Experiences and local guides in Salento

Nature

Salento, at 1,900 m in Quindío, is the gateway to the Cocora valley, where wax palms, Colombia's national tree, reach 60 m in the mist. Behind it, Los Nevados National Park climbs to the Nevado del Tolima (5,215 m) through frailejón páramos; around it, coffee hills, cloud forests with toucans and hummingbirds, and villages with colourful balconies like Filandia.

Activities

• Cocora valley loop (5 hours) to the Acaime hummingbird reserve and the palm groves
• 3 to 5-day trek to Los Nevados: Cocora valley, Paramillo del Quindío and Nevado del Tolima
• Coffee farms: tour, harvest and tasting at Ocaso, El Recuerdo or the family farms around town
• Horseback rides through the valley and farms, cycling to Filandia and the viewpoint
• Birdwatching in the Quindío forests, tejo in the village bars, trout in Cocora

When to go

All year, with possible afternoon rain. December to February and July to August are drier and clearer for seeing the snow peaks. Reach Cocora early in the morning before the mist rises.

How to get there

Armenia (AXM, 45 minutes) and Pereira (PEI, 1 h 15) airports, with flights from Bogotá and Medellín. Buses from Armenia every 30 minutes; from Bogotá or Medellín, 7 to 8 hours. Willys jeeps to the Cocora valley leave from Salento's main square (30 minutes). Los Nevados treks leave from Salento with a guide.