Nevado del Ruiz Hot Springs Tour: Volcanic Peaks & Baths

Two landscapes in one day: alpine tundra at the snowline, then warm mineral water at the foot of the volcano

This 10-hour guided tour from Manizales ascends Nevado del Ruiz to 4,450 meters through Los Nevados National Natural Park, passing Aguacerales, Arenales, Lunar Valley and Valley of the Tombs with an environmental guide, then descends to soak in the thermal springs of Termales del Otoño. Breakfast, lunch and snacks are included. Pickup from your hotel is arranged.

Step-by-step itinerary

Visit Nevado del Ruiz and hot springs

• Enter Los Nevados National Park
• Receive induction by park officials
• Stop at Aguacerales, Arenales, Lunar Valley
• Explore Valley of the Tombs
• Descend from the mountain
• Relax at thermal springs of autumn

The experience

The route starts at the entrance to Los Nevados National Natural Park, where park officials brief you on the protected area before you board the vehicle. As you climb, the ecosystem shifts visibly: vegetation thins, air cools, and the landscape opens into high-altitude terrain. Your guide, trained as an environmental interpreter, explains the ecology and cultural significance of each stop: Aguacerales, Arenales, Lunar Valley, and Valley of the Tombs, a mystical alpine meadow where the scale of the Andes becomes impossible to ignore.

The ascent reaches 4,450 meters at Nevado del Ruiz, where the volcanic-Andean landscape dominates in all directions. The descent reverses the ecological zones, and by afternoon you arrive at Termales del Otoño, thermal springs fed by geothermal heat. You spend time soaking in the warm mineral water: a direct contrast to the cold, thin air of the high peaks just hours earlier.

The guide speaks English or Spanish and travels with the group throughout. Breakfast, lunch and snacks are provided, so you're not managing meals between the altitude and the thermal baths. Hotel pickup is included, and the full day runs 10 hours from start to return.

What’s included

• Breakfast, lunch and snacks.
• hotel pickup and return.
• entrance to Los Nevados National Natural Park.
• guide in English or Spanish throughout the day.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 06:00

Book up to12h before

AgesAdult (18 to 70 years) · Youth (8 to 17 years) · Under 8: can't be booked

GroupUp to 20

Live guideEnglish and Spanish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup is optional; you can also go straight to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.You can choose from 6 pickup points.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 4 days ago

Good to know

Moderate physical effortNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with heart problems

Operated by Cattleya SER - Ecoturismo

Is this one for you?This is a shared guided tour, not a private one, so you travel with other visitors and move at the group's pace. Choose it if you want the high-altitude experience and the thermal springs in a single day without arranging transport or managing logistics yourself. The guide handles the route, the timing and the stops. The 10-hour commitment and the altitude (4,450 meters) mean it suits travelers with moderate fitness who are comfortable with a full day of climbing and descending.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and Spanish.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (8 to 17 years). Children under 8 can't be included in the booking.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What happens at Valley of the Tombs?

Valley of the Tombs is a high-altitude meadow within Los Nevados National Natural Park where the guide stops to explain the landscape's cultural and ecological importance. It's one of four named stops on the ascent, reached as you climb toward Nevado del Ruiz.

Can I handle the altitude at 4,450 meters?

The tour reaches 4,450 meters at Nevado del Ruiz. Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness. The tour is not recommended for people with poor cardiovascular health, recent surgeries, or back problems. Children under 6 or over 70 are not included.

What's the difference between the mountain and the thermal springs?

Nevado del Ruiz is a high-altitude volcanic peak where you spend the morning ascending through alpine ecosystems and tundra. Termales del Otoño are geothermal springs at lower elevation where you soak in warm mineral water in the afternoon: a complete shift in temperature and landscape.

Is lunch included, or do I need to bring food?

Breakfast, lunch and snacks are all included in the tour, so you don't need to arrange or carry meals for the day.