Volcán Azufral

Volcán Azufral is a stratovolcano in Nariño rising to 4,070 meters with three crater lakes, the largest being Laguna Verde at roughly 1,100 meters long. The summit area sits within an open highland grassland dotted with rocky outcrops and surrounded by steep ridges.

The volcano built up through layers of lava accumulation over geological time and last showed eruptive activity around 930 BCE. This event shaped the region's geological character and created the crater landscape visible today.

The surrounding Natural Park is home to Pastos communities who depend on the páramo grasslands for their daily water needs and gather traditional medicinal plants from the highland landscape.

A road leads to within about 1.5 kilometers of the summit, where marked trails continue to the crater area. The driest months offer the best conditions for walking, as muddy and slippery ground makes trails difficult during wet seasons.

Laguna Verde displays its distinctive green color not from algae but from mineral deposits at the lake bottom that create a striking hue. This coloring from iron and sulfur compounds is an unusual feature that makes the water look almost otherworldly.

Location: Nariño Department

Elevation above the sea: 4,070 m

Website: http://volcano.si.edu/volcano.cfm?vn=351090

GPS coordinates: 1.08554,-77.71859

Latest update: December 7, 2025 20:24