If there was an award for the world’s slowest walker, it would probably go to me. When I was little my dad used to call me “pokie”, as in short for “slow poke”. Every now and then I’ll start to think that I’ve outgrown the nickname. But then a friend will complain that I’m walking at a glacial pace. Or I’ll get passed by a senior citizen…with a walker…right at the moment that I thought I was actually walking fast! Now imagine hiking with me. I would guess it’s a bit of a chore. I mean, I enjoy myself. I love looking around, taking pictures, and walking at a comfortable pace. One time on a hike with some friends they let the slowest person (me) set the pace on the way up. On the way down, half the group excused themselves to run back to the car. So when my friend and I decided to go on a mild hike in Salento, Colombia I was ecstatic but apprehensive for my friend’s sake. Two Hikes to do in the Salento AreaWe ended up extending our original two-night stay to three nights after some hiking recommendations from our AirBnB host.
Waterfalls and Coffee… or not.Our first hike of the trip was to Cascada Santa Rita which is about a six-kilometer excursion roundtrip through the ever beautiful scenery of the region. An extra added bonus is all the horse and cow poop along the way. Horse poop aside, it’s a fairly easy hike and the entrance fee is only 3,000 COP (about $1). The journey starts at the bridge in Boquia. From there head into the hills, past the restaurants and small river parks, and you’ll follow the trail all the way there. There’s one house that you pass (where you pay the fee) and then the last “landmark” is a guy selling drinks and snacks at a smaller hut just before the waterfall. This guy becomes a lifesaver after the waterfall. If you’re looking for an easy hike in Salento, this is it. The views on the way there made the icy water at the waterfall worth the journey. Unfortunately, due to our late start, we didn’t have time to tour the coffee farms. If you’re in the area, there’s a separate hike nearby in Boquia that’s available. Making Our Way (Slowly) Through Valle del CocoraThe main event in Salento is the hike through the Valle de Cocora. Most people do what we did – take a willy (Jeep) from Salento to the entrance of the park. These are located in the center of town and should cost around 3,600 COP one way per person (they start leaving early in the morning and then whenever they have a full car of eight people after that). Then we hiked the trail to Acaime, backtracked a bit to take a different trail to La Montaña, and then took the main road right through the middle of the cocoras back to the entrance of the park. From Acaime there are trails that go further into the park. We saw plenty of more adventurous hikers making their way with backpacks in tow to spend the night either camping or staying in fincas (farms) along the way. For the far less adventurous, there are horses for rent starting around 40,000 COP (about $13). The highlights of Acaime include the 100’s of bird species (especially hummingbirds) and unique trees and plants only visible at that altitude and climate. After Acaime, we headed back down a little bit to find the path to La Montaña. It’s not completely clear which path is it, so make sure to ask at Acaime for clear instructions. The path up to the viewpoint of La Montaña is fairly steep but the hard work pays off when you end up with views like this: From La Montaña, you head down the main road and through the Valle de Cocoras. This is probably one of the most unique hikes I’ve ever done in the last two years. The scenery is pure magic, but I’ll let the pictures do the talking. Touring the Colombian town of SalentoSalento was the most touristic part of Colombia that we had traveled to so far. Even more so than Medellin, one of the larger cities in the country. We haven’t gone north along the coast yet, which is where we heard it’s a little harder to avoid the heavy tourism that the beaches bring.
The town of Salento is maybe worth a day or afternoon to walk through. It’s perfect if you are looking for some Colombian souvenirs as there’s a wide selection and lots of competition (so maybe the opportunity to get a better price!). It’s also a good place to find some other food options. I definitely recommend Luciernaga for a happy hour beer and pizza because sometimes you need a break from rice and beans. We happened to be in Salento on Colombian’s independence day – 20 July. It was crowded and festive and decked out in Colombian flags. |