Cocora Valley, Colombia - Everything You Need to Know Before Your Hike
If you're traveling in Colombia, this little paradise near Salento should definitely be on your bucket list. The breathtaking landscape of towering palms, dense jungle, and vast meadows was a little highlight of our journey through Colombia.
Our ultimate guide provides you with all the information you need before your day trip - from travel tips to essential trail information and helpful tips.
Cocora Valley
To reach the Cocora Valley, head to the town of Salento, about 10 km away, which serves as a starting point. The quaint town is known for its colorful houses and excellent coffee. It also serves as a base for other excursions and coffee tours. The Valle de Cocora is part of the Parque Nacional Natural de Los Nevados, an extensive national park. The lush green hills of the region are dotted with wax palms, the tallest palms in the world, native only to Colombia and northern Peru.
How to get to Cocora Valley?
Most travelers visiting the Cocora Valley choose to stay in the nearby town Salento. There are daily buses from major cities like Medellin, Bogota, or Cali that arrive here.
Getting from Salento to the Cocora Valley is straightforward. The park entrance is about a 30-minute drive from Salento, and the usual and easiest way to get there is by using the shared "taxi-jeeps." These depart daily from the main square (Plaza de Bolivar) in Salento from 6:30 am to around 4:30 pm. You don't need to buy a ticket in advance, just show up. The jeep leaves once all seats are occupied. A round-trip ticket costs about 10,000 COP (approx. 2€).
How much does it cost?
The park passes through private property, and you'll need to pay at two points along the route (make sure to have enough cash with you). It costs 6,000 COP (approx. 1.50€) at Finca El Portón and 20,000 COP (approx. 4.60€) at Finca La Esperanza for the palm forest.
Additionally, there's a side path to a café where you can admire hummingbirds. If you'd like to do this, you'll pay 15,000 COP and receive a hot drink of your choice. It wasn't worth it for us since we had already seen hummingbirds beforehand.
Which route should you take?
As it's a loop trail, you can decide at the beginning whether to go clockwise or counterclockwise. While many blogs suggest the counterclockwise route, we opted for the clockwise direction. Why?
You'll see the wax palms at the beginning, and as the day progresses, the park fills up with people, giving us plenty of viewpoints to ourselves in the morning.
In the afternoon, fog may roll in and affect visibility, so depending on the weather, you can decide what works best for you.
You don't have to hike up the somewhat muddy mountain; instead, you'll ascend a wide road. Going clockwise allows you to enjoy the steep descent through the jungle a bit more, rather than climbing up.
Ultimately, regardless of which way you choose, the journey will still be a unique experience.
How long does the hike take?
The hike is about 12 km long and takes 5 to 7 hours, depending on how many photo stops and leisure breaks you want to take. Take your time to explore the breathtaking fog forests, wax palms, and jungle of the Valle de Cocora.
Tips for the hike
From rain to sunshine, you're in cloud forests here, so be prepared for the full spectrum of weather, from sunscreen to a rain jacket.
Be sure to pack some snacks and enough water. If you need anything along the way, there's a restaurant at the entrance and a café along the route.
Finally, there can be many mosquitoes near the river, so don't forget your mosquito spray.
