Colombia's coffee region, the Eje Cafetero, spreads over the Andean slopes of Caldas, Risaralda, Quindío and the north of Valle del Cauca. UNESCO listed its coffee landscape as World Heritage in 2011: thousands of family farms and 18 towns on the western and central ranges of the Andes.
Getting there
The main airports are Pereira (PEI) and Armenia (AXM). Salento, the usual base for the Cocora valley, is about an hour by bus from the bus terminal in Armenia, with frequent departures; buses also run from Pereira.
The Cocora valley
The Cocora valley, 11 km from Salento, is home to the Quindío wax palm, Colombia's national tree and the tallest palm in the world, growing to more than 60 m. Willys jeeps leave from Salento's main square through the morning and early afternoon, more often at weekends, and the ride takes about 25 minutes.
No signal on the trail
Mobile signal fades once you leave Salento, and on the hiking trails in the valley there is often none. Download offline maps before you set off, tell someone your route and keep your phone charged.
Coffee farms
Many farms in the region open their doors to visitors, with tours that follow the coffee from the plant to the cup.
Good to know
- Emergencies. Call 123, Colombia's free national emergency line.
