The Cocora Valley hike is a day loop of about 14 km above Salento, in Colombia’s Quindío department, through cloud forest and pasture to the stands of Quindío wax palm, Colombia’s national tree. It takes 4 to 6 hours and tops out around 2,860 m at Finca La Montaña. You do not need a guide or a park permit: you take a jeep from Salento’s main square, and the private farms along the loop charge small fees for crossing their land.
Cocora Valley hike at a glance
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Distance | About 14 to 15 km for the full loop; shorter out-and-back walks to the palms are possible |
| Time | 4 to 6 hours |
| High point | About 2,860 m at Finca La Montaña |
| Guide | Not required |
| Getting there | Shared Willys jeep from Salento’s main square, about 25 minutes |
| Fees | No single ticket; farms charge per section and the Acaime hummingbird house charges for entry |
| Protected tree | Quindío wax palm, national tree under Law 61 of 1985; felling is a crime |
The figures for distance, time, fees and jeep fares come from 2021 to 2026 hiker and travel reports, not from an official source; no authority publishes a route sheet for the loop. Expect small differences on the ground.
The loop
The jeeps stop at the hamlet of Cocora, where the valley floor is already covered in palms. From there the full loop links three places: the forest path up the river to the Acaime hummingbird reserve, Finca La Montaña higher up the ridge, and the farm track that comes back down through the tallest palms to the valley. You can walk it in either direction. If you only want the palms, walk into the valley from Cocora and back; it takes a couple of hours.
- Cocora to the forest: pasture, then cloud forest along the river.
- Acaime: a private reserve with hummingbird feeders. 2026 reports put its entry fee at COP 20,000.
- Up to Finca La Montaña: the steepest climb of the day, to the loop’s high point of about 2,860 m.
- Down through the palms: a wide farm track back to the valley floor and the jeeps.
The Quindío wax palm
Ceroxylon quindiuense is the reason people come. Colombia made it the national tree and a patriotic symbol in Law 61 of 1985, which also makes felling it a crime. Published heights reach about 60 m, which puts it among the tallest palms in the world.
Fees and getting there
Shared Willys jeeps leave Salento’s main square for Cocora through the day; the ride takes about 25 minutes, and a 2026 report gives COP 10,000 return. There is no single entrance ticket. Two private farms on the loop charge a few thousand pesos each for passage, and the Acaime house charges separately, so carry small notes.
Difficulty and weather
The full loop is a moderate day: one long climb, muddy sections in the forest, and narrow bridges. The altitude, between about 2,100 and 2,900 m, is enough to feel if you flew in from the coast, but not enough to need acclimatization. The valley is often misty, and afternoon rain is common in any month; December to March and July to August are the driest windows. Start early to finish before the afternoon rain.
If you are coming from Peru, the climb to Finca La Montaña is gentle next to the stairways of the Classic Inca Trail, which reaches 4,215 m. For the harder treks in Colombia, see our page on Colombia hiking trails; for the Coffee Region and the rest of the trip, our Colombia travel guide.
What to bring
- Boots or shoes with grip for mud
- Rain jacket and a warm layer
- 1.5 to 2 litres of water and lunch
- Small notes for the jeep, the farms and Acaime
- Sun protection for the open valley
Sources
Checked 8 October 2026. The national-tree status comes from Law 61 of 1985 (ANLA). Distances, elevations, fees and fares are from hiker and travel reports dated 2021 to 2026; confirm prices in Salento.