A high-altitude national park covering the central cordillera east of Pereira. The park's three named peaks — Nevado del Ruiz, Santa Isabel, and Tolima — once held substantial glaciers, now diminished by climate change but still topping 5,000 metres. Between the peaks stretches Colombia's largest expanse of paramo: the surreal, sponge-like alpine ecosystem found only in the northern Andes.
Access from the Pereira side is via the small town of El Cedral and the Otún valley, with multi-day treks possible to the Laguna del Otún and the Nevado de Santa Isabel base camp. The Manizales side has a paved road that climbs almost to the Ruiz crater rim, allowing day trips at altitudes few national parks anywhere will sell you a ticket for. Acclimatise in Pereira or Manizales for at least a day before going up.