After breakfast we were collected in a couple of jeeps (the main mode of transport in these parts; they are used to transport everything and also double up as the local taxi) to go to the Cocora Valley.
It is located in the Central Cordillera of the Andean mountains. "Cocora" was the name of a Quimbayan princess and means "star of water" (Spanish: estrella de agua). The valley is part of the Los Nevados National Natural Park, incorporated into the existing national park by the Colombian government in 1985. It is the principal location of the national tree and symbol of Colombia: the Quindío wax palm (Ceroxylon quindiuense), as well as a wide variety of other flora and fauna, all now protected.
Very disappointed that we wasted so much time today that could have been spent doing more walking in this area.
We left Salento after lunch to travel to Manizales via the city of Pereira to stay at a coffee hacienda (Hacienda Venecia) for 2 nights. Started our stay with a barista workshop - we were shown many coffee-making methods and drank lots of coffee. My head is buzzing!
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