ROUND HUMBOLDT TREK WITH
LAGUNA SANTO CRISTO
NATIONAL PARK SIERRA NEVADA
5 days/ 4 nights . - Difficulty degree 3 (scale
0 -5)
Day 1: We
leave Mérida with a 4 wheel drive vehicle direction Los
Nevados. We will enjoy some outstanding views of the city of Mérida
and of the xerofite valley del Rio de Nuestra Señora. 2 - 3 hours
of
very bad terrain to reach the isolated farmer village of Los Nevados.
We
sleep in a mountain inn at 2.700m altitude.
Day 2: After
breakfast we pack our rucsacs and leave the village hiking along the river
of Nuestra Señora which has it's sources at the south side of Pico
Humboldt. Lot's of traditional farmhouses and campesinos cross our
way on the first 15 km. After that only sparse human signs as we
encounter a humid cloud forest vegetation. camping. 6 - 8 hours walking.
Day 3: Today
we will have to walk uphill in the morning till we reach the pass, 3.500
m. ,behind Pico Humboldt which will be our traverse altitude.
Beautiful Páramo vegetation and weather permitting fabulous views
down into the virgin Bum Bum valley. Humboldt seen from the south-east
side. Camping at 3600m. Total walking time 6 - 8 hours.
Day 4: The
devil's saddle and then steep down to the valley of Aranguren, which
seems to correspond to one of J.R. Tolkien's descriptions in his famous
"Lord of the rings". Along another river we will reach lake Santo Cristo,
Mérida´s largest mountain lake almost twice as large as Mucubaji
lake. 7 - 9 hours walking. camping.
Day 5: Time
for trout fishing in the morning or relax before we walk to another small
mountain village called Gavidia. Beautiful Páramo vegetation.
Approx. 4 hours walking. We will be picked up and drive back to
Mérida ( approx. 1 hour and a half driving)
INCLUDED:
- All transports
- All good meals
- All top Mountain equipment
- Qualified mountain
guide
Note: This
trek stays below 4.200 m altitude and enchants by it's virginity, variation
of vegetation and absence of tourist's. An excellent alternative for all
people which are afraid of extreme altitude but which would like to attempt
a good hike.
