Cocora Valley Trek Review: A Hike to a Hummingbird Haven

Alright, picture this: towering wax palm trees scraping the sky, mist curling through hills a bright green, and the constant, soft whir of tiny wings beating all around. This, essentially, is your experience awaiting on the Cocora Valley trek up to the friendly, fluttery Hummingbird Sanctuary. As a matter of fact, I took this hike not that long ago, and I am very eager to just break down what made this experience rather unforgettable. If you are thinking of going or simply love great landscapes and small birds, you have come to just the right place.

Getting There and Getting Started

Typically, your starting point for any trip into Cocora Valley is, very likely, Salento, a little town very close to the action. As I was saying, getting to Salento itself is pretty simple, usually involving a bus ride from larger Colombian cities like Armenia or Pereira. Actually, these rides can be relatively scenic too! Once you’re in Salento, you have got options, obviously. The most beloved and possibly classic way to reach the valley is by taking one of the frequently scheduled Willy Jeeps from Salento’s main plaza. And they really are something to see, often brightly decorated, packed full of people basically itching to see the palms. It is almost a bit of an event in itself. Very quickly after a short, bumpy ride, you will be dropped off at the entrance of Cocora Valley, just where the trails are.

So, when you get there, before you do anything, pay the park entrance fee, right? Just so we are clear. And arguably, this is also a good spot to grab a bottle of water and maybe a snack because this hike has a tendency to get thirsty! You will usually see locals selling arepas or other things right there, too. Anyway, choosing which route to hike first, it can depend very much on your preference, how much you love to hike, and your condition too.

Choosing Your Route: Two Paths Diverged

Actually, there are generally two popular routes, typically: the shorter loop, which gives you great views of the wax palms immediately; and the longer, more involved route that has you trek toward the hummingbird sanctuary, known as Acaime. In some respects, I’d suggest the second, longer route since it is much more gratifying, just because of the sheer variance of what you will experience. Though the shorter loop does offer postcard type scenery quite quickly, just so you know.

For real, my trek to the Hummingbird Sanctuary went on, very likely, past beautiful fields and even into a dense forest. It’s definitely one of those hikes where the ground does change a bit under you from grass to dirt and maybe a touch of mud depending on how the weather has been. The climb is moderately challenging but it is manageable for anyone with a standard fitness level. Finally, once you get closer to Acaime, that is when you have to deal with more of the climb, including some quite shaky bridges, too! Be ready to deal with this kind of obstacle, because otherwise it will scare you.

Acaime: Land of Fluttering Wings

Anyway, reaching Acaime Hummingbird Sanctuary is so incredibly rewarding after that pretty challenging hike. Typically, the entrance fee here is pretty minimal, and it covers a warm drink – usually either hot chocolate or agua de panela (sugar cane water). As a matter of fact, both are really welcome, especially if it’s a little bit chilly or if it has been drizzling!

So, then you settle yourself onto one of the benches and watch what seems like a zillion hummingbirds flit about the feeders. These birds are very quick. very small, very brightly colored and very fascinating to observe. It’s incredibly, honestly, to just take a beat to absorb and reflect. Very briefly put, these teeny birds dart back and forth, showing off their vibrant colors like green and sapphire and emerald, truly a little spectacle for every nature lover. Just sitting there and seeing them buzz around really is great – very peaceful and definitely very unique.

The Descent and Valley Views

Just so you understand, the way back down from Acaime sort of goes over the same route for a bit, before then diverting on what they call the “high road” through Cocora Valley itself. Actually, this part of the hike gives what are, very likely, the best views of those really tall wax palms that Cocora is pretty famous for. As I was saying, the landscape opens itself up, so, offering extensive panoramas of the green hills dotted with these big trees – Colombia’s pretty national symbol, by the way. So really, whip out your camera here. It’s quite photo worthy.

The track through here has this tendency to get fairly muddy and uneven, pretty much a common theme in Cocora, frankly, so you would probably do well to come prepared with appropriate footwear. At the end of the day, sturdy hiking boots are always a superb idea. Also, as a matter of fact, prepare to spend more time on this portion, since stopping to take pictures becomes kind of mandatory. That said, watch where you step.

Practical Tips for your Trek

Alright, before you get set to visit Cocora Valley and get up close with those cute hummingbirds, let me quickly run down a handful of pieces of really practical guidance, alright? Being prepared can really go pretty far in just making sure that your visit is the very best that it can be. Usually, Colombia’s weather in mountain spots could be reasonably unsure. Typically, layers of clothes might assist a whole lot. Very warm or very waterproof clothes really make a superb idea as things out of the blue gets freezing as soon as rain shows up. Put differently, packing clothing that is able to withstand wet or weather that varies means a safer time to discover, basically. At the end of the day, it allows anyone a certain degree of assurance.

Furthermore, put simply, sturdy shoes or hiking footwear definitely turns the most appropriate items you will take as a precaution against the mud roads with some spots showing slopes, very typical in Cocora Valley actually. Usually, carrying some sun block is going to mean shielding anyone from a quite fierce sun more specifically throughout clearer intervals. To tell the truth, high altitude and lack of shelter turn it almost inevitable; therefore anyone may dodge a painful sunburn by doing so.

Typically, staying hydrated becomes super vital if anyone may deal on the way as altitudes and constant movements commonly deplete energy reserves faster – I guess I cannot but strongly advise bring enough provisions. Furthermore, don’t only protect and load enough drinks/rations – do so as a manner showing honor to neighborhood ecosystems: pack every empty drink to leave behind not a garbage track.

What to Bring

Clothing Layers: Since weather is pretty unpredictable, layers could really make a good fit to make anyone adapt swiftly. The goal means staying pleasant whether a temperature changes.

Tough Footwear: Keep muddy surfaces in anyone head any time they do footwear shopping; supportive trail footwear usually makes great items ensuring soundness against potential slides.

UV Protector: It is very vital that you will think any spot comes with an elevated solar strength particularly since trees or hills will not frequently ensure a shady space – sun block would prevent unneeded discomforts which ruin holidays by pain later from solar damage! If anyone forgot it, shops may offer small options although bring means guaranteeing things go with that to start at!

Food/ Drink Storage: Having food stored guarantees to have that vitality sustained to carry going along path although waste handling gets a commitment – hold our surroundings perfectly. Have empty bottles packed away on leaving locations making landscapes hold spotless to see. This basic commitment supports eco friendly tours while also preserves a pure heaven.

Respecting Nature and Community

Alright, trekking by the awesome landscapes and areas such those Cocora and interacting directly at any wildlife or close settled villages presents all ones an open invite to have great reverie along respectful engagement. Clearly, eco travels stands way for that all get positive travels making an environment protected just alongside encouraging cultures locally while getting a feel showing consideration to any sites!

At all circumstances keep to specific foot path routes to defend vegetations along stopping every chance by messing surrounding habitat as those might stress the fauna. Stop ones urge using tunes and other big disrupt which interfere environments locally too but admire rather native echoes.

If ever one will gets chance engaging neighbor or locals keep up being extremely courteous for them since these ties enhance journeys so really offering someone direct perspectives within people and practices existing next for such marvel landscapes which can boost how people think while really boosting tourist dollars onto society which ensure eco preservation forward! Getting eco sensitive tourists really benefits conservation alongside offering sustainable means those areas stays remarkable far longer later – tourists or neighborhood populations.