigenous people from the area very experienced with the topography and climate. It’s important to plan the visit with them before leaving Popayan. There must be a guide for every 5 people and they charge around $35,000 COP (as of July 2018). Entry to the park is $20,000 COP.
We had a great guide so if you are interested in using his services please let us know and we’ll share his contact information. (you can email us at twovisitaround@gmail.com)
There are two options to go up the volcano. One is walking from the mine which is located at 11,800 feet above sea level. This trek would take approximately 5 hours, so we only recommended for people who are in very good shape or have experience hiking at high altitudes. The second option is to start at the military base and start the trek from there. You will need to make sure you have a good car (preferably an suv or 4x4) since the road is not paved and it has some rough spots. The base is located at 12,800 feet above sea level and this is where the road ends and the climb begins. It takes approximately 2 hours to reach the crater depending on experience and physical shape.
The ascent is not easy but it can be done at your own pace as long as there is a guide with the whole group. Multiples stops might be necessary to catch some oxygen, or to eat some snacks. The effort required can also be influenced by the weather since it rains often and it can get foggy very fast, hence the importance of having the guide close by. We were very lucky to have almost no fog and no rain, this definitely makes it more enjoyable since the landscapes seen from the volcano are incredible. (see photos)
The effort definitely pays off! It was a great experience to be able to see the crater of an active volcano and take tons of pictures. You’ll have the option to walk around the crater which has a diameter of about 3,200 feet and if the skies are clear, see other sights such as Pan de Azucar volcano, Popayan, nearby towns, and the sulfur dioxide emissions. This last one is only recommended to be seen from a distance since the gas is toxic.
OUR RECOMMENDATIONS:
Contact the guide ahead of time and check with them or the tourism office if the conditions are ideal to do the climb.
It is recommended to leave Popayan early (around 5:30am) to meet with the guide. The earlier you start the climb, the more chances you’ll have of clear skies.
Bring comfortable and warm clothes. Temperatures can reach 32F or 0C. Beanies, gloves, and good shoes (sneakers or hiking boots).
Have a good breakfast that day. At the point where you pay for the entry to the park, you’ll be able to buy some aguadepanela and bread. This should only be complementary to your breakfast.
Bring sweets to replenish glycogen on the way up. You’ll need it.
Hydrate well before the climb and bring containers with water to drink on the way up. You can also bring gatorade or coca tea (agua de coca) which is what the locals drink.
Bring some food that is easy to eat and carry in you backpack. We were very hungry on the way down and there is nowhere to buy food or water for miles.
Try not to get too excited and start running or walking fast at the beginning. Let your body adjust to the increasing altitude. Even talking too much can make you feel sick later on.
Bring some pills for headaches such as Ibuprofen or acetaminophen. A few of us had huge headaches on the descent.
Do not lose track of the guide, and make sure you can see him the whole time. Visibility can be reduced by 90% in a matter of minutes.
Do not get close to the sulfur emissions.
Please let us know any comments or questions below and share this article with your friends.
We hope you visit Purace Volcano and Colombia soon!
Love,
Seb & Clau