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Colombia🇨🇴 | landmarksTermales La CabañaPáramo hot pools, 3,950 m, guided trail, frailejones, Nevado del Ruiz views | things to do and best time to go

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Backpacking in Termales La Cabaña
👍 Recommendedunique site ranked #4
By Johan Kruseman 🇳🇱 | Updated October 19, 2026

Somewhere past the parking area, a thin stream hisses under the frailejones and the air turns faintly of sulfur before you ever see steam. Termales La Cabaña sits in the Tolima side of Colombia, on the high páramo near Nevado del Ruiz, in the buffer zone of Los Nevados National Park. Be direct about the limits: it is private, entry is only with an authorized guide, children under 12 are not allowed, and the springs were reported closed in February 2025 with no reopening date. Skip it if you want a spa with changing rooms and a bar. Go if the walk appeals, about 2.8 km each way over open highland, because the payoff is a hot pool among páramo plants at roughly 3,950 m with almost nobody around. Crowds are small, the guide fee is the main cost. Best for hikers who like remote soaks; worst for anyone who wants easy access or guaranteed hours.

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✨ Why go?
Ranked #4 unique site in ColombiaWhat makes it a must-see unique site

Termales La Cabaña is worth the effort for one reason above all: you reach the water on foot, so the soak feels earned. The 2.8 km trail of about 2 hours each way crosses open páramo where frailejones, tussock grass and thin cold air replace the crowds of better-known Colombian hot springs. Few places let you sit in naturally heated water this close to a volcano without a resort in sight.
The second draw is where it fits on a route. The springs sit in the buffer zone of Los Nevados National Park, so they pair with the Nevado del Ruiz road from Manizales or with a slow approach through Líbano and Murillo, a coffee-and-highland corridor most backpackers skip. That makes a loop through Tolima and the Eje Cafetero easy to build around it.
Because the springs are private and guided only, the experience … read more 👉
Termales La Cabaña is worth the effort for one reason above all: you reach the water on foot, so the soak feels earned. The 2.8 km trail of about 2 hours each way crosses open páramo where frailejones, tussock grass and thin cold air replace the crowds of better-known Colombian hot springs. Few places let you sit in naturally heated water this close to a volcano without a resort in sight.
The second draw is where it fits on a route. The springs sit in the buffer zone of Los Nevados National Park, so they pair with the Nevado del Ruiz road from Manizales or with a slow approach through Líbano and Murillo, a coffee-and-highland corridor most backpackers skip. That makes a loop through Tolima and the Eje Cafetero easy to build around it.
Because the springs are private and guided only, the experience is controlled rather than free-roaming, which protects the fragile páramo. Check current opening status before you commit a day to it.

💡 HighlightsThe experiences that define the visit

  1. The hot spring pools: natural thermal water at about 3,950 m, set in open páramo near Nevado del Ruiz. The contrast between steaming water and the high, bare landscape is the whole point.
  2. The 2.8 km guided trail: about 2 hours each way from the parking area, over highland terrain. Your authorized guide explains the terrain and keeps you on the route.
  3. Frailejones: the silvery, furry-leaved plants of the páramo line the approach. They grow very slowly, so stay on the path.
  4. Views toward Nevado del Ruiz: on clear mornings the volcano massif dominates the horizon, and the setting explains why the water is warm.
  5. Los Nevados National Park buffer zone: the surrounding protected landscape of wetlands, grassland and small streams, good for slow birdwatching.
  6. The Murillo approach: the road through Líbano
… read more 👉
  1. The hot spring pools: natural thermal water at about 3,950 m, set in open páramo near Nevado del Ruiz. The contrast between steaming water and the high, bare landscape is the whole point.
  2. The 2.8 km guided trail: about 2 hours each way from the parking area, over highland terrain. Your authorized guide explains the terrain and keeps you on the route.
  3. Frailejones: the silvery, furry-leaved plants of the páramo line the approach. They grow very slowly, so stay on the path.
  4. Views toward Nevado del Ruiz: on clear mornings the volcano massif dominates the horizon, and the setting explains why the water is warm.
  5. Los Nevados National Park buffer zone: the surrounding protected landscape of wetlands, grassland and small streams, good for slow birdwatching.
  6. The Murillo approach: the road through Líbano and Murillo climbs from farmland to cold highland and shows the change in altitude and vegetation.
  7. Laguna Negra turnoff: on the Manizales route, the turn toward Murillo after Laguna Negra marks the shift from the main volcano road to the quieter Tolima side.
Termales La Cabaña is best experienced for a first visit through the hot spring pools themselves, since the walk and the setting all lead to that soak.
Spotted a mistake or missing something? Contact us.

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🌤️ When to go?Choosing the right time of year

The best window for Termales La Cabaña is the drier stretch from December to February, with a second, less reliable dry spell in July and August.
  • Dry Season (December to February): Clearer skies and firmer trail. At roughly 3,950 m, daytime temperatures sit around 6 to 12°C (43 to 54°F) and nights drop to about 0°C (32°F) or below.
  • Wet Seasons (March to May, September to November): Frequent afternoon fog, drizzle and muddy ground on the 2.8 km trail, which takes about 2 hours each way. Expect 3 to 10°C (37 to 50°F).
  • Mid-Year Dry Spell (July to August): Breezier and often clearer, with more Colombian holiday visitors around Murillo and Manizales.
  • Crowds and Prices: Peaks come at Christmas, New Year and long holiday weekends, when lodging in nearby towns costs more. Weekdays stay quiet.
Start the … read more 👉
The best window for Termales La Cabaña is the drier stretch from December to February, with a second, less reliable dry spell in July and August.
  • Dry Season (December to February): Clearer skies and firmer trail. At roughly 3,950 m, daytime temperatures sit around 6 to 12°C (43 to 54°F) and nights drop to about 0°C (32°F) or below.
  • Wet Seasons (March to May, September to November): Frequent afternoon fog, drizzle and muddy ground on the 2.8 km trail, which takes about 2 hours each way. Expect 3 to 10°C (37 to 50°F).
  • Mid-Year Dry Spell (July to August): Breezier and often clearer, with more Colombian holiday visitors around Murillo and Manizales.
  • Crowds and Prices: Peaks come at Christmas, New Year and long holiday weekends, when lodging in nearby towns costs more. Weekdays stay quiet.
Start the hike early so you are back at the parking area before the afternoon cloud rolls in. Confirm the springs are open before you travel, since access has been suspended at times.


source: climatestotravel.comJANJanuary: excellent for travelingFEBFebruary: excellent for travelingMARMarch: excellent for travelingAPRApril: good for travelingMAYMay: fair for travelingJUNJune: fair for travelingJULJuly: fair for travelingAUGAugust: fair for travelingSEPSeptember: fair for travelingOCTOctober: fair for travelingNOVNovember: good for travelingDECDecember: excellent for traveling
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🛏️ Where to stay?Where staying makes the most sense

Murillo is the most practical base for Termales La Cabaña, since it is the municipality the springs belong to and the access road to the trailhead starts from it. It is a small, quiet Tolima town with a plaza, a few family-run guesthouses and simple restaurants. Expect a rural pace rather than a hostel scene, but locals are welcoming and it feels safe for solo travelers. Rooms typically run US$10 to 25 a night.
Líbano is the bigger option, a lively agricultural town lower down on the approach road. It has more lodging, ATMs, supermarkets and transport links, and you are likelier to meet other travelers … read more 👉
Murillo is the most practical base for Termales La Cabaña, since it is the municipality the springs belong to and the access road to the trailhead starts from it. It is a small, quiet Tolima town with a plaza, a few family-run guesthouses and simple restaurants. Expect a rural pace rather than a hostel scene, but locals are welcoming and it feels safe for solo travelers. Rooms typically run US$10 to 25 a night.
Líbano is the bigger option, a lively agricultural town lower down on the approach road. It has more lodging, ATMs, supermarkets and transport links, and you are likelier to meet other travelers here. Budget rooms cost roughly US$10 to 30. It suits you if you want services and evening life before heading up.
Manizales is the third choice if you come in along the Nevado del Ruiz road. It is a university city with the best hostel scene in the area, plenty of cafés and easy tour contacts, with dorm beds around US$10 to 18. Sleeping there means an early start and a longer drive, so arrange guide and transport the day before.
Best hostels in Colombia


Best quality hotels in Colombia

👛 Costs (as of 19 October 2026)What things cost and how to budget

A day at Termales La Cabaña costs about US$55 to 115 per person once you add guide, transport, food and a bed, with the total below based on high-season prices. Termales La Cabaña is entered only with an authorized guide, and travelers pay in Colombian pesos.
CategoryBudget RangeLocal Reality
Guide and EntryUS$15 to 30Required for the 2.8 km trail. Price depends on group size and what is included.
Transport to TrailheadUS$15 to 35Shared rides or a hired 4x4 from Murillo or Líbano. Costs drop when split among a group.
Accommodation (high season)US$12 to 25Basic guesthouse in Murillo or Líbano. Dorms in Manizales cost a little less.
FoodUS$8 to 15Set lunches in town cost US$3 to 5. Pack snacks for the trail.
ExtrasUS$5 to 10Warm layers, rain cover or a hot drink at the parking area.
Total Daily BudgetUS$55
… read more 👉
A day at Termales La Cabaña costs about US$55 to 115 per person once you add guide, transport, food and a bed, with the total below based on high-season prices. Termales La Cabaña is entered only with an authorized guide, and travelers pay in Colombian pesos.
CategoryBudget RangeLocal Reality
Guide and EntryUS$15 to 30Required for the 2.8 km trail. Price depends on group size and what is included.
Transport to TrailheadUS$15 to 35Shared rides or a hired 4x4 from Murillo or Líbano. Costs drop when split among a group.
Accommodation (high season)US$12 to 25Basic guesthouse in Murillo or Líbano. Dorms in Manizales cost a little less.
FoodUS$8 to 15Set lunches in town cost US$3 to 5. Pack snacks for the trail.
ExtrasUS$5 to 10Warm layers, rain cover or a hot drink at the parking area.
Total Daily BudgetUS$55 to 115Around US$75 for a typical solo traveler.


source: colombia.travel
⚠️ Prices can change and everyone travels differently, so take this as a rough guide. Hope it helps you plan your adventure!

FAQTraveler FAQ

Termales La Cabaña is a set of natural hot springs in the vereda La Cabaña, Murillo municipality, Tolima, at about 3,950 m near Nevado del Ruiz. It is a private site in the buffer zone of Los Nevados National Park, and you can enter only with an authorized guide. Children under 12 are not allowed, and the springs were reported closed in February 2025 with no reopening date, so confirm before going.
Plan on a full day for Termales La Cabaña. The trail from the parking area is 2.8 km and takes about 2 hours each way, so the walking alone is around 4 hours before any soaking time. Most visitors allow 1 to 2 hours in the pools and sleep the night before in Murillo, Líbano or Manizales for an early start.
You reach Termales La Cabaña through Líbano and Murillo in Tolima, then by road to the parking area. From Manizales, take the Nevado del Ruiz road and turn toward Murillo after Laguna Negra. The last stretch is rough and usually done by 4x4 or hired transport, and from the parking area you walk 2.8 km, about 2 hours, with an authorized guide.
⚠️ Things can change over time, so always validate details locally before you go.

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We 💚 feedbackWhat to keep in mind

Termales La Cabaña works best as the quiet end of a Nevado del Ruiz loop, linked with Manizales on one side and Líbano and Murillo on the other. I would confirm it is open before building a day around it, and carry a spare dry layer for the long walk back.

✈️ When did I visit Colombia?
Did a good 3-week trip around Colombia in August 2014.

✍️ Help improve this page!
The information on this page is based on my own backpacking experience in Colombia, supplemented with up-to-date research and feedback from other travelers. Travel details can change, so if you notice anything outdated or incomplete, feel free to let me know.



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