Cocora Valley Birding & Hiking Tour: Hummingbirds & Cloud Forest

Hike through cloud forest and open grassland, spotting hummingbirds at a forest lodge and toucans along the ridge.

A full-day birding and hiking tour in Cocora Valley near Salento combines eight hours of walking through cloud forest, grassland and palm forest with a professional guide, breakfast, lunch and binoculars. You choose your route (six to sixteen kilometers depending on the option), and encounter hummingbirds at a lodge, cross six suspension bridges, and reach a ranger station at 2,862 meters for panoramic views. The guide speaks English or Spanish, and children from age eight are welcome.

Step-by-step itinerary

Birding and hiking in Cocora Valley

• Have early breakfast
• Hike grasslands and river
• Visit hidden waterfall in cloud forest
• Stop at Acaime hummingbird house
• Enjoy local drink and watch hummingbirds
• Hike to La Montaña Ranger Station
• Have picnic lunch with panoramic views
• Descend via scenic viewpoints
• Walk through unique palm forest
• Cross six suspension bridges
• Birdwatch with expert guides
• Return to Salento

The experience

What birds can you actually see in Cocora Valley? Hummingbirds, tanagers, toucans and the Andean Condor: the largest flying bird on Earth. The day starts before sunrise with breakfast in Salento, then a traditional Jeep Willys carries you into the valley. From there, you walk. The route follows grassland and a river, then climbs into the cloud forest where the air thickens and the canopy closes in. A hidden waterfall marks the first major stop, and shortly after you reach the Acaime hummingbird house: a forest lodge where dozens of hummingbirds feed at once. You stand still and watch them dart and hover while your guide points out the species and their behaviors.

The hike continues upward through forest thick with life. You cross six suspension bridges, each one offering a different angle on the valley below and the ridges beyond. The guide stops to identify birds along the way, not every sighting, but the ones worth knowing. At La Montaña Ranger Station, 2,862 meters up, you eat a picnic lunch of a large sandwich, snacks and fruit while looking out over the landscape you've walked through. The descent follows scenic viewpoints and ends in a palm forest where you walk beneath the canopy of wax palms, some of them over 60 meters tall. The whole day is eight hours from start to finish.

Four route options let you choose the distance and the focus. The Wax Palms & Birds route covers six kilometers and emphasizes the palm forest and lower-elevation birding. The Cloud Forest Route stretches twelve kilometers and spends more time in the forest canopy. The Hummingbirds Route is sixteen kilometers and prioritizes the hummingbird lodge and higher elevations. The Route of the Toucans covers nine kilometers and targets the ridge where toucans and other canopy birds are most active. All four include the same guide, breakfast, lunch, binoculars and entrance fees. The difference is the terrain and the birds you're most likely to encounter.

What’s included

• Professional guide in English or Spanish.
• early breakfast in Salento.
• picnic lunch with sandwich, snacks and fruit at the ranger station.
• bottled water.
• binoculars.
• entrance fees to Cocora Valley.
• traditional Jeep Willys transport from Salento into the valley.

Options for this experience

4 options

Wax Palms & Birds (6km)Up to 8 per booking · Guide in English or Spanish · 06:00Duration: 4 hours. Wax Palms & Birds (6km): This shorter route teaches us about birds, the wax palm and the cloud forest.

Route of the Toucans (9km)Up to 8 per booking · Guide in English or Spanish · 06:00Duration: 6 hours. Route of the Toucans (9km): We'll begin at the palm trees, hike up to the La Montaña Ranger station, and then return along the original path.

Cloud Forest Route (12km)Up to 15 per booking · Guide in English or Spanish · 06:00Duration: 6 hours. Cloud Forest Route (12km): This route takes us through a remarkable transformation, from the misty embrace of the river and cloud forest into the sun-drenched

Hummingbirds Route (16km)Up to 8 per booking · Guide in English or Spanish · 06:00We visit the hummingbird house (Acaime) with this package option. Duration: 8 hours

You pick the guide language when booking.

You'll see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates and prices

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 06:00

Book up to1h before

AgesAdult (18 to 60 years) · Youth (8 to 17 years) · Under 8: can't be booked

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish and Spanish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated 7 days ago

Good to know

Moderate physical effortNot recommended with heart problemsNot recommended with back problems

Operated by Pajareros Birding Tours

Is this one for you?Pick the route by distance and bird focus: the Wax Palms route if you want a gentler six-kilometer day centered on the palm forest, the Cloud Forest or Hummingbirds routes if you're comfortable with longer hikes and want more time in the canopy, or the Toucans route if ridge-top birding appeals to you. All four routes include the same guide and meals, so the choice is really about how far you want to walk and which habitat holds your attention.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and Spanish.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (8 to 17 years). Children under 8 can't be included in the booking.

What's the physical fitness level needed for the Cocora Valley birding tour?

The tour requires at least moderate physical fitness. You'll be hiking for eight hours with elevation gain to 2,862 meters, and the terrain includes forest trails, grassland and suspension bridges. It's not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries or poor cardiovascular health.

Which route option should I pick if I want to see the most hummingbirds?

The Hummingbirds Route at sixteen kilometers spends the most time at the Acaime hummingbird lodge and explores the higher cloud forest where hummingbird activity is most concentrated. If you want a shorter day, the Cloud Forest Route at twelve kilometers also includes the lodge but covers less ground.

Does the tour include transportation from Salento to Cocora Valley?

Yes. A traditional Jeep Willys picks you up in Salento after breakfast and drives you into the valley, then you hike from there. The vehicle is included in the tour price.

What birds might I see on this tour?

Cocora Valley is home to hummingbirds, tanagers, toucans and the Andean Condor. Your guide will help you identify species along the way and explain their behaviors and habitats.

What's included in the breakfast and lunch?

Breakfast is a meal in Salento before you depart. Lunch is a picnic at La Montaña Ranger Station and includes a large sandwich, snacks and fresh fruit. Bottled water is provided throughout the day.