Humboldt asks for less technique than Bolívar and more endurance. The route climbs the whole way from the park gate at La Mucuy — cloud forest, then bamboo, then páramo — and the summit day crosses what is left of the Corona glacier, roped and on crampons. It is the better first Andean summit of the two.
Day by day
Day 1 — La Mucuy to Laguna Coromoto
Nine kilometres and four to five hours through cloud forest and bamboo to camp at 3,200 m.
Day 2 — Laguna Coromoto to Laguna Verde
Six kilometres of rocky steps past Puente Quemado into open páramo, camp at about 4,000 m.
Day 3 — Acclimatisation day
A rest day at Laguna Verde with a walk towards Laguna El Suero.
Day 4 — Summit day
Five to seven hours up via El Suero and the Corona glacier — rope, crampons and helmet — and back down to Laguna Verde.
Day 5 — Laguna Verde to Mérida
Fifteen kilometres of descent to La Mucuy and the transfer out.
Make it yours
Drop the acclimatisation day for an experienced party, link it to Pico Bolívar as a traverse, or finish with a recovery week in Los Roques.
