Cocora Valley Horseback Riding from Salento

From $239 USD per person

Coffee farmers and their horses have been moving through these hills for two centuries, which is the honest argument for seeing the Cocora Valley from a saddle rather than from a car park. The ride opens above Salento with the coffee valleys laid out below, then drops into the valley floor where the wax palms close in and the scale of the place stops being abstract.

Seven hours in total, of which roughly two are on horseback: an hour around the viewpoints above Salento and an hour in the valley itself. No riding experience needed. The horses are chosen for their temperament on mountain trails.

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

How the day works

• Pickup and the drive to Salento (about 2 hours). Your guide collects you at the agreed point and the horses are saddled and waiting when you arrive.
• The viewpoints above Salento (about 1 hour). Trails cars cannot reach, with stops at the elevated points where the coffee country opens up.
• The Cocora Valley and the wax palms (about 1 hour). Colombia’s national tree, one of the tallest palms on earth, in a valley that borders Los Nevados National Park.
• Salento on foot (about 1 hour). Paisa architecture, painted facades, handicraft shops along the main street.
• Drive back (about 2 hours). Same scenery, opposite direction.

What’s included

• Private transport to and from Salento
• An experienced English-speaking guide for the full day
• Horseback riding, with the horses provided and set up for your ride
• A guided tour of the Cocora Valley viewpoints
• A walking tour of Salento

Not included

• Breakfast and lunch
• Personal purchases and gratuities

Good to know

• No riding experience required. The horses are calm and used to this terrain. Tell your guide your comfort level before you mount — that is what the briefing is for.
• Long trousers and closed-toe shoes or boots. Not a style note. They protect your legs and feet on the trail.
• The valley sits at roughly 1,900 metres. Layers, a light rain jacket, and water. The weather swings between warm sun and cool mist inside an hour.
• Uneven terrain. If you have any physical limitation or any doubt about riding, tell us before you book and we will give you a straight answer.
• Bring some cash for Salento’s craft shops. Most of the local vendors do not take cards.
• Morning mist is normal and is part of what the valley looks like. The tour runs in all weather.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need riding experience?

No. The horses used on this tour are calm and well suited to the terrain, and your guide briefs you on the basics before you get on.

How long am I actually on the horse?

About two hours in total: one hour around the viewpoints above Salento and one hour in the Cocora Valley. The rest of the day is driving and walking.

Why does the Cocora Valley matter?

It holds the wax palm, Colombia’s national tree and one of the tallest palm species on earth, in a valley that borders Los Nevados National Park.

What should I wear?

Long trousers and closed-toe shoes or boots. It makes a large difference to how the ride feels.

How is this different from the walking tours of Cocora?

Distance covered and where you end up. On horseback you reach viewpoints above Salento that the walking routes do not take in. If you would rather be on foot, take the Filandia, Salento and Cocora full day.

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

We drive that leg. Bogotá, Medellín and Cali, plus a Pereira airport transfer.

Ready? Check your date and lock it in