Valle de Cocora

Eje Cafetero, Colombia

The Cocora Valley is part of Los Nevados National Park in the coffee region of Quindio in Colombia. The area has been government-protected since 1985 because of what was seen at the time as an imminent threat to Colombia’s national tree, the Quindio wax palm. 

The palms, which can grow as tall as 60 metres, were brought close to extinction as they were cut and used as building materials and to create wax candles. Their leaves were also traditionally used as fronds on Palm Sunday, a major event in the religious calendar in Colombia. 

Cocora Valley is now a very popular tourist attraction, with most visitors coming for the spectacular hiking, mountain-biking, horse riding or bird watching opportunities.