Valle de Cocora

The Valle de Cocora, 12 kilometres east of Salento, is one of the most distinctive landscapes in South America. Wax palms — Colombia's national tree and the world's tallest palm — stand scattered across green pastures at 1,800-2,400 metres altitude, their pencil-thin trunks rising incongruously from the grass like something from a Dr. Seuss illustration. The tallest reach 60 metres.

The standard hike is a loop of 4–6 hours, beginning with a walk through the palm-filled valley floor, then climbing into cloud forest via a trail that passes a hummingbird house (where 15-20 species are reliably present) and continues up to a ridge with views over the whole valley. The descent brings you back through more palms to the starting point. The trail is muddy in wet weather and waterproof boots are advisable. Jeeps leave from Salento's central plaza for the trailhead at 6:30am, 9:30am, and noon; the return runs through the afternoon. The hike is one of the most rewarding day walks in Colombia.

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A story
The wax palms of the Cocora valley grow up to 60 metres tall — the world's tallest palm species and Colombia's national tree. Their improbable silhouettes against rolling green hills are one of the country's most photographed scenes. The palms were under serious pressure from farming until conservation efforts in the 1980s and 1990s reversed the decline; they are now protected and the population in the Cocora valley is growing.