National park · Colombia
Valle de Cocora
Go for one day from Salento: take the first jeep around 7:30, walk the loop clockwise to Acaime and Finca la Montaña in 4–6 h, and be back at the gate before the 17:00 jeeps fill.Go for one day from Salento: take the first jeep around 7:30 AM, walk the loop clockwise to Acaime and Finca la Montaña in 4–6 h, and be back at the gate before the 5:00 PM jeeps fill.
Map to the park
Add your hotel to get directions from it. · stays in this browser; shared with the pocket card.
Area
200 km²77 sq mi
approximate
Established
1985
Best months
Dec–Feb
UNESCO
None
Rules in force · 7Above 2,500 m (Bogotá, Quito, Cusco, La Paz) keep the fir…
- South America ↗Above 2,500 m (Bogotá, Quito, Cusco, La Paz) keep the first day light; sleep lower where you can (Sacred Valley before Cusco) and descend if headache comes with vomiting or confusion.
- South America ↗A yellow fever certificate is required on arrival in French Guiana, and asked for on some routes into Bolivia, Paraguay, Suriname and Guyana, or when arriving from Amazon areas — vaccinate at least 10 days before travel and carry the card.
- South America ↗Overnight buses are the norm in Argentina, Chile and Peru, but pick top-tier companies and keep valuables on your body; on-board thefts from overhead racks are the common loss.
- Colombia ↗Check entry rules for your passport with Migración Colombia or a Colombian consulate; some travellers must complete an online migration form before arrival.
- Colombia ↗Security advice lists specific departments and border areas: check your own government's advice for every place on your route, including coastal roads.
- Colombia ↗Never accept drinks, food or cigarettes from strangers, and be careful with people met on dating apps: drugging (including with scopolamine) followed by robbery is a known risk.
- Colombia ↗Fill in Check-MIG only on the official Migración Colombia site; it is free, and lookalike sites charge a fee.
At a glance
- Country
- Colombia
- Area
- 200 km²77 sq mi
- The valley sits inside the Quindío wax palm protected area; the boundary figures vary by source (check).
- Established
- 1985
- Best months
- Dec–Feb
- Permits
- For some areas
Valle de Cocora is a cloud-forest valley in Quindío, protected since 1985 mainly to save the Quindío wax palm (Ceroxylon quindiuense), Colombia's national tree and the tallest palm in the world at up to 60 m. The palms grow in open stands over pasture and along the Quindío river, with cloud forest, repeated river crossings and a hummingbird sanctuary at Acaime above. It is a day trip from Salento by Willys jeep, and the quiet back door into Los Nevados National Park past Estrella de Agua. It is cool, wet and muddy year round; the walking is the point, not the sights.
Decide
Why go, which months, and what lives here when
At a glance
Status
- No UNESCO listing; national park since 1985.
Size and age
200 km²77 sq mi · national park since 1985
The valley sits inside the Quindío wax palm protected area; the boundary figures vary by source (check).
Why go
- The Quindío wax palm — the world's tallest palm, up to 60 m — grows in stands here and almost nowhere else.
- A cloud-forest loop you can finish in a day, with pasture, river crossings and a hummingbird stop.
- It is the quiet back door into Los Nevados National Park, past the páramo at Estrella de Agua.
- Cheap and close to Salento: a 30-minute jeep ride from the plaza.
When to go
- JanBest
- FebBest
- MarGo
- AprCaution
- MayCaution
- JunGo
- JulGo
- AugGo
- SepCaution
- OctCaution
- NovCaution
- DecBest
- JanDry-ish, clear mornings
- FebGood walking; cool nights
- MarWet afternoons start
- AprMuddy; rain most days
- MayWettest stretch; trails churned
- JunMixed; fewer domestic visitors
- JulDry spells; busy Colombian holidays
- AugDry spells; busy
- SepRain returns; slippery descents
- OctWet; cloud sits low
- NovWet; short clear windows
- DecClearest skies; peak crowds
Wildlife and nature calendar
| What | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hummingbirds at Acaime feedersAll year · Most reliable in the middle of the day. | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes |
| Yellow-eared parrotAll year · Nests in wax palm trunks; sightings are rare. | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes |
| Andean condorAll year · Soaring birds on clear mornings; not a reliable sighting. | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes |
| Mountain tapir, spectacled bear, sloth, pumaAll year · Present but almost never seen by day visitors. | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes |
Arrive & move
Getting in, how the park is divided, and where things are
How to get there
From Salento
Willys jeep from the plaza, leaving when full; the road is paved to the gate.
30–40 min
From Pereira
Bus to Salento, then the jeep from the plaza.
2–3 h
Open the page →
From Bogotá or Medellín
Fly or bus to Armenia or Pereira, then road to Salento.
half day or more
Open the page →
Zones and sectors
| Zone | What is there | Access |
|---|---|---|
| Entrance and pasture | Wooden gate, parking, roadside trout cafes and the flat, horse-churned track along the valley floor. | Open; no ticket reported. |
| Cloud forest and Quindío river | The wooded middle section with repeated river crossings and the climb towards Acaime. | Open on foot; muddy after rain. |
| Acaime and Estrella de Agua | Hummingbird feeders and cafe at Acaime; the farm and small lake at Estrella de Agua above it, on the way to Los Nevados. | Acaime charges a small entry; Estrella de Agua is a camping stop for park-bound hikers. |
| Finca la Montaña ridge | Steep farm on the shoulder of the valley with views over the palm stands. | Open; the farm sells drinks and keeps a guestbook. |
Sketch map
- 1Wooden entrance gate · Gate≈4.638, -75.487Map ↗
- 2Bosques de Cocora campground · Sleep≈4.637, -75.485Map ↗
- 3Acaime hummingbird sanctuary · Village≈4.627, -75.452Map ↗
- 4Finca la Montaña · Viewpoint≈4.633, -75.461Map ↗
- 5Estrella de Agua · Trail≈4.623, -75.431Map ↗
- 6Salento plaza (jeep stand) · Town≈4.638, -75.571Map ↗
See & do
Caves, trails and wildlife, with how hard each is and whether it needs booking
Top experiences
Practical
Fees, permits, rules, where to sleep and what can go wrong
Entry fees and permits
| Item | Range | Per | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Park entrance (wooden gate) | Free | person | No gate fee reported; you pay for transport, parking and the Acaime stop (check). |
| Jeep (chipeta) Salento plaza to the gate | COP 5,900–10,000 | person | One-way; 2026 estimate, the fare rises with fuel and demand. |
| Parking at the entrance | COP 10,000 | vehicle | Flat rate at the roadside parqueaderos (check). |
| Acaime hummingbird sanctuary | COP 5,000–15,000 | person | Entry with a hot drink and cheese; quoted prices differ by year (check). |
| Horseback ride | COP 10,000–20,000 | person per hour | Plus about the same again per hour for the guide. |
| Cerro Morro Gacho summit | COP 25,000 | person | Paid locally; the route is a muddy slog (check). |
Ranges, not quotes: fees change without notice. Check with the park or your operator · checked Sep 2026.
Valle de Cocora day visit no permit
Los Nevados National Park (via Estrella de Agua) permit or guide
Park rules
- Stay on the marked tracks
- Side paths to the waterfalls fade out and lead into steep bush; only attempt them if you navigate well off-trail.
- Do not cut or climb the wax palms
- The species was pushed to the edge by felling for Palm Sunday fronds and wax; the stands here are the reason the area is protected.
- No camping in the valley
- The official campground is at the entrance; camping further in is for hikers heading to Estrella de Agua and Los Nevados.
- Dogs and livestock
- Farm dogs are chained but territorial; give them room and do not enter fenced pasture.
- Litter and fires
- Carry everything out; no fires in the forest.
Where to stay
In the park
Bosques de Cocora campground
Tent pitches at the entrance behind the roadside restaurant, with showers and flush toilets; meals available.
In the park
Acaime beds
Simple beds mainly used by hikers going in or out of Los Nevados.
Near the park
Salento
Hostels, guesthouses and coffee farm stays, 30–40 minutes away by jeep.
Safety
Altitude medium
Mud and river crossings high
Getting lost beyond Acaime high
Afternoon cloud and rain medium
Accessibility
- The pasture track from the gate is fairly level for the first stretch and can be walked with a companion.
- The loop, the river crossings and the climb to Finca la Montaña are steep and uneven; not suitable for wheelchairs or limited mobility.
- Horseback rides are the usual alternative for visitors who cannot manage the full walk.
Visiting lightly
- Pay the Acaime entry and buy a drink there; the sanctuary and its feeders depend on visitors.
- Do not book rides or tours that leave the marked tracks and cut through the palm stands.
- Carry your rubbish out; there is almost no waste collection inside the valley.
- Buy lunch at the trout cafes by the gate so the money stays in the valley.
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to enter Valle de Cocora?
There is no reported gate fee for the valley itself. Budget for the jeep from Salento (about COP$5,900–10,000 one-way, 2026 estimate), parking at the entrance (about COP$10,000 per vehicle) and the Acaime stop (COP$5,000–15,000, quoted differently by year).
What are the best hikes in Valle de Cocora?
The classic loop from the gate to Acaime and back over Finca la Montaña, 4–6 hours and about 10–12 km, is the one most visitors do. Beyond that, the climb to Estrella de Agua is only worth it if you are continuing into Los Nevados; the Cerro Morro Gacho summit is a long muddy slog with views of ridges rather than palms.
When is the best time to visit Valle de Cocora?
December to February and the July–August dry spells give the clearest mornings. April, May, October and November are the wettest and the trails are churned. Whatever the month, start early: cloud and rain usually arrive after midday.
How do I get to Valle de Cocora from Salento?
Willys jeeps leave from the Salento plaza in the morning when they fill, roughly every hour from about 7:30, and return from the gate in the afternoon, commonly around 17:00. The ride takes 30–40 minutes. There is no fixed timetable, so arrive at the plaza by 9:00 at the latest.
Do I need a guide for Valle de Cocora?
No for the main loop, which is signed at the junctions. Yes for the routes beyond Acaime towards Estrella de Agua and Los Nevados, where the track fades and hikers have lost the way.
Can I see the wax palms without hiking?
Yes. The palm stands begin close to the gate and the first stretch of pasture track is fairly level, so a short out-and-back gives you the main sight. Horseback rides also cover the lower valley.
Deep dive
Every source; fees and rules change, so check before you go