Excursion to the Tochecito River Basin and the Machín Volcano

Day 1

We will leave Bogotá very early, we will have breakfast on the way and we will travel to Cajamarca. This will be our starting point to cross the central mountain range between trails to visit the town of Toche in 4X4 trucks. Nearby is a national flora sanctuary that houses the densest wax palm forest in the world, where the Tochecito River basin is also located. We will spend the afternoon there after lunch.

In the evening you will have the possibility of going to thermal baths near Toche, this is an optional activity

Day 2

We will have an early breakfast to go on our hike to the Cerro Machín Volcano. We will walk over the crater of this beautiful active volcano. The path is surrounded by a beautiful forest with wonderful vegetation where we will also see different species of birds. We will go up to the dome where we will experience almost three different ecosystems. After this experience we will return to Bogotá

Toche district

On the eastern slope of the Central mountain range. Its narrow streets of colorful houses, with cows and horses passing by, and white birds posing on the trees, while the fog covers them at night, make this district an experience.

Quindío Road

Recognize the Camino del Quindío, the Pan-American route of the mule and the ox, which for more than 400 years connected Ibagué with Cartago, embedded in the road from Bogotá to Quito, until the current highway was opened. The Camino Quindio is the route that Humboldt and Bonpland crossed in 1801, the one that Simón Bolívar crossed on January 5, 1830, returning from Quito and the one that so many scientists and travelers crossed in the process of forming our Nation.

Tochecito River Basin

A treasure, sheltered by large mountains and isolated for decades by the armed conflict, it houses nearly 600,000 wax palms – of the 700,000 in Colombia – in an area of 4,500 hectares.

Cerro Machín Volcano

It is an active volcano, but at rest that will allow us to tour it to its crater and fumaroles to admire its majesty and imposing presence in a wonderful landscape.

Wax Palm Sanctuary

We will have the opportunity to tour the densest wax palm forest in the world, the Tochecito River basin. Nearly 600,000 wax palms await us in this incredible place.

😷 Carry a PPE Personal Protection Elements Kit (Masks, antibacterial gel, alcohol in a spray bottle, glasses or mask, disposable tissues, bag for personal waste disposal).

💧Carry a bottle of water and maintain constant hydration,

🧢 Wear a hat or cap to protect yourself from the sun. It is important to use sunscreen, remember to use a mineral sunscreen for your face.

👕 Pack light clothes, enough for hot land for two days. We suggest long pants and a long-sleeved shirt since during the walks we will encounter trees with long branches and this will help us avoid scratches. It is also important to carry a raincoat in case of rain.

🥾 Wear comfortable shoes, preferably hiking shoes, rubber or industrial boots since the terrain is very muddy, in any case avoid ballet shoes or cloth tennis shoes. It is important to bring a change of shoes in case your shoes get wet during the tour.

🩱 Pack your bathing suit and a towel for personal use.

💊 Bring your medications and personal documents (medical insurance card and ID)

🎒 Do not use a wheeled suitcase and carry an additional kangaroo or small backpack so you can take your personal items on walks.

🧣 We suggest bringing a blanket for the cold in the early morning when leaving Bogotá, as well as a good coat for the nights in Toche

Relevant information:

Keep in mind that you are responsible for your belongings. Protect your electronic devices and personal documents from rain and humidity.

Carry your cell phone charged, this will allow you to take photographs and use it in case of emergency.

Your safety is very important, please be cautious, always keep the group in sight and follow the instructions of the guide or trip coordinator.

Do not attend a walk late at night, while intoxicated, pregnant, or with medical disabilities.

Strictly follow your doctor's instructions regarding injuries and, if necessary, carry your personal medications.