Cocora Valley, Salento & Coffee Farm Tour: Private guide

The wax palms reach 60 to 70 meters: taller than any tree you've stood under before.

A private guided tour through three stops in Colombia's Coffee Region: Cocora Valley to walk among the world's tallest wax palms at 2,400 meters elevation; Salento's colorful town for traditional lunch and local artisan shops; and a coffee farm to watch beans being harvested, processed and roasted, ending with a fresh cup at the source. Includes private transportation, bottled water, lunch, entry fees and a souvenir. 7 to 8 hours total, with pickup from your hotel.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Cocora Valley, Salento, and Coffee Farm

• Walk through Cocora Valley wax palms
• Enjoy traditional Colombian lunch in Salento
• Stroll Salento's colorful streets and shops
• Visit coffee farm and learn coffee process
• Taste freshly brewed Colombian coffee

The experience

The day starts with a drive to Cocora Valley, where you walk through Andean landscapes surrounded by the wax palms (some reaching 60 to 70 meters high) that grow nowhere else on earth. At 2,400 meters above sea level, the air is cool and the views stretch across green mountains. You'll move at your own pace through the valley, watching for the bird species that live in this ecosystem, taking photographs, and standing in front of something genuinely unfamiliar. The guide walks with you and explains what you're seeing, speaking in English, Spanish or French depending on what works for your group.

After the valley, you head to Salento for lunch at a local restaurant where the menu runs to garlic trout, bandeja paisa (a layered rice-and-bean plate), sancocho soup, and other regional dishes. Then comes a walk through the town itself: narrow streets lined with colonial buildings painted in bright colors, balconies you can photograph, and small shops where locals sell handicrafts and textiles. There's time to browse and move at your own pace. The guide points out the architecture and the traditions behind what you're seeing.

The final stop is a traditional coffee farm where you see the whole process: how the trees are planted and tended, how farmers pick the best beans by hand, then wash, dry and roast them. A local coffee grower walks you through each stage and explains the work that goes into Colombian coffee. At the end, you drink a freshly brewed cup right there on the farm, surrounded by the landscape where it grew. The experience includes a souvenir to take home and bottled water throughout the day.

What’s included

• Private transportation in an air-conditioned vehicle with hotel pickup.
• Cocora Valley entry and guided walk.
• traditional Colombian lunch in Salento.
• time to explore the town's colonial architecture and local shops.
• a guided visit to a working coffee farm with explanations of the full production process from planting to roasting.
• a freshly brewed cup of coffee at the farm.
• bottled water throughout the day.
• a souvenir.
• and medical insurance.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day

AgesAdult (18 and older) · Youth (12 to 17 years) · Child (4 to 11 years) · Infant (under 4)

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish, Spanish and French

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

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

Prices and times updated 11 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortPets welcome

Operated by IBANA Colombia

Is this one for you?Book this tour if your guide needs to speak English, French or Spanish fluently. The commentary at each stop depends on it, and you choose the language at checkout. The private format means the pace and timing are yours alone, which works well if you want to linger in the valley or spend extra time in Salento's shops without waiting for a group.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English, Spanish and French.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (12 to 17 years); Child (4 to 11 years); Infant (under 4).

How high up is Cocora Valley, and will the altitude be a problem for me?

Cocora Valley sits at around 2,400 meters (roughly 7,900 feet) above sea level. The tour is suitable for all physical fitness levels, and you walk at your own pace through the valley, so you can move as slowly as you need to. The altitude is noticeable but not extreme for most travelers.

What exactly are the wax palms, and why do they only grow in Cocora Valley?

The wax palms are the tallest palm trees in the world, reaching between 60 and 70 meters high. They're native to this region of Colombia's Coffee Region and grow naturally in Cocora Valley. The tour includes entry to the valley and time to walk among them and see them up close.

Is lunch included, and what if I have dietary restrictions?

Lunch is included at a local restaurant in Salento, with options like garlic trout, bandeja paisa, sancocho soup and other regional specialties. Discuss any dietary needs with the operator when you book so they can arrange alternatives with the restaurant.

How does the coffee farm visit work? Do I get to pick beans or just watch?

You walk through the plantation and learn how coffee is grown, harvested and processed at each stage, washing, drying, roasting. Local coffee growers explain their methods and traditions. The experience ends with a freshly brewed cup of coffee you drink on the farm, and you receive a souvenir to take home.

What's included in the price, and what do I need to bring?

The tour includes private transportation in an air-conditioned vehicle, hotel pickup, Cocora Valley entry, lunch, bottled water, a souvenir and medical insurance. Bring comfortable walking shoes, a camera, and sun protection. The guide will have you covered for water and meals.