15 Best Things to Do in Nong Khiaw, Laos (2024)
April 28, 2024
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You have probably seen them pass by the Instagram accounts of many travel bloggers: the beautiful, tall, and slender wax palms of the Cocora Valley in Colombia! While they make for a pretty Instagram picture, there is much more to learn about these wax palms. Read this post to learn more about these trees’ endangered status, the best way to visit them, and where to base yourself for a smooth travel experience. Here we go!
The tallest palm trees: Cocora Valley, Colombia
The Cocora Valley, located in the Colombian Andes, is a region of breathtaking natural beauty. Known for its lush, green landscapes and the towering wax palm trees, which are Colombia’s national trees and one of the tallest in the world, the valley offers a unique ecosystem that supports a diverse range of flora and fauna.
These palms, which can reach up to 60 meters in height, create a surreal and majestic environment that attracts tourists and nature enthusiasts from across the globe. However, the Cocora Valley also has a dark side.
In the wild, wax palm trees are found in sense forests but nowadays, they stand tall in pasture land and vegetable fields. Wax palms, however, cannot reproduce outside of a forest. Their seedlings die in the full sun or are eaten by cows and horses.
This basically means that the most popular part of the Cocora Valley that travelers visit is a graveyard and won’t exist anymore by the end of the century. As a conscious traveler, it’s important to keep this in mind when visiting this beautiful valley!
The Cocora Valley is located in central Colombia, within the department of Quindio. The picturesque valley is a part of the Andean mountains and is nestled in the heart of Colombia’s coffee-growing region, known as the Eje Cafetero.
You can find the Cocora Valley near the small town of Salento, which is a popular base for both domestic and foreign tourists exploring the valley. The valley is also a part of the Los Nevados National Park, another attraction in the region known for its stunning natural landscapes.
From Salento, there are, aside from visiting the Cocora Valley, a bunch of other activities you can participate in like hiking, going to the Santa Rita Waterfalls, taking a coffee tour, or learning more about the region’s biodiversity at Kasaguadua.
Cocora Valley, Colombia, South America
There are two ways to visit the Cocora Valley: on a 6-hour hike through pristine landscapes or by visiting the Cocora Valley Park. Here is what to expect from both options!
The Cocora Valley itself is primarily known for its natural landscapes but, the most beautiful section of the Valley has been turned into a tourist park with viewpoints and touristy photo ops where people stand in line to take an Instagram photo.
The beautiful tall and slender wax palm trees of the Cocora Valley
The entrance to this “amusement park” is 20.000 COP per person and includes a short hiking trail and access to the viewpoints and photo opportunities. If your health doesn’t allow a lot of hiking, this is your best chance of seeing the Cocora Valley.
You can opt to visit the park yourself or go on an organized tour from Salento. Being a vegan, I’m against any form of animal abuse but, there are also horseback riding tours on offer to visit the valley if this is something you want to engage in.
Cocora Valley hiking
Another option, and in my opinion the best one, is to visit the Cocora Valley on a 12-kilometer loop hike through lush cloud forest.
It starts and the drop-off point of the Willy Jeeps and you can take it in two directions: Clockwise, starting at the entrance of the Cocora Valley Park, or counterclockwise, which first takes you through an area of fields, waterfalls, forest, and coffee farms before ending at the Cocora Valley.
This hiking trail is located in a natural area that is completely different from the tourist craze of the park. Along the trail, there’s also a hummingbird sanctuary where you can take a break and enjoy watching these tiny birds.
→ A little note on sustainability:
As mentioned before, the Cocora Valley faces significant sustainability challenges. Despite the symbolic status of these towering palms, which can reach heights of up to 60 meters, their survival is under threat.
Recognizing the precarious situation, the Colombian government has included the wax palms in a preservation program. However, the effectiveness of these measures has been limited, and concrete actions to protect these majestic trees have been slow to materialize.
The primary issue threatening the valley is deforestation driven by agricultural expansion and cattle ranching. As you visit the Cocora Valley, you will see horses graze on the grasslands below the palm trees. This is however, a threat to their existence.
It prevents the trees from reproducing, which means that no new trees will grow in the valley, eventually leading to the death of the Cocora Valley by the end of the century.
The route of the Cocora Valley hike is a loop trail that is approximately 12 kilometers (about 7.5 miles) long. This loop trail takes around 5 to 6 hours to complete, depending on your pace, how often you stop, and your overall hiking experience.
The hike includes a mix of flat terrain and some steep sections when waking up to Finca La Montana. It’s advisable to start early in the day to fully enjoy the hike and return before dusk.
The Cocora Valley hike is generally considered to be of moderate difficulty. The trail includes a mix of flat sections and a steep climb up to Finca La Montana.
The paths can be uneven and rocky and, in some places, narrow. After rain, the trails can become muddy and slippery, requiring careful navigation especially the steep part up or down from Finca La Montana!
Also note that the hike takes place at a high altitude, with some parts of the trail reaching up to 2,400 meters (about 7,874 feet) above sea level. If you are not accustomed to high altitudes, you might find the hike more challenging due to the thinner air, which can lead to quicker fatigue and the potential for altitude sickness.
However, if you are reasonably fit and have some hiking experience, the Cocora Valley hike should be enjoyable and manageable.
If you are planning to visit the Cocora Valley, you will first have to make your way to Salento, from which you can take a Willy Jeep to the start of the hiking trail or the entrance of the park.
If you have your own wheels, perfect, than you can type in the location of the Cocora Valley in Google Maps or Waze and get going. Do note that there isn’t a lot of parking space near the Cocora Valley and neither in busy Salento so it might be tricky and slow to get rid of your car.
If you are backpacking through Colombia, bus travel is probably your main mode of transport. However, you can also choose to cover a part of the distance by airplane which is convenient but not very eco-friendly and doesn’t allow for slow travel.
Below, I will get deeper into how to get to Salento and the Cocora Valley from Bogota, Medellin, Jardin, Pereira and Armenia.
Getting to Salento from Bogota, the capital of Colombia, can be done in several ways. Here are the most common options:
Medellin is a bit closer to Salento and it’s a little easier to get to the Cocora Valley from Medellin.
Getting to Salento and the Cocora Valley from Pereira or Armenia is a breeze. Local buses ply the route multiple times a day and you don’t need to reserve a ticket in advance. The travel time to either one of these can vary between 45 minutes to 1,5 hours depending on the stops and traffic.
Reaching Salento from Jardin can be a bit tricky and will require a long day of travel. You will first have to make your way from Jardin to the city of Riosucio. This route is done by bus but bus comfort can vary. Normal buses ply this route but also chiva buses and they can take a very long time to reach Riosucio.
From Riosucio, you can take another bus that goes straight to the bus terminal in Salento.
From Salento, making your way to the Cocora Valley is easy! Unless you have your own car, the only way to reach the valley is by taking one of the colorful Willy Jeeps that you can find at the main square in Salento.
The jeeps leave when full and cost 4500 COP per person (Dec 2023). There is a fixed schedule that hangs at the ticket booth for the Willy Jeeps but in reality, there are too many people wanting to get to the valley in the morning so this means much more jeeps.
There weren’t that many jeeps around in the afternoon, however, so you may have to wait a while if you want to get to the valley in the afternoon.
A question that is on everyone’s mind before doing the Cocora Valley loop is: In which direction should I do the hike? While there is no straight answer to that question, there are a few pros and cons to each option.
Hiking Cocora Valley
The main pro for doing the hike clockwise is that you will start at the park entrance and therefore see the most beautiful part of the Cocora Valley first. Most of the wax palms are located near the park entrance and you will have a chance to admire them without the crowds if you plan to start your day early.
It’s also a good idea to do the hike this way because, in the afternoon, there is a chance of low-hanging clouds and you won’t be able to see the palms properly.
A disadvantage of doing the hike this way is that you will have to hike steep down on uneven terrain from Finca La Montana to the entrance trail of Acaime. This can be particularly tricky when it starts to rain.
The main pro of doing the whole loop counterclockwise is that you save the best for last. You will see the Cocora Valley in its full glory at the end of your demanding hike (and unfortunately the crowds of tourists too). It’s also easier to climb up the steep terrain to Finca La Montana instead of descending here.
Martha, our host lady who has been living in Salento her whole life suggested to us to do the hike counterclockwise because it is easier to cover the terrain this way. Here is a breakdown of my experience doing the Cocora Valley hike counterclockwise!
After the Willy Jeep has dropped you off, cross the road and look for a dirt road. This is the start of the trail. You will pass by a few restaurants and a blue gate first before arriving at a wooden stall where you need to pay the entrance fee of 6000 COP (prices Dec 2023).
You are now officially starting the Cocora Valley hike!
Wax palms and farmland at the start of the hike
The start of the Coroca Valley hike is not as scenic as the wax palms in the park but it comes pretty close to it!
The start of the Cocora Valley hike
This area feels wilder than the actual park but is by no means less beautiful. This section of the hike will take you through farmland and you will likely see cows grazing below the tall standing trees.
Wax palms at the start of the Cocora Valley hike (counterclockwise)
This part of the trail is very easy to cover since it’s mostly flat and consists of easy-to-walk dirt roads. There a great photo ops here! In fact, I think the shots that I have taken from these walk palms are more scenic than the ones from the park.
After walking the first section of the Cocora Valley loop, the farmland will turn into a forested area. You will be surrounded by lush greenery and after a few minutes, you will arrive at the sign that will point you to a small waterfall.
Cascada Bosque de Nuebla
While not as scenic as the Santa Rita Waterfall in Boquia, another attraction near Salento, it is definitely worth it to walk down to the river to have a quick look at the waterfall.
After the waterfall, the next section of the hike is the six bridges. It is called “the six bridges” but there are only 5 of them if I remember correctly.
Crossing the suspension bridges on the Cocora Valley hike
When taking the bridges, pay attention to the rules. Only start walking the bridges when the person before you has finished and be careful!
The bridges are quite wobbly and in some sections, there are pieces of wood missing. During the rainy season, the Quindio River can also be quite powerful. But we visited in the dry season and crossing the bridges was a memorable and fun experience.
After the bridges, at a certain point, the road will split into two senderos. You will see a sign here from Acaime.
Acaime is a nature reserve located in the Cocora Valley. It’s most famous for being a sanctuary for hummingbirds and other bird species. As a visitor, you can enjoy the natural beauty of the cloud forest here and observe various species of hummingbirds up close.
The reserve also features a simple café where you can enjoy a hot drink if you feel that you need a break at this point during the hike.
The entrance to Acaime is 20.000 COP and also includes a hot drink. Do note that going to Acaime requires a detour. Acaime is located 1 kilometer away from the Cocora Valley trail and will add another 2 kilometers to your hike.
I didn’t visit Acaime since I’ve seen humming birds before and didn’t feel like I needed a break although I highly suggest visiting if you haven’t seen these wonderful birds before!
After Acaime comes the most streneous part of the hike. An 800-meter steep path all the way up the hill to Finca La Montana. I’m not gonna lie: this is not the most fun part of the trail. It is pretty exhausting and, while it only lasts for 40 minutes, it feels like an eternity!
Luckily, once you reach the top and Finca La Montana, you will have a wonderful view of the Los Nevados Mountains and you can get a hot drink at the finca.
At this point during our hike, some clouds were starting to form in the valley. Luckily, it didn’t turn into a thick fog and we were still able to admire the beautiful mountains from a bench in front of Finca La Montana.
We were also able to spot a hummingbird here and a few other beautiful birds while taking a breather for the demanding climb up. If you started hiking the trail in the morning, this is also a good place to have lunch.
This is about the halfway point of the hike and from there, the trail will get much easier. There is no possibility to buy food here so you will have to bring a picnic along.
The checkpoint where you will need to pay another entrance fee
After taking a break at the Finca, the most scenic part of the hike has arrived! From the finca starts an easy walking trail down to the Cocora Valley. From this part on, the hard work is done and it’s all about enjoying the views.
Cocora Valley Colombia
After a while, you will pass by a second checkpoint where you will need to pay an entrance fee. It’s actually an entrance fee for the Finca. The walking trail that runs past the finca is located on private land, and therefore, you need to pay a fee.
You will be asked to pay 20.000 COP here and you will be given a colored bracelet as proof that you have paid. From here, the first wax palm trees will start to show!
Valle de Cocora
Walking further down you will enter the actual Cocora Valley. The first views of the trees are truly mesmerising and there isn’t too much passage on the trail.
This changes however when you come closer to the viewpoints. Having read nothing about the actual park beforehand, seeing so many people took the magic away a bit for me. The trees are beautiful but the layout of the park, with man-made photo opportunities (at the second viewpoint, you will see a large hand where people can sit and a line of people waiting to snap a photo!) kills the natural beauty.
Cocora Valley day trip
There is a lot that needs to be done in regard to sustainability to save the Cocora Valley. It seems, at this point, that the landowners are only after fast money, instead of trying to protect and conserve this magnificent forest.
Luckily, after visiting the second viewpoint, you can return to the trail and, if you walk back this way, the crowds will disappear and the trail becomes peaceful again until you arrive at the entrance of the park.
From there, make your way to the car park of the Willy jeeps which are a little further down the road to the right. This is the end of the Cocora Valley hike!
Here are the websites I use when I travel to Colombia:
Booking.com: For the best guesthouses, homestays, or small hotels
Hostelworld: To find the best hostels located in the cities
Homestay: For a unique immersive homestay experience in the big cities or the countryside
Busbud and Redbus: The best transport websites for long-distance buses in Colombia. Note that 12Go also works in Colombia but the tickets they will buy for you are open-seat tickets and don’t guarantee a seat on the bus you book online.
Uber: Uber is a convenient and cheap ride-hailing app that can be used in the bigger cities of Colombia. Other apps are Cabify or Didi.
Skyscanner: For affordable flights to Bogota and intercity flights in the country.
Viator and Get Your Guide: book all kinds of activities from the Ciudad Perdida trek to a guided private tour of Comuna 13 in Medellin.
Citizens of many countries, including the United States, Canada, the European Union, Australia, and New Zealand, do not require a visa for short tourist stays (typically up to 90 days). However, this can vary, so it’s always best to check iVisa for the specific requirements for your nationality.
If you’re looking for travel insurance, the one with the best benefits online is undoubtedly Heymondo! It’s very easy to ask for a quote on the website and, if you book with this link you’ll get 5% off!
Access mobile data immediately when entering the country with a Colombian E-sim or a Latamlink E-sim when traveling through multiple countries. If you are already in Colombia, the best local prepaid sim card is Claro.
In total, we paid 26.000 COP per person for the Cocora Valley hike in a counterclockwise direction, 6000 COP at a small booth at the start of the trail, and 20.000 COP at a small drink stand after making a stop at Finca La Montana.
If you add the cost of the Willy jeep back and forth to the entrance of the park, the total cost for one person to do the Cocora Valley hike will come down to 35.000 COP in total.
These prices are correct while writing this article, at the beginning of 2024 but are likely to change (=rise) in the future.
Getting back from the Cocora Valley to Salento is pretty easy. If you don’t see a Willy jeep waiting at the parking lot, just wait a few minutes and one will likely show up. There is also someone around to arrange the passengers and he will tell you what to do.
Once you get into the Willy jeep, it takes about 25 minutes to get back to Salento.
Salento is one of the most popular destinations to visit in Colombia and it’s not hard to find a good accommodation option in the area.
Do note that prices inflate heavily from around half of December to half of January and that the town is packed, mostly with domestic tourists.
This can make it really hard to find well-priced accommodation during these weeks and it’s better to avoid traveling to Salento during this time of the year altogether.
Furthermore, I would advise to pick accommodation that is located in the heart of the center of Salento. The Calle Real, which is the main street in Salento, and the Plaza are very noisy and I think it must be hard to fall asleep with all the action still going on in the evening.
That said, here are my top picks for a stay in Salento!
Here are the answers to some frequently asked questions about the Cocora Valley near Salento in Colombia!
Cocora Valley is generally considered to be worth visiting by travelers and nature enthusiasts. The valley is known for its stunning landscapes, including the world’s tallest wax palm trees, which can reach up to 60 meters in height. The sight of these towering palms against the backdrop of lush, green hills and cloud forests creates a surreal and picturesque scene.
Just note that the most beautiful section of the forest has been turned into an amusement park and that a lot of work needs to be done (=let the trees reproduce) to save the forest from dying.
The amount of time you should spend in Cocora Valley largely depends on the activities you plan to undertake, particularly the hiking routes you choose.
If you opt for the full loop hike, it typically takes about 5 to 6 hours to complete. This route allows you to experience the entire range of landscapes in the valley, including the wax palm forest and the cloud forest.
The beautiful Cocora Valley
If you’re short on time or prefer a less strenuous hike, the out-and-back route to the wax palm forest might be more suitable. This hike can take around 2 to 3 hours and still allows you to experience the views of the wax palms by visiting the two viewpoints.
If you can’t bear to visit the Cocora Valley due to its sustainability issues, another alternative in the area is visiting La Carbonera. La Cerbonera is a natural wax palm forest that is located on private property about a two-hour drive from Salento, far away in the mountains.
Getting there is only possible with an expensive tour from Salento.
The Cocora Valley is generally safe to visit for travelers, especially those engaging in hiking and outdoor activities.
However, like any travel destination, it’s important to take standard precautions. These include staying aware of your surroundings, following established trails, and being prepared for changing weather conditions.
There you go! I hope this Cocora Valley hiking guide was useful and insightful to you. If you have finished your travels in the Eje Cafetero, awesome next stops in Colombia are the city of Medellin or the lesser-known city of Buga.
Let me know in the comments below if you have any questions or drop me a message through my contact page.
Also, don’t forget to check out my resources page with my favorite booking platforms and tips to start planning your trip. Additionally, have a look at my favorite travel gear if you want to pack more consciously!
ENJOY!
Disclaimer: This post may include affiliate links. If you click on them, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.
Hi! I am Annelies and this is Travelers & Dreamers, a blog about conscious travel which means traveling in a more mindful way, with a positive impact on the world and yourself!
On this website, I cover different topics like slow travel, plant-based food guides, responsible travel, sustainable packing, eco-travel, and more!
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