Los Nevados National Natural Park, National park in central Andes, Colombia
Los Nevados National Natural Park sits in the central highlands of Colombia, stretching across four departments with snow-covered volcanoes, glaciers, and high valleys reaching up to 5,300 meters in elevation. The landscape shifts between bare rock formations, wide grasslands, and areas with sparse vegetation in the thin air of altitude.
The Colombian state founded the protected area in 1973 to preserve the glaciers of the Central Cordillera and the water sources for surrounding regions. In the following decades, the ice cover on the summits shrank considerably due to climate changes.
The name Los Nevados means "the snowy peaks" and refers to the ice-covered summits that define the landscape of this high mountain region. Hikers often encounter mountain guides and researchers moving between the barren valleys and grasslands, respecting the fragile environment.
Visitors need a permit and warm clothing, as temperatures can drop below freezing even during the day. The entrances close in the early afternoon, leaving enough time for the return journey.
Nevado del Ruiz is one of the few active volcanoes in the world that still carry glaciers, even though the ice mass has declined sharply in recent decades. The meltwater from these peaks supplies drinking water to more than two million people in the lower regions.
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