Hiking Cocora Valley.
Hiking Cococra Valley is one of the most popular activities in Colombia, which brings you across the breathtaking natural beauty of this unique region among the tallest palm trees in the world! Even if you are not a hiker you will be amazed by exploring Cocora Valley landscapes of towering wax palms to stunning cloud forests. Here is a full set of information for the best and safe hiking experience in the Los Nevados National Natural Park.
Los Nevados National Natural Park in Colombia.
Cocora Valley is part of the Los Nevados National Natural Park, located in the Cordillera Central of the Colombian Andes, spreading at an altitude between 1,800m and 2,400m. The park was created by volcanic activity thousands of years ago and it is now home to many hiking expeditions across volcanic peaks.
Getting to Cocora Valley from Salento.
Getting to Cocora Valley from Salento is relatively straightforward and can be accomplished in a couple of different ways. Most travelers (so did we) decide to take a Jeep Willys from Salento to the entrance of the Cococra Valley to begin their hiking adventure. The drive shouldn’t cost more than 5 000 COP per person. The journey to Cocora Valley is an adventure in itself (a very popular way of traveling in the whole of Colombia), as the open-air Jeeps drive through a rough terrain is great fun and you also get the views of the surrounding mountains and coffee plantations.
You will find Willy Jeeps in Salento’s main square. You can buy a return ticket as well. The Colombian drivers and nice and friendly. They need 8 people for one jeep. The drive to Cocora Valley entrance takes 20 minutes. Apart from the National Park entry fee you will need to pay extra 2000 COP at the end of the trail if you’re doing the full loop (Long loop).
The last Willy Jeep leaves at 6 p.m.! It’s 10 km distance from Cocora Valley to Salento, so you won’t be able to walk after hiking Cocora Valley.
Where to stay in Salento?
Salento is a starting point for hiking Cocora Valley. At the same time it is one of the most beautiful towns in Colombia! It’s a quiet, charming town with great relaxing atmosphere and hundreds of guesthouses.
Accommodation and food prices are much cheaper compared to Bogota. For a meal for two: 1 fried fish, fish soup, aborrajados with cheese, fruit cocktail and tea we paid 30 000 COP.
Hiking Los Nevados National Natural Park.
Los Nevados National Natural Park is a protected home of the world’s tallest Palm Trees – Wax Palms. If you’re not a fan of long trekkings, 1-hour walk from the main entrance will take you to the valley with the highest Wax Palms in the world.
We took Willy Jeep at 9 am and decided to hike the LONG LOOP: 13 km in total (you can also hike higher if you wish). After 20 20-minute drive with Willy Jeep from Salento, we were at the Cocora Valley entrance at 9.30am.
The long loop can be approached both ways – clockwise and anticlockwise. If you start your hike clockwise, the beginning of the route is nice and pleasant, but the second part gets challenging.
Wax Palms - the highest palms in the world.
Towering wax palms are Colombia’s national tree and the tallest palm trees in the world. The palms dominate the skyline creating a surreal atmosphere.
There are a number of hiking trails in Cocora Valley with different lengths and difficulty levels. You don’t have to approach challenging treks to witness towering wax palms. One of the most popular trail options is the 5 hours loop trail (the one we took) that takes hikers through the heart of the valley, offering up-close views of the wax palms and cloud forest.
Hiking route in Cocora Valley.
The 5-hours long loop is quite challenging, especially on the way down. There are terrifying stories across the internet from hiking this loop in a rainy season. NOTE: hiking at this altitude can be demanding, you should have a good fitness level and some hiking experience. The trail can become extremely demanding in bad or rainy weather conditions – some preparation ahead of trekking is required.
Is hiking Cocora Valley difficult?
Hiking the long LOOP in dry conditions should be no problem for average hikers. However, Hiking Cocora Valley in rainy conditions might be very challenging, since the trail gets extremely muggy and sometimes even impossible to climb! In September the trail was dry and there was almost no rain during the week.
I would highly recommend checking the weather forecast before approaching Cocora Valley. Be aware the weather in cloud forests might change rapidly, always pack a water and wind-proof jacket and have proper hiking shoes. We had beautiful sunny weather and everything seemed easy in such conditions.
Check weather forecast.
It’s important to come prepared for your hike in Cocora Valley. Weather in the Andes can be unpredictable, the trails can be muddy and uneven, especially during the rainy season. Bring along plenty of water and snacks, as facilities within the valley itself are limited.
Trekking was amazing with massive condors (iconic Andean condor) flying above your head and humming-birds around colourful valley of flowers. There’s a small restaurant on the way offering one dining option for 5000 COP – locally made cheese with tasty bread and awful chocolate! There are seven rope bridges along the way. There’s also a bird-watching sanctuary, to reach it you need to step from the main trail and walk approx. 1 kilometer. The entry fee is 20 000 COP.
There is an option for hiking Cocora Valley on horseback. I do not recommend it/even on the below tours. The reason for this is we never know what condition are the horses in. We all know the animals in such tourist places can be overworked, so until you are not sure about the animal condition, I would not recommend booking a horseback tour.
Hiking Cocora Valley on a tour.
Many visitors would choose to go on an organized full-day tour taking you through all the highlights of the region and Cocora Valley. Here are a few best options for a great adventure, including visiting Salento and coffee plantations.
How long does it take to hike Cocora Valley?
SHORT LOOP: you can do a short loop which is around 4 kilometers.
LONG LOOP: Hiking Cococra Valley Clockwise is a 12 kilometers distance.
Entrance FEE to the park is 15,000 COP (~$4).
Where to stay in Salento?
The best place to stay in Salento is Hostal La Casa de Lili! Amazing, charming hostel in the heart of Salento is an extremely popular stay among travelers.
The lady host is incredibly friendly. After checkout we left our backpacks, charged our phones and used toilets for the rest of the day and he did not charge us for anything. You will love the place.
Where to stay near Salento?
Ahead of reaching Salento we wanted to stay in one of the coffee plantations, away from the city. We stayed booked Finca el Diamante villas. It was a small hustle to get there but trust me the place was worth it.
We took a local bus from the Armenia terminal to Calarca city center. From there we grabbed taxi for 7000 COP to finally reach this jungle paradise. It’s only 6 minutes drive from the Calarca but the road is very poor condition. The place is out of this world. The private villas are surrounded by dense palm trees, mandarin, avocado and lime trees, coffee and banana plantations. There is an amazing outdoor swimming pool and jacuzzi. You can enjoy hammocks located on spacious bamboo balconies.
Read: Hiking Tatacoa Desert in Colombia – the surreal landscape.
Visit coffee plantations in Calarca.
If you are looking for a quiet escape – Calarca is an ideal and authentic place. I’m so thankful we found this destination, Calarca is a blend of natural mountain beauty, exceptional coffee plantations and great locals. Additionally, the place is budget-friendly, which is a great alternative to Salento, a popular gateway for hiking Cocora Valley. There are many affordable stays in Calarca, but the standard is unreal.
Here are a few other recommendations for budget-friendly hotels and guesthouses in the area:
Here are the best guided tours and activities in Calarca for experiencing the local Coffee Culture:
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