Filandia, Salento and Cocora Valley: Full Day from the Eje Cafetero

From $153 USD per person

Three places in one day, and they are the three the region is known for: the wax palms of the Cocora Valley, the painted main street of Salento, and Filandia on its hilltop, which is the quieter one and the one most day trips skip. A working coffee farm connects the landscape to what ends up in the cup.

Six hours. If you leave from Salento you go into the valley in a Willys jeep, which is the vehicle this region built itself around. From Armenia, Pereira, Filandia or Manizales it is a car or a van.

Check live availability and prices — or read on for how the day is built.

How the day works

• Pickup and the drive in (about 2 hours). From Pereira, Armenia, Salento, Filandia or Manizales. Your guide briefs the day on the way as the landscape turns from town to open farmland.
• Cocora Valley and the wax palms (about 1 hour). A Willys jeep covers the last stretch into the valley. The palms reach sixty metres. They are Colombia’s national tree and this is one of the last intact groves.
• Salento on foot (about 1 hour). Calle Real up to the mirador, with coffee mountains on every side, and the history of why the town looks the way it does.
• Filandia (about 1 hour). Streets, miradores, craft shops and food stalls. This is the part of the day most people did not expect to like most.
• Back to your hotel (about 1 hour). Your guide is worth asking about dinner before you get out.

What’s included

• Entry ticket to the Cocora Valley, with coffee farm access
• Entry ticket to Salento
• The Willys jeep ride into the Cocora Valley
• A professional English-speaking guide
• Hotel pickup and drop-off — jeep from Salento, car or van from Armenia, Pereira, Filandia or Manizales

Not included

• Meals and drinks
• Personal purchases and souvenirs
• Gratuities

Good to know

• The Cocora Valley averages about 15°C with frequent light rain. Dress in layers you can move in and bring something waterproof.
• Shoes with grip. The valley floor is uneven and gets muddy after rain.
• Charge your phone before pickup. Reception in the valley is patchy and the scenery is the reason you are there.
• Your departure city changes your vehicle and your pickup time. Confirm both at booking.
• It runs in all weather. Light rain in the valley is normal and it improves the place rather than spoiling it.
• Suits most fitness levels. The walking is moderate with nothing technical.

Frequently asked questions

Does my departure city change the tour?

It changes how you travel. From Salento you ride into Cocora in a classic Willys jeep. From Armenia, Pereira, Filandia or Manizales, pickup is by car or van. The rate and the pickup time move with it too.

Is there a separate entry fee for the Cocora Valley?

No. Entry to the coffee farm and access to Salento are in the price, and so is the jeep ride into the valley.

Why is the Cocora Valley famous?

The wax palm, Colombia’s national tree and one of the tallest palm species on earth, reaching up to sixty metres. The valley is a distinct Andean ecosystem with high biodiversity.

What is the weather like up there?

Locals call it permanent spring: around 15°C on average, a maximum near 25°C and a minimum around 12°C, with light rain most days. That rain is what keeps the ecosystem going.

Can children come?

Yes, from two years old. The walking sections are moderate. Tell us their ages when you book and we will pace the day for your group.

How do we get to the coffee region in the first place?

We drive that leg. Bogotá, Medellín and Cali are the common ones, and there is a Pereira airport transfer if you fly in.

Ready? Check your date and lock it in