Colombia Volcanoes
Colombia has 14 Holocene volcanoes. Note that as a scientific organization we provide these listings for informational purposes only, with no international legal or policy implications. Volcanoes will be included on this list if they are within the boundaries of a country, on a shared boundary or area, in a remote territory, or within a maritime Exclusive Economic Zone. Bolded volcanoes have erupted within the past 20 years. Suggestions and data updates are always welcome ().
Volcano Name | Location | Last Eruption | Primary Volcano Type |
---|---|---|---|
Azufral | Colombia | 930 BCE | Stratovolcano |
Cerro Bravo | Colombia | 1720 CE | Stratovolcano |
Chiles-Cerro Negro | Colombia-Ecuador | 1936 CE | Stratovolcano |
Cumbal | Colombia | 1926 CE | Stratovolcano |
Dona Juana | Colombia | 1906 CE | Stratovolcano |
Galeras | Colombia | 2014 CE | Complex |
Nevado del Huila | Colombia | 2012 CE | Stratovolcano |
Machin | Colombia | 1180 CE | Stratovolcano |
Purace | Colombia | 1977 CE | Stratovolcano(es) |
Romeral | Colombia | 5390 BCE | Stratovolcano |
Nevado del Ruiz | Colombia | 2022 CE | Stratovolcano |
Santa Isabel | Colombia | 850 BCE | Shield |
Sotara | Colombia | Unknown - Evidence Credible | Stratovolcano |
Nevado del Tolima | Colombia | 1943 CE | Stratovolcano |
Chronological listing of known Holocene eruptions (confirmed or uncertain) from volcanoes in Colombia. Bolded eruptions indicate continuing activity.
Volcano Name | Start Date | Stop Date | Certainty | VEI | Evidence |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Ruiz, Nevado del | 2014 Nov 18 | 2022 Mar 17 (continuing) | Confirmed | 2 | Historical Observations |
Galeras | 2012 May 13 | 2014 Jan 30 ± 1 days | Confirmed | 2 | Historical Observations |
Ruiz, Nevado del | 2012 Feb 22 | 2013 Jul 12 (?) | Confirmed | 3 | Historical Observations |
Galeras | [2011 Mar 31] | [2011 Apr 1] | Uncertain | ||
Galeras | 2010 Aug 25 | 2010 Aug 25 | Confirmed | 2 | Historical Observations |
Huila, Nevado del | 2008 Oct 26 (?) | 2012 Jan 14 (?) | Confirmed | 3 | Historical Observations |
Galeras | 2008 Oct 21 (?) | 2010 Jan 2 (?) | Confirmed | 3 | Historical Observations |
Huila, Nevado del | 2008 Jan 2 | 2008 Apr 16 (?) ± 15 days | Confirmed | 2 | Historical Observations |
Galeras | 2007 Oct 4 | 2008 Jan 17 | Confirmed | 3 | Historical Observations |
Huila, Nevado del | 2007 Feb 19 | 2007 May 28 (?) | Confirmed | 3 | Historical Observations |
Galeras | 2005 Nov 24 | 2006 Jul 12 | Confirmed | 2 | Historical Observations |
Galeras | 2004 Jul 16 | 2005 Feb 7 (?) | Confirmed | 3 | Historical Observations |
Galeras | 2002 Jun 7 | 2002 Jun 7 (?) | Confirmed | 1 | Historical Observations |
Galeras | 2000 Mar 21 | 2000 May 18 | Confirmed | 1 | Historical Observations |
Ruiz, Nevado del | [1994 Apr 23] | [1994 Apr 23] | Uncertain | ||
Galeras | 1993 Jan 14 | 1993 Jun 7 | Confirmed | 2 | Historical Observations |
Galeras | 1990 Jan 7 | 1992 Jul 16 | Confirmed | 2 | Historical Observations |
Galeras | 1989 Feb 19 | 1989 May 9 | Confirmed | 2 | Historical Observations |
Ruiz, Nevado del | 1985 Sep 11 | 1991 Jul 13 | Confirmed | 3 | Historical Observations |
Ruiz, Nevado del | 1984 Dec 22 | 1985 Mar 19 (?) | Confirmed | 1 | Historical Observations |
Purace | 1977 Mar 19 | 1977 Mar 28 (?) | Confirmed | 2 | Historical Observations |
Galeras | 1974 Jul 2 ± 182 days | 1983 Jul 2 (?) ± 182 days | Confirmed | 1 | Historical Observations |
Galeras | [1973 May 16 ± 15 days] | [Unknown] | Uncertain | ||
Purace | 1957 Jul 2 ± 182 days | Unknown | Confirmed | 2 | Historical Observations |
Purace | 1956 Jul 2 (in or before) ± 182 days | Unknown | Confirmed | 2 | Historical Observations |
Galeras | 1950 Jan 12 | 1950 Sep 5 | Confirmed | 2 | Historical Observations |
Purace | 1949 May 26 | 1949 Jun 11 | Confirmed | 2 | Historical Observations |
Galeras | [1947 Jul 15] | [Unknown] | Uncertain | ||
Purace | 1947 Apr 27 | Unknown | Confirmed | 2 | Historical Observations |
Purace | 1946 Mar | 1946 Apr | Confirmed | 2 | Historical Observations |
Tolima, Nevado del | 1943 Mar | Unknown | Confirmed | 2 | Historical Observations |
Chiles-Cerro Negro | 1936 Jul 17 | Unknown | Confirmed | 2 | Historical Observations |
Galeras | 1936 Feb 9 | 1936 Aug 27 (?) | Confirmed | 2 | Historical Observations |
Galeras | [1933] | [Unknown] | Uncertain | ||
Galeras | 1932 Oct 10 | Unknown | Confirmed | 2 | Historical Observations |
Galeras | [1930 Apr 17] | [Unknown] | Uncertain | ||
Purace | 1927 | Unknown | Confirmed | 2 | Historical Observations |
Cumbal | 1926 Dec 20 | 1926 Dec 21 | Confirmed | 2 | Historical Observations |
Purace | 1926 Aug | 1926 Sep | Confirmed | 2 | Historical Observations |
Purace | 1925 Oct 12 | 1925 Nov 5 | Confirmed | 2 | Historical Observations |
Galeras | 1924 Oct | 1927 | Confirmed | 3 | Historical Observations |
Purace | 1924 | Unknown | Confirmed | 2 | Historical Observations |
Galeras | 1923 Dec 8 | Unknown | Confirmed | 2 | Historical Observations |
Ruiz, Nevado del | 1916 | Unknown | Confirmed | 2 | Historical Observations |
Purace | 1906 | Unknown | Confirmed | 2 | Historical Observations |
Purace | 1902 (?) | Unknown | Confirmed | 2 | Historical Observations |
Purace | 1899 | Unknown | Confirmed | 2 | Historical Observations |
Dona Juana | 1897 Nov 1 | 1906 | Confirmed | 4 | Historical Observations |
Galeras | 1891 | Unknown | Confirmed | 2 | Historical Observations |
Galeras | 1889 Jul 3 | Unknown | Confirmed | 2 | Historical Observations |
Purace | 1885 May 25 | Unknown | Confirmed | 3 | Historical Observations |
Purace | 1881 | Unknown | Confirmed | 2 | Historical Observations |
Purace | 1878 Aug 31 | Unknown | Confirmed | 2 | Historical Observations |
Cumbal | 1877 Dec | Unknown | Confirmed | 2 | Historical Observations |
Purace | 1870 Oct | Unknown | Confirmed | 2 | Historical Observations |
Purace | 1869 Oct 4 | 1869 Nov | Confirmed | 3 | Historical Observations |
Galeras | 1865 Oct 2 | 1870 | Confirmed | 3 | Historical Observations |
Purace | 1860 ± 9 years | Unknown | Confirmed | 2 | Historical Observations |
Purace | 1847 Oct 27 | 1852 | Confirmed | 3 | Historical Observations |
Ruiz, Nevado del | 1845 Feb 19 | Unknown | Confirmed | 3 | Historical Observations |
Purace | 1840 | Unknown | Confirmed | 2 | Historical Observations |
Galeras | [1836] | [Unknown] | Uncertain | ||
Purace | 1835 Jan 23 | Unknown | Confirmed | 2 | Historical Observations |
Galeras | 1834 | Unknown | Confirmed | 2 | Historical Observations |
Ruiz, Nevado del | [1833] | [Unknown] | Uncertain | ||
Ruiz, Nevado del | 1831 | Unknown | Confirmed | 2 | Historical Observations |
Ruiz, Nevado del | 1829 Jun 18 | Unknown | Confirmed | 2 | Historical Observations |
Galeras | 1828 Oct 24 | 1834 Mar | Confirmed | 3 | Historical Observations |
Ruiz, Nevado del | 1828 Jun | Unknown | Confirmed | 2 | Historical Observations |
Purace | 1827 Nov 18 | Unknown | Confirmed | 2 | Historical Observations |
Tolima, Nevado del | 1826 May | 1826 Jun 17 (in or after) | Confirmed | 2 | Historical Observations |
Ruiz, Nevado del | [1826] | [Unknown] | Uncertain | ||
Tolima, Nevado del | 1825 Mar 2 (?) | Unknown | Confirmed | 2 | Historical Observations |
Galeras | 1823 Jun 17 | 1823 Jun 24 | Confirmed | 2 | Historical Observations |
Tolima, Nevado del | 1822 Nov (?) | Unknown | Confirmed | 2 | Historical Observations |
Purace | 1816 | Unknown | Confirmed | Historical Observations | |
Ruiz, Nevado del | 1805 Mar 14 | Unknown | Confirmed | 2 | Historical Observations |
Galeras | 1796 Nov | 1801 | Confirmed | 2 | Historical Observations |
Galeras | 1754 | 1756 | Confirmed | 2 | Historical Observations |
Bravo, Cerro | 1720 ± 150 years | Unknown | Confirmed | 4 | Tephrochronology |
Galeras | 1670 | 1736 | Confirmed | 3 | Historical Observations |
Galeras | 1641 | 1643 | Confirmed | 3 | Historical Observations |
Ruiz, Nevado del | 1623 | Unknown | Confirmed | 1 | Historical Observations |
Galeras | 1616 Jul 4 | 1616 Jul 4 | Confirmed | 3 | Historical Observations |
Ruiz, Nevado del | 1595 Mar 9 (in or before) | Unknown | Confirmed | 4 | Historical Observations |
Galeras | 1580 Dec 7 | 1580 Dec 7 | Confirmed | 3 | Historical Observations |
Ruiz, Nevado del | 1570 | Unknown | Confirmed | Historical Observations | |
Huila, Nevado del | 1555 ± 5 years | Unknown | Confirmed | Historical Observations | |
Ruiz, Nevado del | [1541] | [Unknown] | Uncertain | ||
Galeras | 1535 | Unknown | Confirmed | 3 | Historical Observations |
Ruiz, Nevado del | 1350 (?) | Unknown | Confirmed | 4 | Radiocarbon (uncorrected) |
Bravo, Cerro | 1330 ± 75 years | Unknown | Confirmed | 4 | Radiocarbon (uncorrected) |
Machin | 1180 ± 150 years | Unknown | Confirmed | Radiocarbon (corrected) | |
Bravo, Cerro | 1050 ± 75 years | Unknown | Confirmed | 4 | Radiocarbon (uncorrected) |
Galeras | 0890 ± 200 years | Unknown | Confirmed | 2 | Radiocarbon (corrected) |
Machin | 0750 (?) | Unknown | Confirmed | Radiocarbon (uncorrected) | |
Bravo, Cerro | 0750 ± 150 years | Unknown | Confirmed | 4 | Radiocarbon (uncorrected) |
Ruiz, Nevado del | 0675 ± 50 years | Unknown | Confirmed | 3 | Radiocarbon (uncorrected) |
Ruiz, Nevado del | 0350 ± 300 years | Unknown | Confirmed | 3 | Radiocarbon (uncorrected) |
Tolima, Nevado del | 0260 ± 150 years | Unknown | Confirmed | 3 | Radiocarbon (corrected) |
Purace | 0160 BCE ± 50 years | Unknown | Confirmed | Radiocarbon (uncorrected) | |
Tolima, Nevado del | 0200 BCE ± 200 years | Unknown | Confirmed | 3 | Radiocarbon (corrected) |
Ruiz, Nevado del | 0200 BCE ± 100 years | Unknown | Confirmed | 4 | Radiocarbon (uncorrected) |
Galeras | 0490 BCE ± 100 years | Unknown | Confirmed | 2 | Radiocarbon (corrected) |
Tolima, Nevado del | 0610 BCE ± 200 years | Unknown | Confirmed | 3 | Radiocarbon (corrected) |
Machin | 0650 BCE (?) | Unknown | Confirmed | Radiocarbon (uncorrected) | |
Bravo, Cerro | 0730 BCE ± 75 years | Unknown | Confirmed | 4 | Radiocarbon (uncorrected) |
Santa Isabel | 0850 BCE (?) | Unknown | Confirmed | Radiocarbon (corrected) | |
Ruiz, Nevado del | 0850 BCE (?) | Unknown | Confirmed | 4 | Tephrochronology |
Azufral | 0930 BCE (?) | Unknown | Confirmed | 4 | Radiocarbon (uncorrected) |
Bravo, Cerro | 1050 BCE ± 200 years | Unknown | Confirmed | 4 | Tephrochronology |
Galeras | 1160 BCE ± 300 years | Unknown | Confirmed | 2 | Radiocarbon (corrected) |
Ruiz, Nevado del | 1245 BCE ± 150 years | Unknown | Confirmed | Radiocarbon (uncorrected) | |
Bravo, Cerro | 1310 BCE ± 150 years | Unknown | Confirmed | 4 | Radiocarbon (uncorrected) |
Azufral | 1650 BCE ± 150 years | Unknown | Confirmed | Radiocarbon (uncorrected) | |
Azufral | 1850 BCE (?) | Unknown | Confirmed | Radiocarbon (uncorrected) | |
Tolima, Nevado del | 1990 BCE ± 200 years | Unknown | Confirmed | 5 | Radiocarbon (corrected) |
Azufral | 2095 BCE ± 100 years | Unknown | Confirmed | Radiocarbon (uncorrected) | |
Machin | 2100 BCE ± 200 years | Unknown | Confirmed | Radiocarbon (corrected) | |
Machin | 2240 BCE ± 300 years | Unknown | Confirmed | Radiocarbon (corrected) | |
Dona Juana | 2550 BCE ± 150 years | Unknown | Confirmed | 4 | Radiocarbon (uncorrected) |
Galeras | 2580 BCE ± 500 years | Unknown | Confirmed | 2 | Radiocarbon (corrected) |
Machin | 2650 BCE (?) | Unknown | Confirmed | Radiocarbon (uncorrected) | |
Galeras | 3150 BCE ± 200 years | Unknown | Confirmed | 3 | Radiocarbon (corrected) |
Tolima, Nevado del | 3500 BCE ± 300 years | Unknown | Confirmed | Radiocarbon (corrected) | |
Santa Isabel | 3550 BCE (?) | Unknown | Confirmed | Radiocarbon (corrected) | |
Machin | 3800 BCE ± 150 years | Unknown | Confirmed | Radiocarbon (corrected) | |
Bravo, Cerro | 4280 BCE ± 150 years | Unknown | Confirmed | 4 | Radiocarbon (uncorrected) |
Santa Isabel | 4800 BCE (?) | Unknown | Confirmed | Radiocarbon (corrected) | |
Tolima, Nevado del | 5160 BCE ± 200 years | Unknown | Confirmed | Radiocarbon (corrected) | |
Tolima, Nevado del | 5310 BCE ± 100 years | Unknown | Confirmed | Radiocarbon (uncorrected) | |
Romeral | 5390 BCE ± 350 years | Unknown | Confirmed | 4 | Radiocarbon (uncorrected) |
Santa Isabel | 5500 BCE (?) | Unknown | Confirmed | Radiocarbon (corrected) | |
Romeral | 6510 BCE ± 200 years | Unknown | Confirmed | 4 | Radiocarbon (uncorrected) |
Ruiz, Nevado del | 6660 BCE (in or before) | Unknown | Confirmed | Tephrochronology | |
Galeras | 7050 BCE ± 1000 years | Unknown | Confirmed | Tephrochronology | |
Tolima, Nevado del | 7800 BCE ± 300 years | Unknown | Confirmed | 4 | Radiocarbon (uncorrected) |
There are 35 photos available for volcanoes in Colombia.

Photo by Norm Banks, 1989 (U.S. Geological Survey).

Photo by Jean-Claude Thouret (Université Grenoble).

Photo by José Macías, 1996 (Universidad Autómona de México).

Photo by Norm Banks, 1895 (U.S. Geological Survey).

Photo by Minard Hall, 1985 (Escuela Politécnica Nacional, Quito)

Photo by Norm Banks, 1985 (U.S. Geological Survey).

Photo by John Ewert, 1989 (U.S. Geological Survey).

Photo by Norm Banks, 1989 (U.S. Geological Survey).

Copyrighted photo by Katia and Maurice Krafft, 1985.

Photo by Norm Banks, 1985 (U.S. Geological Survey).

Photo by Norm Banks, 1985 (U.S. Geological Survey).

Photo by David Lescinsky, 1988 (University of Western Ontario).

Satellite image courtesy of Copernicus Sentinel Data, 2018.

Photo by Tom Pierson, 1985 (U.S. Geological Survey).

Photo by José Macías, 1996 (Universidad Autómona de México).

Photo by David Lescinsky, 1988 (University of Western Ontario).

Photo by Minard Hall, 1985 (Escuela Politécnica Nacional, Quito)

Photo by José Macías, 1996 (Universidad Autómona de México).

Photo by Tom Pierson, 1985 (U.S. Geological Survey).

Photo by Norm Banks, 1989 (U.S. Geological Survey).

Photo by Bernardo Pulgarín, 1996 (INGEOMINAS, Colombia).

Photo courtesy of Marta Calvache, 1936 (INGEOMINAS-Observatorio Vulcanológico del Sur).

Satellite image courtesy of Planet Labs Inc., 2017 (https://www.planet.com/).

Photo by Tom Pierson, 2010 (USGS, Cascades Volcano Observatory).

Photo by Tom Pierson, 1985 (U.S. Geological Survey).

Satellite image courtesy of Planet Labs Inc., 2020 (https://www.planet.com/).

Photo by Tom Pierson, 1985 (U.S. Geological Survey).

Photo by Tom Pierson, 1985 (U.S. Geological Survey).

Photo by Federmán Escobar Chávez, 2005.

Photo by Juan Carlos Diago, 1995 (courtesy of Bernardo Pulgarín, INGEOMINAS, Colombia).

Copyrighted photo by Katia and Maurice Krafft, 1985.

Photo by Norm Banks, 1989 (U.S. Geological Survey).

Photo by Tom Pierson, 2010 (USGS, Cascades Volcano Observatory).

Photo by Minard Hall, 1985 (Escuela Politécnica Nacional, Quito)

Photo by Norm Banks, 1989 (U.S. Geological Survey).
This is a compilation of Colombia volcano information sources, such as official monitoring or other government agencies.
Volcanic Ash Advisory Center | |
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Washington Volcanic Ash Advisory Center (VAAC) | |
- Washington VAAC Archive | |
- Washington VAAC Notices |