Cocora Valley: how to get there from Quimbaya, Filandia or Salento

Where the valley is in relation to Quimbaya, Filandia and Salento

The Cocora Valley lies just beyond Salento, in the mountains of Quindío. From Quimbaya or Filandia, no road drops you right at the foot of the palms: you go through Salento first, then carry on along the valley road. If you're staying in Salento, you're already as close as it gets. To choose your base, our article Salento or Filandia: where to stay compares the two villages.

Above all, remember one thing: the valley is best enjoyed early, while the mist still clings to the palms. So set aside the whole day, and don't squeeze anything in afterwards.

There are three main ways to get there. Each has its advantages, and the right choice depends on your budget, how much you feel like driving and how much time you have.

Option 1 · by bus, then a shared Willys from Salento

This is the cheapest option, and also the one that takes the most planning. It works in two steps.

1. Get to Salento by bus. From Quimbaya or Filandia, the safest way is through the Armenia bus terminal, where buses leave for Salento.
2. Hop into a shared Willys in Salento. These jeeps shuttle between the village and the entrance of the valley, from morning to late afternoon.

If you choose this option, here's what will spare you unpleasant surprises:

1. Leave early. Connections take time, and you'll want to reach Cocora while the light is still soft.
2. Keep some Colombian pesos in cash for the rides and for the paid crossings inside the valley.
3. Ask when the last Willys heads back down to Salento, then when the last bus leaves to get you home. Getting stuck at the end of the road is no fun for anyone.
4. Keep your phone charged and download an offline map: signal can be weak in the mountains.

Option 2 · by car, on your own

If you've rented a car, you gain freedom: you leave whenever you like and stop wherever you please. The road goes through Salento and carries on to the entrance of the valley. After heavy rain it can be closed: check the day before.

A few things to keep in mind:

1. Find out in advance where you can park at the valley entrance.
2. On busy days, Salento fills up fast. Leaving early is still the best advice, once again.
3. Mountain bends call for patience, especially when the mist rolls in all of a sudden.
4. The driver watches the road rather than the palms. Take turns, or accept that one person will enjoy the scenery a little less.

Option 3 · by Willys, from Quimbaya, Filandia or Salento

The Willys is the jeep of the Quindío mountains. Riding in one is already part of the trip: the wind, the road, the coffee plants rolling past, then the first wax palms appearing in the mist.

That's what we offer with the Cocora + Salento tour. It leaves every day, from Quimbaya, Filandia or Salento, with pick-up at your hotel at no extra cost in all three villages. We start with a tinto with your willysero. Then we climb into the Willys and head for the Cocora Valley, entrance included. After the palms, we stop in Salento for its colourful balconies and steep streets, then we take you back.

What you need to know:

1. The tour is available from 200,000 COP per person.
2. Willys transport, the tinto at departure and the Cocora Valley entrance are included.
3. A typical lunch is optional.
4. Each Willys has 8 seats.

The upside is peace of mind: no connections to keep an eye on, no road to drive, no parking spot to hunt for. You take in the scenery, your willysero takes care of the rest.

When to go and what to bring

In the morning, always. The early mist gives the valley its dreamlike look, and in the afternoon the weather can turn. In the mountains, it's not unusual to get mist, sunshine and a downpour on the same day.

Here's what we suggest you pack:

1. Several layers: a T-shirt, a fleece, a jacket. It can be chilly first thing and hot in full sun.
2. A light rain jacket, even if the sky is blue when you set off.
3. Shoes with a good grip that don't mind mud. The trails can be slippery after rain.
4. Water and a small snack for the walk.
5. Sunscreen and a hat: the mountain sun is strong, even through the clouds.
6. Some pesos in cash, for a tinto or a small purchase on site.
7. A fully charged camera. You're going to need it.

On site: walking among the wax palms

Once in the valley, everyone finds their own pace. Some stay near the entrance, where the palms rise from the green meadows, and take their time looking at them. Others set off on longer trails, through the forest and over the hills.

These wax palms are the tallest in the world. The best advice is simple: look up, and don't rush. Slender silhouettes emerging from the mist are the kind of image that stays with you for a long time. And if you're torn between this and Quindío's other great palm valley, read La Carbonera or Cocora: which valley to choose.

To keep the valley beautiful, a few things matter:

1. Stay on the marked trails.
2. Don't touch or carve the palm trunks.
3. Take your rubbish with you.
4. Respect the fincas and fences you come across.

After the valley, Salento deserves a break. Its colourful balconies and steep streets are best explored slowly, on foot, ideally with a tinto in hand: our ideas are in What to do in Salento in one day.

Practical questions before you book

Travelling as a family? With us, babies up to 3 travel free, and children aged 4 to 11 pay the adult price minus 30 %. Do keep little legs in mind though: part of the day is spent walking.

Still unsure about your dates? Cancellation is free up to 48 hours before departure. If the road or the site is closed, we reschedule your tour for free. This doesn't apply to the weather: in the mountains, rain is part of the landscape. And if we have to cancel, we refund you in full.

Are you a group wanting to put together your own day, with Cocora and other stops? The Private Willys for the day gives you the Willys and its willysero all to yourselves, on the route of your choice, for 650,000 COP per jeep for up to 8 people.

By bus, by car or by Willys, the Cocora Valley is easy to reach from Quimbaya, Filandia or Salento, as long as you leave early and plan for the whole day. The rest is the palms in the mist, and the memory that goes with it.

Plan your tour in a few taps, we confirm the date on WhatsApp.