There are many things in the world that emanate magnitude, those things that generate a strange feeling of smallness, they are so shocking that they can make you feel insignificant. There is a place in Colombia that gave me this feeling, an imposing place without being hostile, a place that emits eternity, this being the Cocora Valley.
Located in the heart of the coffee axis in Colombia, to get there it is necessary to go to one of the most emblematic towns in the entire country, Salento, known for its colorful streets and its friendly people, making Salento a place of high tourist interest, it stands out among places in Colombia as the entrance to the Cocora Valley. An optional but at the same time unmissable part of the experience is to go to the valley in the classic jeeps called “Willys” which are very common in the coffee zone, the trip between Salento and the valley is approximately 20 minutes.
The Cocora Valley is described as a Colombian icon according to the official National Geographic travel page, and from my personal experience I can confirm that it is. When I was referring to magnitude and grandeur I was referring to being among the vast mountains of Quindío surrounded by an endless number of 80-meter-high wax palms. There is something magical about seeing the trunks of the very tall palms get lost in the fog.
The Cocora Valley is home to 85% of the wax palm population in all of Colombia, acording to Expotur website. This place also contains arnicas and frailejones, and among its fauna are hummingbirds, the spectacled bear, and the puma. As for its fauna, I consider myself quite fortunate to have the opportunity to see the Andean Condor in full freedom flying across the entire valley, definitely something majestic.
Since this is a place where the climate is quite humid and it rains practically every day (the ecosystem of the Cosora valley is a humid forest) hiking can be difficult, it is also important to wear appropriate clothing and on the other hand the view is much better when the weather is clear, even so this is a place worth visiting even if the weather is cold and cloudy.
The Cocora Valley is then a magical place among the mountains of Colombia listed as an exciting landscape, ideal for connecting with nature, breathing peace and tranquility.
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