Cocora Valley Hike & Salento Tour: Wax Palms & Coffee Culture

5.00

(15 reviews)

What’s the experience like?

Muddy boots, mist on your face, and the first sight of those wax palms—tall as telephone poles—kind of stops you in your tracks. Our guide, Mateo, pointed out how their leaves rattle when the wind picks up. We started early, so the valley was still waking up; cows lowed somewhere off in the fog and a faint smell of wet earth mixed with coffee drifted from a nearby finca. If you’re into photos, this is where you’ll want to slow down—the light is soft before noon.

Salento itself feels like a postcard: painted balconies, dogs napping under benches, and café windows full of fresh bread. After our hike through Cocora Valley (it’s part of Los Nevados National Park), we wandered into town for a quick tinto at Café Jesús Martín—locals swear by it. Mateo explained how the wax palm became Colombia’s national tree and why UNESCO recognized this whole area as a heritage site. The trails can get slick after rain, so I was glad I brought sturdy shoes. And yeah, you’ll want water—those hills sneak up on you.