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When you think of Colombia, you may not have an iconic image in mind, like when you think of France or Peru. That may be due to how new Colombia is as a travel destination. But if I had to pick one image to represent the country, I would choose the view of rolling lush green hills and strangely tall wax palm trees of Salento, for sure.
I have never seen anything like Valle del Cocora (Cocora Valley) throughout my travels, and, as usual, this place is best seen on foot. So, here is a one full-day hiking guide to Valle del Cocora, Salento, and everything you need to know to visit and have the best time there. Let's begin!
Valle del Cocora, Salento Hiking Map
Quick Summary
| 🌤️ Best time: | December-March and July-August |
| 🚘 Get around: | Bus and hiking |
| 🕓 Time to spend: | 5-6 hours |
| 🚶♂️ Difficulty: | Moderate |
| 💰 Cost: | About 72000 COP with Acaime |
2026 Hiking Costs: Expect to pay around 52,000 COP for the full loop including round-trip Willys transport, or 72,000 COP with Acaime. Fees are collected separately along the trail, so bring at least 100,000 COP in cash just in case.
One Day Hiking Itinerary for Valle del Cocora, Colombia
Salento to Valle del Cocora (30 minutes)
Start your day in Salento as early as you can and catch one of the first Willys jeeps to Valle del Cocora. Current schedules vary by day and demand, but the first departure is generally around 6:30 AM. Leaving early gives you a better chance of clearer weather and fewer people on the trail. You can find the jeeps around Plaza de Bolívar in the town center.
Willys jeeps run between Salento and Valle del Cocora throughout the day, but they do not operate on a simple hourly 6:10 AM–5:30 PM timetable. As of 2026, published schedules show the first departure at around 6:30 AM, with additional departures depending on the day and demand. Expect to pay around 5,000–6,000 COP each way. Confirm the last return jeep when you arrive in Cocora, especially if you plan to hike the full loop. From the parking area, continue toward the trail entrance to begin the counterclockwise route.
I prefer doing the full loop counterclockwise, heading through the river and cloud forest toward Acaime first while you still have plenty of energy, then climbing to La Montaña and finishing by descending through the wax palm valley. The complete loop is roughly 12–15 km and usually takes around 5–6 hours, longer if you spend time at Acaime or stop often for photos.
- Yambolombia Hostel (Budget)
- Casa Borbon (Mid-Range) 👍 Top Pick
- Hotel El Mirador del Cocora (High-End)
- Cocora Valley, Salento and Coffee Farm Day Tour (8 hours)
- Cocora valley and coffee farms tour (8 hours)
- 3 Days Private Tour Crossing the Andes Mountains (3 days)
Valle del Cocora Entrance to Acaime (2 hours)
Once you turn right at the entrance, you will see a directional sign that points to Acaime. That's where you will be going first. You will be walking down a hill along a river (stick to the right), crossing multiple suspension bridges for about an hour and a half until you arrive at an intersection.
Remember this intersection, as you will have to backtrack your way back to this T-junction after visiting Acaime Hummingbird House. For now, stick to the right (follow the red arrow sign) and go up the steep hill. Again, stick to your right whenever possible.
After approximately another 30 minutes of climbing, you will arrive at the Acaime Hummingbird Reserve, where you can rest and watch the hummingbirds. When I visited, the entrance fee was only 5,000 COP and included a drink. Recent 2026 reports put admission at around 20,000 COP, usually including a hot drink such as coffee, hot chocolate, or aguapanela. Acaime is an optional detour from the main Cocora loop.
Acaime to La Montana (1 hour)
After resting at the Hummingbird House, backtrack your way down to the intersection I previously mentioned, and turn right (when coming down from Acaime). You will be hiking up a hill for about an hour before you arrive at La Montaña, a beautiful resting point with a sweeping view of the landscape surrounding it.
Here, you can relax, enjoy the view, and have some snacks before you continue on to the last part, which is the part you are most looking forward to: the wax palm trees area.
La Montana through the Wax Palm Trees Area Back to the Entrance (2 - 3 hours)
From La Montaña, it's all downhill from here, so you can stroll down at your own leisure. You will start to see the iconic, tall wax palm trees protruding from thick bushes along the trail.
The most photogenic part of the hike is when you arrive at an opening where you can see the tall wax palm trees scattered all over the hill, reaching all the way up to the foot of the mountain. It's quite a sight to behold.
Stick to the marked trail through the wax palm area rather than cutting across the fields. Much of Valle del Cocora is privately owned farmland, and staying on the designated paths helps avoid trespassing and protects the landscape around Colombia's national tree.
From La Montaña, allow roughly 1.5–2.5 hours to descend through the wax palm valley and return to the Cocora entrance, depending on trail conditions and how often you stop for photos. The entire loop with the Acaime detour generally takes around 5–6 hours. You can have lunch near the entrance or take a Willys jeep back to Salento.
Bonus: Eat at La Fonda de los Arrieros Restaurant
La Fonda de los Arrieros is a nice local restaurant located on the corner of Plaza de Bolívar Park in Salento that serves one of the best trucha dishes (trout, a local delicacy) in town. There's no better way to reward yourself after a hike in Valle del Cocora than by enjoying a nice fried trucha at La Fonda de los Arrieros.
Colombia Travel Video
Where to Stay in Salento?
When to Visit Salento?
The relatively drier periods are generally December to February and around July to August, with January typically among the driest months. That said, Salento and Valle del Cocora are wet, humid mountain environments where rain can occur at any time of year, so there is no truly dry season. I experienced all three types of weather in one day when I was there: rainy in the morning, cold when I was at La Montaña, and sunny when I was making my way back. Start early and bring rain protection regardless of the month.
What to Pack for Valle del Cocora Hike?
- Rain & Warm Jackets: The weather in Valle del Cocora is as unpredictable as a cockroach flight path (seriously), so be sure to bring warm jackets for when you go above 2000m, as well as a rain jacket in case it pours on you. Here are the jackets I recommend you get for the trip: fleece jacket and the beautiful orange Columbia outer-shell jacket.
- Food, Snacks, and Water: There is a restaurant at the entrance and a cafe at Acaime, but it's not cheap. So, if you want to save some money, bring a few hiking snacks and a bottle of water with you, or better yet, bring your own lunch. I always carry my 2-liter hydration pack, which I recommend so you don't have to stop to stay hydrated.
- Good Sturdy Shoes: The trail can get really muddy when it rains, so take good sturdy shoes, preferably waterproof ones. These Timberland Shoes are my go-to hiking boots in most situations.
- Get Maps.Me: Maps.me is the best app you can have on your phone, especially when hiking. The app is available on both Android and iOS. With its offline capabilities and comprehensive list of available hiking trails, you will never get lost here.
How to Get to Salento?
The most convenient airports for Salento are Pereira (PEI) and Armenia (AXM), both much closer to Salento than Medellín or Bogotá. If you are already traveling through Medellín, you can also take a direct bus from Medellín's Terminal del Sur to Salento. For international travelers, Bogotá and Medellín remain useful gateways with onward domestic flights to Pereira or Armenia. Be sure to check out the prices on Skyscanner and Expedia for the best possible deal for your trip.
To get to Salento from Medellín, Flota Occidental still serves Salento from Terminal del Sur. The old 45,000–50,000 COP fare is outdated: Medellín's terminal currently lists the route at around 78,000 COP. Schedules and fares can change, so check Flota Occidental before traveling. Allow roughly 6–7 hours depending on traffic and road conditions.
How to Get to Valle del Cocora?
From Salento, take one of the shared Willys jeeps from Plaza de Bolívar to Valle del Cocora. Current 2026 schedules show the first departure at around 6:30 AM, with departures varying by weekday, weekend, and demand rather than running on a strict hourly timetable. Expect to pay around 5,000–6,000 COP each way. Confirm the last return departure in Cocora when you arrive so you do not get stranded after the hike.
Which tourist SIM card is best for Colombia?
Mobile coverage is generally available in Salento, but it becomes patchy once you hike deeper into Valle del Cocora and the surrounding mountains, so download your maps before setting out. When I traveled here, I bought a Claro SIM with a 2 GB, 30-day plan for 46,000 COP, and it worked well in Salento town and near the Cocora entrance. That plan is now outdated: Claro's current prepaid offers provide considerably more data for less money; for example, in 2026 it advertises a SIM plus 10 GB for 20 days for 15,000 COP.
Alternatively, if your phone supports eSIMs, you can set one up before arriving and have mobile data as soon as you land. You can browse through available eSIMs here.
Tips: To stay connected with people at home, be sure that you have a VPN, such as ProtonVPN, installed before traveling. It's FREE, and you can gain access to services that may be blocked in certain countries.
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2 Comments
Hello Pete,
This page is amazing and informative. I am planning to visit in a few weeks. I did have a question though. The first jeep leaves the square at 6:10 am, what time does the park open??
Thank You!
Hey Patrick,
The park opens at 8 AM so if you want to be there right when it opens, I recommend you get the 7:30 AM jeep. Otherwise, you will have to wait at the entrance until it opens.