Hiking Cocora Valley, Colombia: Complete Guide

Last Updated: October 2026

The Cocora Valley is one of Colombia’s most spectacular landscapes and an absolute must-visit when exploring the country’s beautiful Coffee Region.

Famous for its towering wax palms, Colombia’s national tree, the valley is home to some of the tallest palm trees in the world, reaching heights of up to 60 metres. Seeing these enormous palms rising above the lush green mountains is an unforgettable sight!

Located just outside the colourful town of Salento, Cocora Valley offers everything from short walks among the wax palms to a longer hiking circuit through cloud forest, farmland and mountain scenery.

We chose to tackle the full loop, including a detour to the hummingbird sanctuary, and it turned out to be one of the highlights of our time in Colombia.

In this guide, we’ll share our experience hiking Cocora Valley, explain the different routes and cover everything you need to know about transport, entrance fees and planning your visit.

We hiked Cocora Valley in 2019. Our personal hiking experience and photographs are from that visit, while the practical information has been updated for 2026. Trail conditions, access and fees can change.

How to Get to Cocora Valley

Getting to Cocora Valley from Salento is easy and part of the fun! Simply head to the town’s main square, Plaza de Bolívar, where colourful traditional Willys jeeps take visitors to the valley.

The journey takes approximately 25–30 minutes, winding through beautiful green countryside.

Shared jeeps depart regularly throughout the day, often once they’re full. Timetables can vary, so check departure times at the ticket booth in the square, especially if you’re planning an early start.

Expect to pay approximately COP 10,000 per person for a return journey, although fares can change. Private jeep transfers are also available at a higher price.

Our tip: If you’re planning the full Cocora Valley hike, catch one of the earliest jeeps to give yourself plenty of time to complete the trail before the afternoon rain and clouds roll in. Don’t forget to check the time of the last jeep back to Salento!

A map of the valley 

The routes for the Cocora Valley hike

Once you’ve been dropped off by the Willy jeep, you have two options for hiking the Cocora Valley.

The Counterclockwise Loop

This is the hardest loop because you’ll be climbing steeper slopes. However, you do get the hard part out of the way early on, leaving you a nice gentle walk downhill for the last half of the hike.

The Counterclockwise loop starts up the hill from the field that the Willy drops you off in. When you exit that field, turn left and walk up the hill a bit until you see a blue gate on the right-hand side of the road. Head through that gate and the trail will lead you down into the valley

Clockwise

This direction is generally less demanding uphill, but it can be harder on your knees and ankles, as you’ll descend a steep, uneven and potentially slippery trail during the second half of the hike.

To begin the clockwise loop, continue along the road towards the wax palm viewpoints rather than turning right onto the trail through the blue gate. Follow the signs for the main hiking circuit, as entrance points and signage may change.

Hiking Cocora Valley Counterclockwise

We chose to hike the counterclockwise loop based on recommendations we’d read online. This direction involves a steeper climb up to La Montaña, but it’s generally easier on your knees and ankles, as you avoid descending the steepest section of the trail.

It also means saving the spectacular wax palm valley for the end of your hike, hopefully with beautiful afternoon light for photography. Although, as we discovered, the weather doesn’t always cooperate!

When you exit the field where the Willys jeep drops you off, turn left and walk uphill until you see the blue gate on your right. Go through the gate to begin the counterclockwise hike.

The full loop is approximately 12–15 kilometres, depending on the route and any detours, and usually takes around 5–6 hours.

We completed the hike in six hours, including a detour to the Hummingbird Sanctuary and plenty of stops for photographs and to admire the scenery.

The first part of the loop

After going through the blue gate, keep walking down the hill and along the river. The scenery is magnificent from the start and you straight away come across a few wax palms trees. Along the way, you will pass local farms where cows and horses are happily munching on the lush green grass.

Follow the wooden rail and stick to the right. The trail crosses several narrow wooden suspension bridges over the Quindío River. Cross them one at a time, hold onto the cables and take extra care after heavy rainfall, when the bridges and surrounding trails can become slippery.

About an hour and a half later, you will arrive at the intersection for the Acaime Hummingbird Sanctuary. The Sanctuary is clearly indicated with a red arrow.

The Acaime Hummingbird Sanctuary

The Acaime Hummingbird Sanctuary is tucked away in the cloud forest, a detour from the main Cocora Valley hiking loop. Allow approximately 40–45 minutes each way to reach it. If you’re a bird lover, it’s well worth the extra effort!

The hummingbirds are wild and free to come and go, although sugar-water feeders attract them to the sanctuary, giving visitors an incredible opportunity to watch and photograph these beautiful little birds up close.

We loved sitting there with a drink, watching the hummingbirds dart between the feeders. There’s not much else to do, but for us, that was more than enough!

The sanctuary charges a separate entrance fee, generally around COP 20,000 per person, which usually includes a drink. Basic toilet facilities may also be available.

Important: Check locally in Salento that the sanctuary and connecting hiking trails are open before setting off, as access conditions can change.

After visiting the sanctuary, retrace your steps to the main trail junction, then follow the uphill route towards La Montaña to continue the counterclockwise loop. Be prepared, because this is where the hike starts getting tougher!

La Montana

Walking up La Montana was tough and very sweaty. At one point I was wondering why I chose to do the loop this way! It took us another hour of clambering uphill to reach La Montana.

Once there you will want to take a break, eat some snacks or have lunch and enjoy the views. Unfortunately, as we arrived at the top, the weather covered up and we didn’t have the best view. We were however very glad to know that the rest of the loop was all downhill!

Saving the best for the end – The wax palm trees

After a break at La Montana, we made our way down to the famous Wax Palm trees valley. As we neared the palms, the weather quickly deteriorated and it began to rain heavily. But fortunately, we still saw the palms before the rain set in. Then, once the rain started, the whole valley covered in mist, giving it a magical look that was quite breathtaking.

In the valley, you can choose to follow the trail and simply enjoy the Wax Palm trees from afar or you can take the shortcut down through the field to get closer to them. We would suggest heading down to them and then back-tracking to finish the rest of the trail. There are some awesome sights later on that you will miss if you continue with the shortcut.

Fun fact: Did you know that a Wax Palm tree is dioecious? That means that it can be either a male or a female plant!

How to get back to Salento after the hike? 

Once you finish your hike, you’ll no doubt be pretty exhausted, dirty and ready to head back to your hotel for a shower. Don’t worry, getting back to Salento is just as simple as getting to the valley. The Willys will take you back the same way you arrived.

Make sure you buy a return ticket in the morning, then, once you are finished, head to the Willys and show your ticket. Someone will point you to the jeep that is leaving next.

Read more about Salento here.

What time should you start? 

Willys jeeps generally start operating from around 6:00–6:30 am, although departures depend on demand. If you’re planning the full Cocora Valley hike, we recommend catching one of the earliest jeeps to enjoy quieter trails and hopefully clearer morning weather. Confirm the first departure time at the ticket booth the day before.

How Much Does the Cocora Valley Hike Cost?

Hiking Cocora Valley is still relatively affordable, although prices have increased considerably since our visit in 2019!

There isn’t one single entrance ticket covering the entire hiking circuit. Different sections cross privately owned land, with separate fees collected along the way.

Here are the approximate costs for 2026:

• Willys jeep from Salento: COP 10,000–13,000 per person, return.
• First hiking checkpoint (Finca El Portón): COP 6,000–10,000 per person.
• Wax palm forest and viewpoints: COP 20,000–30,000 per person.
• Acaime Hummingbird Sanctuary: Approximately COP 20,000 per person, usually including a drink (optional detour).

Total estimated cost: Allow around COP 40,000–55,000 per person for the full hiking loop, including transport, or COP 60,000–80,000 if you also visit the hummingbird sanctuary.

Our tip: Bring at least COP 100,000 per person in cash, preferably in small notes. Entrance fees are collected at different points, card payments may not be available, and prices can change without notice.

When is the best time of year to visit the Cocora Valley? 

People say that the best months to visit are from December to March and July to August because they are the driest months. However, the valley is located in a cloud forest which makes the weather quite unpredictable.

Even during the driest month, you don’t know what kind of weather you will get. We began our hike with bright sunshine. The sky started covering up as we arrived at La Montana and when we reached the Wax Palm trees it was pouring down with rain! But never mind, even in the rain the valley is stunning. 

Tips for a good hike

• Bring a lot of water with you, it can get very hot and you will need it.
• Bring insect repellent, sunscreen, a hat and sunglasses. 
• Wear some good walking shoes or hiking boots. It can get quite slippery, especially after heavy rain. Don’t do the hike in sandals or flip flops. It can also get very messy!
• Bring a fully charged camera as you will be taking lots of photos. 
• Don’t forget a raincoat. A waterproof cover for your backpack could also come in handy.
• Dress in layers and add or remove layers as the weather changes.
• Bring a supply of snacks. You will get hungry with all that hiking. Even better, take a picnic to enjoy along the way.
• Download the Maps.Me app. This app will help you keep track of where you are, so you can’t get lost. The app is free and it’s great for hiking.
• Take your time. Enjoy being in one of the most amazing parts of the world! 

Check out our video

Where to Stay in Salento

Although you only really need one day to visit the Cocora Valley, allow much more time to enjoy the surrounding area and to spend some time in the lovely town of Salento. Salento has plenty of accommodation options, from friendly family-run guesthouses to charming boutique hotels. We recommend staying within walking distance of the main square, where you’ll find restaurants, cafés and the Willys jeeps departing for Cocora Valley.

Here are three options to suit different budgets.

We stayed at Hospedaje El Buen Descanso, a simple, affordable guesthouse in a convenient central location.

For something a little more comfortable, Hotel Salento Real is a charming colonial-style hotel just a short walk from the main square.

If you’re looking for a more relaxing stay, Terasu Hotel Salento is a lovely boutique property with peaceful gardens, attractive rooms and terraces overlooking the surrounding scenery.

If none of those are available or take your fancy, try using the search box below:

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Discover Salento: Cocora Valley is just one of the highlights of Colombia’s beautiful Coffee Region. Don’t miss the colourful streets, coffee plantations and charming atmosphere of nearby Salento. Read our Salento travel guide.

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