Located at the heart of Colombia's 'Coffee Triangle', the Cocora Valley is one of the most popular places to visit in the country, with a stunning location and many of the attractions that are valued by tourists. The area is a very popular destination for visitors from neighboring areas of Colombia, but as the area becomes more accessible it is now becoming a popular destination for international visitors too.
The Cocora Valley is located within the Los Nevados National Natural Park, and the valley is home to several species of plants and animals that are protected in the area.
The Valley's Role Within The Los Nevados National Natural Park
The national park is located in the Western Andes and is one of the main centers of coffee growing in the region, and this is one of the main sources of income for the farmers in the valley itself. The Cocora Valley is also a very important part of the park because of the plants an animals that are to be found here, including puma, the spectacled bear and the mountain tapir, with its distinctive white lips. Also on the fringes of the valley is the charming town of Salento, which is a gateway to the valley and one of the main ways that visitors can get into the park.
Plants And Cultivation
Within the greater boundaries of the Los Nevados National Natural Park there are around two million coffee growers who make a living from growing the excellent coffee that can be produced in this mountainous region.
The Cocora Valley is at the heart of this industry, and there are several areas of the valley that have been cleared to grow coffee. The steep valley slopes are ideal for growing coffee, and the rich volcanic soil of the area helps to make the coffee very good indeed.
As well as coffee, the other plant which is very visible and distinctive here is the Wax Palm, which is a species of tree that has been adopted as the official tree of Colombia. This is a common sight along the hillsides within the valley, and is particularly interesting because its narrow trunk can be up to a hundred and sixty feet high, and has a small patch of palm leaves at the top of the trunk.
Activities To Enjoy Within The Cocora Valley
Some of the main activities to enjoy in the area are designed to give visitors different perspectives of the scenery of the valley, and hiking is one of the most popular ways to get a good look at the valley itself. There are also mountain bikes available to rent from the nearby town of Salento, while those looking to avoid having to do all the footwork themselves can also enjoy horse trekking up into the valley. The steep slopes of the valley have been carved by the Quindio River, with the fast flowing waters meaning that the valley is also a popular river rafting location, with great white water.
Geography And Transport In The Valley
Lying at an altitude of between 1,800 meters and 2,400 meters the Cocora Valley does have some very steep slopes and this means that it isn't the most accessible place to get to. The upper reaches of the valley can only be accessed on foot, with the roads only getting to the main campsite in the lower part of the valley. There are several small jeeps that can be hired from Salento, and it is possible to arrange for these to meet you at one of the trail heads if you are planning to take a longer hike up into the valley.
Tourist Facilities In The Cocora Valley
The growth in the tourist industry in the Cocora Valley has been gradual, with the majority of visitors still coming from within Colombia to enjoy the peaceful nature of the area. There is a campsite with facilities such as a small restaurant and toilets located up into the valley at the end of the road, while there are some clearings further up into the less accessible portions of the valley that can be used for camping.
The majority of tourists will come to the Cocora Valley through the town of Salento, which has several hotels and is an attractive destination itself with the traditional colonial architecture giving the town an interesting look. If you are thinking of renting a mountain bike or need to arrange horse trekking or other activities, it is best to do so in Salento before you head up into the valley itself where there are very few facilities.
The Cocora Valley is located within the Los Nevados National Natural Park, and the valley is home to several species of plants and animals that are protected in the area.
The Valley's Role Within The Los Nevados National Natural Park
The national park is located in the Western Andes and is one of the main centers of coffee growing in the region, and this is one of the main sources of income for the farmers in the valley itself. The Cocora Valley is also a very important part of the park because of the plants an animals that are to be found here, including puma, the spectacled bear and the mountain tapir, with its distinctive white lips. Also on the fringes of the valley is the charming town of Salento, which is a gateway to the valley and one of the main ways that visitors can get into the park.
Plants And Cultivation
Within the greater boundaries of the Los Nevados National Natural Park there are around two million coffee growers who make a living from growing the excellent coffee that can be produced in this mountainous region.
The Cocora Valley is at the heart of this industry, and there are several areas of the valley that have been cleared to grow coffee. The steep valley slopes are ideal for growing coffee, and the rich volcanic soil of the area helps to make the coffee very good indeed.
As well as coffee, the other plant which is very visible and distinctive here is the Wax Palm, which is a species of tree that has been adopted as the official tree of Colombia. This is a common sight along the hillsides within the valley, and is particularly interesting because its narrow trunk can be up to a hundred and sixty feet high, and has a small patch of palm leaves at the top of the trunk.
Activities To Enjoy Within The Cocora Valley
Some of the main activities to enjoy in the area are designed to give visitors different perspectives of the scenery of the valley, and hiking is one of the most popular ways to get a good look at the valley itself. There are also mountain bikes available to rent from the nearby town of Salento, while those looking to avoid having to do all the footwork themselves can also enjoy horse trekking up into the valley. The steep slopes of the valley have been carved by the Quindio River, with the fast flowing waters meaning that the valley is also a popular river rafting location, with great white water.
Geography And Transport In The Valley
Lying at an altitude of between 1,800 meters and 2,400 meters the Cocora Valley does have some very steep slopes and this means that it isn't the most accessible place to get to. The upper reaches of the valley can only be accessed on foot, with the roads only getting to the main campsite in the lower part of the valley. There are several small jeeps that can be hired from Salento, and it is possible to arrange for these to meet you at one of the trail heads if you are planning to take a longer hike up into the valley.
Tourist Facilities In The Cocora Valley
The growth in the tourist industry in the Cocora Valley has been gradual, with the majority of visitors still coming from within Colombia to enjoy the peaceful nature of the area. There is a campsite with facilities such as a small restaurant and toilets located up into the valley at the end of the road, while there are some clearings further up into the less accessible portions of the valley that can be used for camping.
The majority of tourists will come to the Cocora Valley through the town of Salento, which has several hotels and is an attractive destination itself with the traditional colonial architecture giving the town an interesting look. If you are thinking of renting a mountain bike or need to arrange horse trekking or other activities, it is best to do so in Salento before you head up into the valley itself where there are very few facilities.
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