Salento and the Cocora Valley: the World's Tallest Wax Palms

In the heart of Colombia's Coffee Zone, the village of Salento has become one of the most photographed destinations in the country, thanks to its colourful colonial houses and the nearby Cocora Valley, one of Colombia's most iconic natural landscapes.

The tallest palms in the world

The Cocora Valley is home to the wax palm, Colombia's national tree, which can reach up to 60 metres in height, making it the tallest palm species in the world. Walking among these slender giants, often shrouded in the morning mist typical of the area, is one of the most surreal experiences that Colombia's Andes have to offer.

Between coffee farms and cloud forest

Besides the valley, Salento is a good base for visiting the coffee farms scattered throughout the region, where you can learn about the whole production process, from the plant to the cup. The village itself, with its brightly painted balconies and the Alto de la Cruz viewpoint overlooking the surrounding hills, invites you to linger for at least a couple of days.