{"id":2753,"date":"2015-08-28T08:49:34","date_gmt":"2015-08-28T08:49:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/travelcake.site\/?p=2753"},"modified":"2025-05-02T17:47:58","modified_gmt":"2025-05-02T17:47:58","slug":"hiking-the-cocora-valley-in-colombia","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.travelcake.net\/nl\/hiking-the-cocora-valley-in-colombia\/","title":{"rendered":"Hiking the Cocora Valley in Colombia"},"content":{"rendered":"

Hiking the Cocora Valley: A Dream 10 Years in the Making<\/h4>\n

I was never much of a hiker \u00e2\u20ac\u201d at least not until I did a multi-day trek in Nepal<\/a><\/strong>\u00c2\u00a0a few years ago.
While I still can\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t call myself a hardcore trekker, I now find myself seeking out hikes more and more. The distances, the effort, the long hours \u00e2\u20ac\u201d they don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t intimidate me anymore. In fact, I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122m drawn to them.<\/p>\n

So when I first visited Colombia ten years ago, I was a very different traveler. I spent most of my short time there visiting local friends rather than exploring the country \u00e2\u20ac\u201d something I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ve never regretted. But still… one place lingered in the back of my mind:<\/p>\n

The Cocora Valley.<\/strong><\/p>\n

I remember thinking, “I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ll just have to come back one day.”<\/em><\/p>\n

And ten years later \u00e2\u20ac\u201d I did.<\/p>\n

This Time, With Hiking Boots<\/h3>\n

Returning to Colombia, I was thrilled to finally make it to the Cocora Valley<\/strong>, and even better: this time, I was actually into hiking!<\/p>\n

The valley didn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t disappoint. It quickly became one of my all-time favourite hikes<\/strong> \u00e2\u20ac\u201d not just in Colombia, but anywhere.
Not too long, not too intense, and filled with gorgeous, ever-changing landscapes<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

We based ourselves in Salento<\/strong>, the go-to town for Cocora hikes. I found it touristy yet undeniably charming. We spent our first day wandering cobbled streets, popping into little boutiques, eating tasty meals, and sipping fresh coffee straight from the source<\/strong>. Not a bad warm-up.<\/p>\n

\"Colombian<\/a>
Colombian coffee on the side of the road<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"taking<\/a>
taking multiple food breaks a day…<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Into the Valley<\/h3>\n

The next morning, we rose just after dawn to begin our adventure.
From the town square, a line of jeeps \u00e2\u20ac\u201d the iconic Willys<\/strong> \u00e2\u20ac\u201d were waiting to shuttle hikers into the valley. The ride itself was already stunning. Lush green views, winding roads, and yes \u00e2\u20ac\u201d we rode standing on the back, wind in our hair. I would have loved to have walked those extra km’s the start of the hike, but taking the pregnancy under consideration, I though I might be pushing too hard.<\/p>\n

\"Cocora<\/a>
the jeep to Cocora<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Because it had rained the days before, we rented rubber boots<\/strong> from a kiosk at the trailhead. They ended up not being strictly necessary, but they gave me the freedom to stomp through mud<\/strong>, cross creeks<\/strong>, and wade into puddles<\/strong> without a care. Highly recommend.<\/p>\n

\"getting<\/a>
getting the most out of my rubber boots<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

A Hike Through Shifting Worlds<\/h3>\n

One of the things I loved most about this hike was how the scenery kept evolving.<\/p>\n

We moved from open farmland<\/strong> to dense jungle<\/strong>, crossed hanging bridges<\/strong>, wandered through flower-dotted fields…<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"farmer<\/a>
farmer on his way to his finca<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"farms,<\/a>
farms<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"mud<\/a>
mud puddles in the morning light<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"in<\/a>
in the woods…<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"over<\/a>
over the bridges<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"high<\/a>
high altitude flowers<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

…and finally arrived in what can only be described as a fairy tale setting.<\/strong><\/p>\n

The towering wax palms<\/strong> \u00e2\u20ac\u201d Colombia\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s national tree \u00e2\u20ac\u201d stretching skyward like spindly giants.
It was surreal<\/strong>, otherworldly, and completely unforgettable.<\/p>\n

\"Cocora<\/a>
hello wax palms!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Cocora<\/a>
enjoying the unique view<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Cocora<\/a>
I could have stayed for hours!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Here\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s the strange part: we barely saw any other hikers the whole time, even though we\u00e2\u20ac\u2122d started out with a packed jeep full of them.<\/p>\n

We took the slightly shorter version<\/strong> of the trail, skipping the detour to the Acaime hummingbird station<\/strong>. No regrets though \u00e2\u20ac\u201d we saw plenty of hummingbirds along the way, flitting through the jungle like tiny helicopters.<\/p>\n

\"Cocora<\/a>
a dream come true<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

A Few Quick Tips for this hike:<\/p>\n