Potosí to Cocora Valley Trek
We are a local tourism operator with more than 10 years of experience in the coffee region.
Embark on an exciting 3-day tour to Los Nevados National Natural Park. This journey will take you to discover some of the most beautiful mountains in the country, where the land is dressed in a vibrant palette of colors. Your adventure will be an exciting journey through panoramic trails, lush valleys, and lagoons, while you marvel at the beauty of Andean flora and fauna.
- You will discover the páramo, one of the most important ecosystems in the world.
- You will enjoy some of the best views in Los Nevados National Natural Park: Paramillo del Quindío, Nevado del Tolima, Nevado del Ruiz and Nevado Santa Isabel.
- You will take in the views of Laguna del Otún.
- You will hike up and down through native forests.
❌ Transfers from other cities to the tour starting point.
❌ Tips for our staff.
❌ Additional drinks and meals.
❌ Expenses not specified above.
❌ Trekking clothing and equipment.✅ Online pre-trip briefing.
✅ Local mountain guide in English or Spanish.
✅ Los Nevados National Natural Park entrance fee.
✅ 2 nights of accommodation in local countryside farms.
✅ Meals: 3 breakfasts, 3 lunches, and 2 dinners.
✅ Daily snacks.
✅ Filtered water every day.
✅ Private 4x4 transportation to Potosí.
✅ Private transportation from Cocora to Salento.
✅ First aid kit.
✅ Medical assistance insurance.
✅ Tour photos.⚠️ If you need transportation from another city to the tour starting point, please contact us and we will help you.
Day 0 - Arrival and Online Briefing
You must arrive in Pereira the day before the tour, so you can rest and acclimatize before the hike.Before the tour we'll hold a mandatory online briefing, scheduled as early as possible based on your availability and ours. We'll check that you have the right gear and share recommendations for the hike, so you have time to get organized or rent anything you need.
Day 1 - Discovering Laguna del Otún
Our adventure begins at 5:00 a.m. in Pereira, where we take a 4x4 to Potosí, a drive of about 2.5 hours. On the way, between Santa Rosa and Potosí, we stop for breakfast.Once in Potosí, we start our trek at 3,900 m a.s.l. On this first stretch we cover 6 km along a road leading to Laguna del Otún, with great views of Nevado Santa Isabel, Paramillo del Quindío and, of course, Laguna del Otún. We then descend about 5 km to Laguna del Mosquito, where the guide will pick the best spot for lunch.
After lunch we hike about 4 km downhill and 3 km uphill, around 3 hours, to Berlín, a farm at 3,800 m a.s.l., where we have dinner and rest.
Day 2 - Crossing the Páramo
We start our second day with a hearty countryside breakfast and a steep climb to a viewpoint overlooking Cerro Chispas, Paramillo del Quindío and Nevado del Tolima.This part of the route crosses an area frequented by eagles and other local wildlife, so we're likely to spot some along the way.
Finally, we continue to La Argentina farm, arriving around 4:00 p.m. for dinner and rest.
Optional: Depending on the weather and the group's fitness, the guide may decide to climb Cerro Chispas (4,300 m a.s.l.), an extra 3 km.
Day 3 - To the Cocora Valley through the Cloud Forest
We start our last day with a hearty breakfast at 6:00 a.m. to fuel up for the day.We follow a trail toward the Cocora Valley, with incredible views of the Cárdenas River Canyon.
We then descend through the mountain into the high Andean forest, a natural paradise where we'll see the wax palm, the tallest palm in the world.
The hike ends around 3:00 p.m. at Los Orillos restaurant in the Cocora Valley, after 11 km. From there we take a vehicle to Salento, where we enjoy a well-deserved lunch to wrap up the trek.
What physical condition do I need?:
To complete this hike, you need very good physical fitness. To make the most of your trip, you should be able to walk distances of 18 km for several consecutive days. Much of the hike takes place at high altitude, so we recommend spending a few nights before the hike above 2,000 meters above sea level, especially if you live at sea level.Briefing meeting:
The briefing is held online, for both private and group tours. We schedule it as early as possible based on your availability and ours, so you have time to prepare your gear or rent anything you need. It takes 30 to 45 minutes: we check that you have everything you need and answer your questions.Where can I store my main luggage?:
You can leave any luggage you don't need for the trek at your hotel; almost all hotels offer this service. If needed, we also offer luggage transfer for an additional fee depending on size. Just let us know in advance.Pick-up:
On private tours we pick you up at your hotel in Pereira or Manizales; on group tours we meet at a set point in Pereira. We recommend a centrally located hotel: if you stay far from the center, pick-up has an additional fee. We'll confirm the time one day before the tour.Return to the city of origin:
Getting back is easy: the tour ends in the afternoon in Salento, where you can take a bus to Pereira (40 minutes to 1 hour, depending on traffic). We can also help you with a private transfer.Group tours:
Group tours are made up of different people with different physical conditions and ages. By agreeing to be part of a group tour, you acknowledge that some people may be faster or slower than you. In some cases, the group may wish to modify the tour; however, it is the guide’s responsibility to decide, after consulting all participants, whether such changes are possible.Reservations and advance payment:
To book, just choose your date. If there are spots available, you book your place with a 50% deposit; the remaining 50% is paid on the day the tour starts, when you meet your guide. If you prefer a private tour, you can choose any date you like.Accepted payment methods:
You pay the booking deposit through a Bold payment link, by credit or debit card. If you're in Colombia, you can also pay by bank transfer. The remaining 50% can be paid the same way or in cash on the day the tour starts. All payments are processed in Colombian pesos (COP).Important!
Days before the hike, pay attention to your diet; do not consume alcohol or drugs and do not smoke.
Do not consume alcoholic beverages or hallucinogenic drugs before or during the trek.
Do not extract any plant or animal species from the ecosystem.
Bring all your trash back to the city.- Backpack of at least 25 L
- Quick-dry base layer
- Trekking pants
- Warm jacket or fleece
- Waterproof jacket
- Rain poncho or raincoat (poncho rental: COP 40,000)
- Sun hat
- Warm wool hat
- Buff
- Lightweight gloves
- Trekking socks
- Spare clothes
- Waterproof trekking boots (plus rubber boots if there's a lot of mud)
- Gaiters (rental: COP 40,000 per pair)
- Headlamp (rental: COP 40,000)
- Trekking poles (rental: COP 40,000 per pair)
- Water bottle or 2 L hydration bladder
- Personal medications
- Sunscreen
- Personal care products
- Towel
- Valid ID document or passport
- Extra money (recommended in COP)
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Price per person:
$564 USD
*We accept credit card and cash payments
Choose the number of participants to know the price.
Potosí to Cocora Valley Trek
Confirmed group dates
We guarantee the price won't change, even if you travel alone. Dates are confirmed: the expedition can start with a minimum of 2 people.
Upcoming group dates
CONFIRMED DATES
Embark on an exciting 3-day tour to Los Nevados National Natural Park. This journey will take you to discover some of the most beautiful mountains in the country, where the land is dressed in a vibrant palette of colors. Your adventure will be an exciting journey through panoramic trails, lush valleys, and lagoons, while you marvel at the beauty of Andean flora and fauna.
- You will discover the páramo, one of the most important ecosystems in the world.
- You will enjoy some of the best views in Los Nevados National Natural Park: Paramillo del Quindío, Nevado del Tolima, Nevado del Ruiz and Nevado Santa Isabel.
- You will take in the views of Laguna del Otún.
- You will hike up and down through native forests.
❌ Transfers from other cities to the tour starting point.
❌ Tips for our staff.
❌ Additional drinks and meals.
❌ Expenses not specified above.
❌ Trekking clothing and equipment.✅ Online pre-trip briefing.
✅ Local mountain guide in English or Spanish.
✅ Los Nevados National Natural Park entrance fee.
✅ 2 nights of accommodation in local countryside farms.
✅ Meals: 3 breakfasts, 3 lunches, and 2 dinners.
✅ Daily snacks.
✅ Filtered water every day.
✅ Private 4x4 transportation to Potosí.
✅ Private transportation from Cocora to Salento.
✅ First aid kit.
✅ Medical assistance insurance.
✅ Tour photos.⚠️ If you need transportation from another city to the tour starting point, please contact us and we will help you.
Day 0 - Arrival and Online Briefing
You must arrive in Pereira the day before the tour, so you can rest and acclimatize before the hike.Before the tour we'll hold a mandatory online briefing, scheduled as early as possible based on your availability and ours. We'll check that you have the right gear and share recommendations for the hike, so you have time to get organized or rent anything you need.
Day 1 - Discovering Laguna del Otún
Our adventure begins at 5:00 a.m. in Pereira, where we take a 4x4 to Potosí, a drive of about 2.5 hours. On the way, between Santa Rosa and Potosí, we stop for breakfast.Once in Potosí, we start our trek at 3,900 m a.s.l. On this first stretch we cover 6 km along a road leading to Laguna del Otún, with great views of Nevado Santa Isabel, Paramillo del Quindío and, of course, Laguna del Otún. We then descend about 5 km to Laguna del Mosquito, where the guide will pick the best spot for lunch.
After lunch we hike about 4 km downhill and 3 km uphill, around 3 hours, to Berlín, a farm at 3,800 m a.s.l., where we have dinner and rest.
Day 2 - Crossing the Páramo
We start our second day with a hearty countryside breakfast and a steep climb to a viewpoint overlooking Cerro Chispas, Paramillo del Quindío and Nevado del Tolima.This part of the route crosses an area frequented by eagles and other local wildlife, so we're likely to spot some along the way.
Finally, we continue to La Argentina farm, arriving around 4:00 p.m. for dinner and rest.
Optional: Depending on the weather and the group's fitness, the guide may decide to climb Cerro Chispas (4,300 m a.s.l.), an extra 3 km.
Day 3 - To the Cocora Valley through the Cloud Forest
We start our last day with a hearty breakfast at 6:00 a.m. to fuel up for the day.We follow a trail toward the Cocora Valley, with incredible views of the Cárdenas River Canyon.
We then descend through the mountain into the high Andean forest, a natural paradise where we'll see the wax palm, the tallest palm in the world.
The hike ends around 3:00 p.m. at Los Orillos restaurant in the Cocora Valley, after 11 km. From there we take a vehicle to Salento, where we enjoy a well-deserved lunch to wrap up the trek.
What physical condition do I need?:
To complete this hike, you need very good physical fitness. To make the most of your trip, you should be able to walk distances of 18 km for several consecutive days. Much of the hike takes place at high altitude, so we recommend spending a few nights before the hike above 2,000 meters above sea level, especially if you live at sea level.Briefing meeting:
The briefing is held online, for both private and group tours. We schedule it as early as possible based on your availability and ours, so you have time to prepare your gear or rent anything you need. It takes 30 to 45 minutes: we check that you have everything you need and answer your questions.Where can I store my main luggage?:
You can leave any luggage you don't need for the trek at your hotel; almost all hotels offer this service. If needed, we also offer luggage transfer for an additional fee depending on size. Just let us know in advance.Pick-up:
On private tours we pick you up at your hotel in Pereira or Manizales; on group tours we meet at a set point in Pereira. We recommend a centrally located hotel: if you stay far from the center, pick-up has an additional fee. We'll confirm the time one day before the tour.Return to the city of origin:
Getting back is easy: the tour ends in the afternoon in Salento, where you can take a bus to Pereira (40 minutes to 1 hour, depending on traffic). We can also help you with a private transfer.Group tours:
Group tours are made up of different people with different physical conditions and ages. By agreeing to be part of a group tour, you acknowledge that some people may be faster or slower than you. In some cases, the group may wish to modify the tour; however, it is the guide’s responsibility to decide, after consulting all participants, whether such changes are possible.Reservations and advance payment:
To book, just choose your date. If there are spots available, you book your place with a 50% deposit; the remaining 50% is paid on the day the tour starts, when you meet your guide. If you prefer a private tour, you can choose any date you like.Accepted payment methods:
You pay the booking deposit through a Bold payment link, by credit or debit card. If you're in Colombia, you can also pay by bank transfer. The remaining 50% can be paid the same way or in cash on the day the tour starts. All payments are processed in Colombian pesos (COP).Important!
Days before the hike, pay attention to your diet; do not consume alcohol or drugs and do not smoke.
Do not consume alcoholic beverages or hallucinogenic drugs before or during the trek.
Do not extract any plant or animal species from the ecosystem.
Bring all your trash back to the city.- Backpack of at least 25 L
- Quick-dry base layer
- Trekking pants
- Warm jacket or fleece
- Waterproof jacket
- Rain poncho or raincoat (poncho rental: COP 40,000)
- Sun hat
- Warm wool hat
- Buff
- Lightweight gloves
- Trekking socks
- Spare clothes
- Waterproof trekking boots (plus rubber boots if there's a lot of mud)
- Gaiters (rental: COP 40,000 per pair)
- Headlamp (rental: COP 40,000)
- Trekking poles (rental: COP 40,000 per pair)
- Water bottle or 2 L hydration bladder
- Personal medications
- Sunscreen
- Personal care products
- Towel
- Valid ID document or passport
- Extra money (recommended in COP)
Potosí to Cocora Valley Trek
Download the brochure for this Trek in PDF
This brochure includes general trek information, location, itinerary, what's included, how to prepare, conditions and much more.
What is the tour like?
GALLERY
Good news from our clients
TESTIMONIALS
Our trek from Potosí to the Cocora Valley was an absolute highlight of our trip. A massive thank you to our guide, Paula, who truly made this journey special.
Lenne B.
Belgium
Our three-day hike from Potosí through the Cocora Valley was the absolute highlight of our two-week holiday in Colombia. One day we hiked without seeing another person, in such an unspoiled place.
Peter C.
Ireland
The guides are just brilliant people (thanks Danny and Paula): very friendly, great at answering questions and full of information about the ecosystem and the animals we saw.
Alex P.
United Kingdom
