Ready to set off with us to discover the Cocora Valley in the coffee region? A day for the eyes and the taste buds!
So the whole team sets off on the road to Salento, a small village typical of the coffee region, which we highly recommend! With its small cafés and traditional houses, it’s a must-stop if you’re in the area, and we continue on to a local finca in the valley, where we have breakfast. After being briefed by the local guide and equipped with boots and binoculars, we’re ready to start a walk from the finca. The aim: to observe the endemic birds and discover the valley’s landscapes. Birdwatching is a superb activity in Colombia for bird lovers: there are 1,937 species, and Colombia is one of the countries with the greatest diversity of birds.
After this walk combining panoramic valley landscapes and jungle, we set off to visit an avocado farm, and yes, coffee isn’t the only local product in the region! In fact, the region’s climate is ideal for growing avocados. Colombia is the world’s 5th largest exporter of avocados.
There are 2 main types of avocado
- The hass avocados found in Europe, fairly small, darker and denser. Their firm skin and resistance allow them to be exported to Europe.
- Lighter, larger avocados (sometimes very large!). Their high water content, which speeds up the ripening process, and their thin skin make them impossible to export, as transport usually takes 20 days.
An avocado takes an extremely long time to ripen, no less than 9 months, just like ourselves! As for the tree, it has a life expectancy of about 30 years. Now we come to the best part, the tasting!
If you’d like to find out more about this region and its activities, please don’t hesitate to contact one of our travel consultants.
