Salento – Cocora Valley and the wax palm, Colombia’s national tree

30mn from the famous village of Salento, the Cocora Valley offers travellers an exceptional colombian landscape. The wax palm tree, Colombia’s national tree, grows in the mountainous regions across the country. An idea of the exact size of these trees? Find out more by reading this article…

It is possible to observe these gigantic palm trees in different places throughout the Colombian Andes. However, the best place to get an idea of their size is the Cocora Valley. It is one of the most visited sites in Colombia and a must-see destination in the coffee region. It is also fairly easy to access this valley from Salento. This town is also a flagship village of Paisa architecture with white facades and colorful woodwork, and inevitable stop on the way to the Cocora Valley.

Salento, Filandia, Quimbaya… A plethora of authentic villages

Salento is the most emblematic destinations in the “Eje Cafetero” (coffee region). The charming colourful streets, the friendliness of the local people and the cafés grinding beans harvested in the surrounding hills are among the attractions of the city. At the end of the Calle Real, you access a viewpoint and enjoy a superb panorama of the town. In addition to Salento, the region offers other authentic destinations, from Quimbaya, with its more tropical climate, to Filandia, another village showing a similar architecture, typical of the coffee triangle.

Los Nevados National Natural Park

The Cocora Valley is part of the Los Nevados National Natural Park, making it a protected site. The hikers who want to conquer the snowy peaks must go through this valley. To visit the park in its entirety, it is necessary to hike to an altitude that can reach 5000 meters. Moreover, this excursion will take you through different ecosystems depending on the altitude. Hummingbird forests, paramos (Andean grasslands), lakes and even a glacier, the natural landscapes of the Nevados are remarkably diverse. This multi-day trek is mainly for people in good physical condition who are used to undertake demanding excursions. For less adventurous visitors or simply those who are a little more pressed for time, a half-day visit, on foot or on horseback, allows you to discover the Cocora Valley, where palm trees can measure up to 80 meters in height !

If you are interested by a trip to the coffee region or any other region of Colombia: