Valle de Cocora Hike: Absolutely Everything You Need To Know

The Wax Palms in the Cocora valley are the tallest palms in the entire world. Some of them are even taller than 60 meters in height. 60 meters! And just saying that doesn’t do justice to these trees. They are tall, slender, majestic and breathtakingly beautiful, situated in a mystical valley high in the Andes mountains. The Valle de Cocora hike was one of the highlights of my trip to Colombia and definitely a not to miss visit. I tell you everything you need to know for your hike.

How to get there and away

Stay a night in the small village of Salento in the coffee region of Colombia. Want to know how to get to Salento from Bogotá first? Check out my complete guide on how to get from Bogotá to Salento in which I explain all the different routes.

As early in the morning as you can muster, preferably before 10 AM, get a jeep from the main square in Salento to the valley. Officially there is a schedule for the jeeps, but they just leave when they’re full. In high season in particular there are jeeps running continuously between the valley and Salento. So you can literally just walk to the main square and get on the first jeep that’s leaving.

It’s only a 30-minute drive to the Cocora valley. If you’re ready for an adventure, stand on the back of the jeep. If you want to enjoy the view, squeeze yourself in the front seat next to the driver (enough room for two and definitely recommended for tall people). In the back of the jeep you won’t see much. Same goes for returning to Salento. At the parking area near Valle de Cocora jeeps are waiting to take you back. One ride costs 4000 COP.

The Valle de Cocora hike

The jeep drops you off at the parking area near the valley. You’ll see many people following the path leading straight to the valley. However, you want to take a detour through beautiful landscapes, jungle and mountains. I really recommend that you do the detour if you can, it’s well worth the effort. But if  you’re short on time or not feeling up to hiking, you can still visit the Cocora valley by just following the path to the valley. After approximately 30-40 minutes you’ll see the giant palms! You’ll know when you’re there, trust me.

If you go for the long hike, which takes about 5 hours, you should download the app maps.me in advance. This app allows you to navigate the hike even when you’re offline. Just make sure to download the map of the area before you start your hike, because this requires internet.  

The first part of the route leads you through beautiful valleys with amazing views, giving you a sneak peek of the Cocora Valley.

Instead of following the path directly to the Cocora Valley, go through the blue gate at the right. It’s close to the parking lot.

You encounter, after approximately five minutes, a fork in the road. Take the path to the left, as the other one leads to a house. After another five minutes you’ll be asked to pay an entrance fee (3000 COP).

When you reach the end of the valley you find yourself in dense jungle, crossing several small, wooden suspension bridges. They can be slippery, so mind your step.

After about an hour in the jungle you eventually arrive at an intersection. The path to the right is a stairway and goes up a steep hill. This path leads to the Casa de Los Colibris, a sanctuary for hummingbirds. Besides hummingbirds, you can enjoy a drink here in a beautiful garden. It is a tough path up and you have to go back down if you want to continue the route, because it’s a dead end.

To be honest, I didn’t think it was worth the effort. I stayed at Hostal El Zorzal in Salento, and they have a beautiful garden with a lot of birds (including hummingbirds) as well. It was a really nice stay, so if you are still looking for something I recommend this place. It’s also opposite the bus station, which is convenient if you arrive or leave by bus. So I suggest that you skip the Casa de Los Colibris, but it’s up to you of course.

If you want to continue with the route, at the intersection take the path to the left. A steep climb uphill of 220 meters follows. This is the hardest part of the route, so take your time. At the top of the hill there’s a small finca called ‘La Montaña’ where you can get something to eat and drink. You find yourself at a whopping 2900 meters in height here. It’s time to enjoy some spectacular views! And assuring to know, they will only get better from here.

From here onwards the path is pretty straightforward. However, in the jungle it’s not always clear how the path goes. I actually got lost a couple of times myself. So if you get lost on the way, use the maps.me app for navigation.

Follow the road from the finca downhill. You’ll come across a couple of beautiful viewpoints (found on maps.me under the name ‘Mirador’ with a binoculars sign). At the third viewpoint the path goes right while the viewpoint is on the left going into the valley. Definitely check out the views at the viewpoint, it’s your first chance to properly look at the giant palms! Then you can continue through the valley to look up close to the palms or continue following the path taking you deeper into the valley.

Walk around the giant palms and enjoy the spectacular Valle de Cocora.  Once you’ve had enough you go to the end of the valley until you arrive at a path and then go left. Following this path for 30-40 minutes will take you to the parking lot. Jeeps are waiting there to take you back to Salento.  

What to take with you?

Due to changing weather conditions, limited facilities and the fact that you’re high up in the mountains, take at least the following with you:

• Rain jacket
• Sun screen
• Plenty of water
• Snacks and lunch
• Toilet paper
• Proper walking shoes
• Camera, it’s such a photogenic place!
• Maps.me app on your phone

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I really think the Valle de Cocora hike is absolutely gorgeous! Let me know what you think about the place, because I love to hear your experiences. Looking for more Colombia inspiration? Check out my 3 week itinerary!

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