- Address: Popayán-Isnos, Cauca, Colombia
- Tel .: +57 1 3532400
- Website: parquesnacionales.gov.co
- Area: 830 square meters. km
- Foundation date: 1961.
Acquaint yourself with the unique nature of Colombia in one of its national parks - Puras. Beginning in the foothills and ending literally under the clouds, today it has become a favorite place for rest among the adherents of green tourism. In addition to lush vegetation, the park is notable for the active volcano of the same name.
Where is Purasa located?
The famous stratovolcano, on the slopes of which the national nature reserve is located, is located in the Andean region in the Central Cordillera. Not far from this place is the colonial town of Popayan, from where most of the excursions to this region take place.
Features of Puras
The park on the slopes of the mountain received its official status in 1961. In addition to the Puraza volcano, there are other small volcanic funnels, and it is called the "seven-headed volcano". On the slopes and inside the crater there are multiple fumaroles and sulfurous thermal springs, and the summit is covered with ice throughout the year.
The highest point of the Puraza volcano is 4700 m. The crater has a width of 500 m. The most significant eruptions occurred in the last century in 1977 and 1985. Puras leads the list of the most active volcanoes in Colombia and not so long ago the alarm level, which is assigned to active volcanoes, changed from green (safe) to yellow (consultative). This happened due to the fact that in the region of the peaks small fluctuations were recorded.
On the territory of the natural park there is a small ethnic group that organizes excursions to the volcano and provides tourists with shelter and food in spartan conditions. The park is cut by pedestrian routes, picturesque canyons and beautiful lakes .
How to get to Puras?
In any guest house Popayana tourist will provide an accurate map of the route to the national park of Puras. You can get to it by sitting on one of the bus routes going to the foot of the volcano (for example, La Plata) or to rent a car with a driver. You can do this in every city travel agency, because such a small town as Purase, specializes in the bulk of green tourism in the national park. Typically, a tour of the volcano lasts about two days. During this time, tourists slowly get acquainted with all the corners of this picturesque area - fish, consider condors near, stand on the edge of the crater.