Valle de Cocora, Colombia

Valle de Cocora is a must-visit destination on any Colombia itinerary. Here, you’ll find the tallest palm trees in the world, and you can further explore the stunning natural setting by taking on the Valle de Cocora hike. 

In this guide to Valle de Cocora, I’ll share tips to plan your visit, including information about the hiking trails and how to take a day trip from Salento to Valle de Cocora. I’ll also share some lesser-known Valle de Cocora facts. Spoiler: this place may cease to exist in the future.

For more Colombia travel tips and destination guides, head to my Colombia page.

Valle de Cocora History

“Cocora” is the name of a princess of the indigenous Quimbayan people and means “the star of water”. Valle de Cocora is renowned for its wax palm trees, which can reach heights of up to 200 ft (61 m) and live for as long as 200 years. Valle de Cocora was incorporated into Los Nevados National Natural Park in 1985 to protect the Quindío wax palm from exploitation, particularly from harvesting of its leaves for Palm Sunday. At the same time, the wax palm was declared the national tree and symbol of Colombia.

Endangered Palm Trees

Something most tourists may not know is that the wax palm is on the verge of extinction. There are only 2,000 of them left in the Cocora Valley. Have you ever looked at Valle de Cocora photos and noticed the eerie spacing of the palm trees, devoid of other vegetation? I know I have. 

It turns out that the valley used to be a dense forest, and all plants except the protected wax palms were cut down to make room for cattle grazing. New seedlings, which take 50 years to reach the adult phase, are unable to grow because wax palm seeds on the ground are either burned in the sun or eaten by cows.

Jeep History

The colorful Willys Jeeps that transport tourists to Cocora Valley have an interesting history of their own. Jeeps arrived in Colombia in 1946; after World War II, the US started selling its surplus supply to developing countries. To this day, the Jeeps are beloved by Colombian farmers for their ability to transport heavy loads on hilly terrain. 

Every year, local towns hold a Desfile de Yipao, a celebration in which Jeeps are comically loaded with as many objects as possible (everything from agricultural products to entire households) and paraded through the streets. The nearby town of Armenia holds their festival in October.

My Trip to Valle de Cocora

Taking the Jeep

My trip from Salento to Valle de Cocora started early in the morning in Salento’s main plaza. I boarded a shared Jeep and was thankful to get a seat. A couple of fearless passengers volunteered to stand on the back ledge and hold onto the Jeep’s frame (that was a hard pass for me).

El Bosque de Las Palmas

Once we arrived, I headed towards El Bosque de Las Palmas, the palm forest. I intended to do the Valle de Cocora hike (a loop trail) clockwise, while everyone else on the Jeep went towards the counter-clockwise trailhead. This meant I got the palm forest all to myself! 

It was an eerie and majestic experience to walk beneath these giant trees with nobody around except the occasional grazing horse. This area tends to attract crowds, with its strategically placed photo-op props (jeeps, signs, giant wings). I was glad that large groups of tourists had not yet arrived.

Finca La Montaña

From the palm forest, I walked further up the hill. I reached a few more viewpoints overlooking the palm valley below before entering the dense forest. After about 30 minutes of walking uphill I reached the hike’s highest point, La Montaña. La Montaña had a stunning view of the surrounding mountains, and the hike was mostly downhill from here.

Hummingbird Sanctuary

After hiking down a short, muddy, and steep section of the trail, I took the side trail to the hummingbird sanctuary (Acaime). A short walk brought me to the sanctuary, where sugar water enticed hummingbirds for up-close encounters.

The entrance fee to Acaime included a hot drink (I chose hot chocolate). I was amused to see the server scoop it out of a steaming cauldron and balance a fork with cheese on top. I wasn’t brave enough to enjoy it the way it was meant to be served (cheese dunked into chocolate and allowed to melt), but separately, they were delicious. The sanctuary is a good place to take a break on the Valle de Cocora hike because it has a covered area with picnic tables. It is also the only restroom along the loop trail.

Returning to Salento

The remainder of the Valle de Cocora hike followed a river, passing through occasional suspension bridges and small waterfalls. Exiting the forest, the last portion of the trail ran alongside a cow field. Upon reaching the Jeep parking lot, I noticed that more tourists had arrived and I had to wait a bit to catch a ride back to Salento.

Valle de Cocora Trip Planning Information

Valle de Cocora Tours

It’s possible to visit Cocora Valley independently, and I’ve explained below how to navigate the hiking trails and how to get there by public transportation from Salento. However for a more convenient experience, tours are also available. There is a variety to choose from, including hiking and horseback riding tours.

Valle de Cocora Hikes

Check out my beginner’s guide to day hiking to ensure you’re fully prepared for the Cocora Valley hike!

El Bosque de Las Palmas (1-2 hours)

If you’re short on time or don’t want to hike too far, explore the wax palm forest (El Bosque de Las Palmas). This area has many small trails to explore, all of which are easy to navigate and not too steep. You should plan on walking up to 3 miles (5 km) over a couple of hours if you want to visit all the viewpoints. El Bosque de Las Palmas is the most busy section of the park, and it’s where the iconic palm photos are taken.

To get to the palm forest from the Jeep parking lot, continue walking uphill along the road for a few minutes. You’ll see the entrance and ticket booth for El Bosque de Las Palmas on the right.

El Bosque de Las Palmas Trail Map

Valle de Cocora Loop Trail (full day)

The full Valle de Cocora hike is a loop trail. In addition to the iconic wax palm forest, the loop allows you to visit mountain viewpoints, a hummingbird sanctuary, and waterfalls. The loop is at minimum ~6 mi (9.7 km), with ~1,800 ft (550 m) elevation gain. Factor in a little extra walking distance to explore the palm forest. 

If you’d like to visit the hummingbird sanctuary (also known as Acaime Nature Reserve or Casa de los Colibríes), add an extra 1 mi and 360 ft elevation gain. The loop can take 4-7 hours to complete depending on your pace and how many stops you make. This hike may be muddy and slippery after rain, so wear the right shoes and be prepared to get a little dirty.

Valle de Cocora Trail Map

Loop direction

Most people choose to hike the loop counter-clockwise. I chose to go clockwise to pass through the popular wax palm forest first thing in the morning, before crowds arrived. I was also concerned about the possibility of rain and clouds in the afternoon. Starting clockwise allowed me to tackle the steep incline of the hike in the morning, followed by a gradual descent for the remainder of the journey.

Finding the Trailhead

To begin the loop trail clockwise, continue uphill along the road from where the jeep drops you off. After a short walk, you’ll encounter the palm forest (El Bosque de Las Palmas) on your right, where you’ll pay the entrance fee at the ticket booth. For the counter-clockwise loop, start walking up the same road from the jeep parking lot. The trailhead is nearby; turn right at the blue gate with a sign for the trout farm (“truchas”). You’ll pay the entrance fee after walking along the trail for a short distance.

How Long to Stay in Cocora Valley

Valle de Cocora can be visited in a day trip from Salento or Armenia. I would recommend setting aside a full day to thoroughly explore the area, but if you only want to do a short walk through the Palm Forest then a half-day would be sufficient.

Valle de Cocora Weather and When to Go

Year-round, the weather is warm during the day and chilly in the early morning and evening. December to March and June to August are the dry seasons.

Cocora Valley is located in a cloud forest, meaning that even in the dry season, clouds come and go and the weather can change quickly. Embrace it; the misty clouds add to this place’s otherworldly charm!

Valle de Cocora is open 8 AM – 6 PM, 7 days a week. Try to get there early to avoid crowds and potential afternoon rain showers. Avoid visiting during weekends and holidays, which will be crowded with local tourists.

Where to Stay

I wouldn’t recommend staying in the Valle de Cocora because of limited accommodation options. Instead, it’s better to stay in Salento or Armenia, from where you can take public transportation to Valle de Cocora. Check out my Salento guide for recommended places to stay in Salento.

Where to Eat and Drink

There are a few restaurants and vendors along the main street. Expect higher prices since this is a touristic area. The Cocora Valley is a great place to try the local specialty of trucha (trout). 

There are no restaurants along the hiking trails, so bring snacks, water, and a picnic lunch with you. Bring a LifeStraw water filter if you don’t want to carry too much water.

Is Valle de Cocora Safe?

Valle de Cocora is a very safe place to visit and far from any urban centers with crime. Check out my Colombia safety guide for more tips, and make sure you have travel insurance.

Budget and Money

Entrance to just the Palm Forest is 20,000 COP (5 USD). To do the full loop hike, it’s an additional 6,000 COP (1.50 USD). 

To enter the hummingbird sanctuary along the loop trail, you’ll need to pay 5,000 COP (1.30 USD). The entrance fee includes a hot drink (such as hot chocolate) and cheese.

The Jeep ticket from Salento to Valle de Cocora is 9,000 COP (2.30 USD) each way.

Bring extra cash with you if you’d like to buy food and drinks. There are no ATMs in Valle de Cocora.

What to Bring to Valle de Cocora

For a full list of what to bring, refer to my Colombia packing list. If you’ll be doing the loop hike, also check out my day hiking checklist. I would stress the following:

• Downloaded maps of Cocora Valley (use Google Maps or MapsME). You won’t have phone service on most of the trails.
• Shoes with good traction (Women’s, Men’s) that you don’t mind getting muddy. Aside from occasional mud, the trail is not technically difficult and you don’t need any specialized hiking gear. The loop trail gets muddier than the trail through the palm forest.
• Sunscreen 
• Hat
• Mosquito spray
• Rain jacket (Women’s, Men’s)
• Water, snacks, picnic lunch

How to Get to Valle de Cocora

Whether you’re trying to get to Valle de Cocora from Medellín or somewhere else, first, get yourself to Salento (learn how to do so here).

From the main square of Salento (Plaza de Bolivar Salento Park), take a Jeep for 9,000 COP (2.30 USD) one way. Jeeps start at 7:30 AM and leave when full. It’s about a 30 minute ride from Salento to Valle de Cocora. The last Jeep from Valle de Cocora back to Salento departs at 5:00 PM.

Where to Go Next

• Salento
• Los Nevados park: Treks through this park start in the area around Valle de Cocora. Hike through diverse ecosystems, complete with volcanos and tropical glaciers. Multi-day treks can be organized from Salento.
• Cascadas de Cocora: A huge waterfall that you’ll hike 30 min to get to. Entrance is 15,000 COP (3.80 USD). The entrance to the falls is located along the road that runs between Salento and Cocora Valley; you can use the same Jeep to get there.

Thanks for reading! I hope this travel guide to Valle de Cocora was helpful as you plan your trip to Colombia. Questions? Thoughts? Let me know in the comments.

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