Discover The Cocora Valley And Its Communities

Any month of the year is good to take this experience. In the months of January and February there is more sun, however, the direct Andean sun is not recommended since it is not the most comfortable for walking. There are more rainy months than others, however, the weather is particularly difficult to predict. Even in the 'dry' season, we need to be prepared for rain, just in case.

The weather in the mountains is always unpredictable. There are two seasons in the Colombian Andes, we have the rainy months from April to June and from September to November. The "dry" months are from December to March and from July to August. However, the rain does not prevent us from doing a trek, even in the dry season there is always the possibility of rain.

The starting point is in Salento, days before your experience the meeting point will be indicated. Arriving at the meeting point is at the expense of each traveler.

This experience is recommended for active people. It is necessary not to have medical conditions that make it impossible to walk at high altitude (severe asthma, heart and lung problems, previous injuries, or surgeries, among other medical conditions). Currently no vaccination is required, however, this may change with time.

Depending on the situation, is how you can proceed. It is possible to request horse assistance service, to return to the beginning spot and end the experience or continue the route. The insurance will evaluate the case to know if it is covered by the policy. Altitude sickness is not included in the insurance provided; it only covers accidents.

The currency used in Colombia is the Colombian Peso (COP). We recommend that you exchange to the local currency before arriving in the country. It is also possible to exchange mainly dollars and euros at some exchange offices, airport and ATMs upon arrival in the country. Not all stores accept international credit and debit cards, so it is recommended to have some cash on hand. ###MX In the following link you can find an estimate of the current exchange rate in Mexican pesos: https://www.xe.com/es/currencyconverter/convert/?Amount=1&From=COP&To=MXN Note: The exchange rate may vary depending on the bank or exchange house where it is processed.

Transportation to the meeting point, personal travel equipment such as: waterproof clothing, thermal clothing, trekking shoes, backpack. Sleeping bag is not included (you must have your own sleeping bag), food and beverages not mentioned in the program, personal expenses.

For biosafety reasons, the groups are small. There are 06 travelers per 01 hiking guide. And 06 travelers for 02 guides in medium and high mountain.

The activities start very early in the morning and end in the afternoon. Due to the type of experience, the physical demand and the long duration of the routes, the return schedules can be variable. So, you may not have any free time.

Because of the type of experience, there are no days off. However, if you wish, you can take extra nights before or after your trip, on your own.

The meals included in your experience can be: a sandwich for lunch, typical Colombian food at the farms (soups, rice, grains, potatoes, eggs, meat, salad), meals prepared by the guide (tortillas, avocado, vegetables, canned food). There are also vegetarian options, it is important to clarify that the food can be a bit repetitive: potato, rice, lentils, beans and so on.

It depends a lot on the place and it can vary, but it could be between 20,000 or 40,000 Colombian pesos. (approximately $5 to $10 USD per meal)

The accommodation is in a local rural property in dormitories, each traveler must have his own sleeping bag. They are basic houses; they have a bathroom outside the room.

If possible. It is necessary to consider that the accommodation will be shared, we will try accommodating with someone of the same gender, but this is not possible to guarantee it.

The minimum age recommended is between 14-15 years old, always accompanied by an adult. The price would be the same.

It is recommended to arrive one day before the experience to avoid any setbacks, since departure times are around 06:00 to 07:00 am. According to other travelers' opinions, the following accommodations are recommended in Salento: Tralala Hostel, El Viajero Salento, La Posada del Café, Hotel El jardín, La Eliana Hostel, Casa Jerónimo.

The rural property are very basic accommodations, so they do not have wifi. During the tour in some points have cell phone signal, but it is very light and may not have at any time. The guides have satellite radio communication to be in constant communication.

The rural property has solar energy, but at night the system is turned off to avoid discharging the battery. Depending on the number of people staying, a short period of time is granted. Therefore, we recommend that you bring additional batteries of more than 20,000 mAh so that you can be sure to charge your electronic devices.

The plugs and outlets used on the farms and in general in Colombia are type B with a voltage of 110 V.

The scheduled time is 06:00 am at the meeting point to start your experience.

The end time depends on the physical conditions of the group and the weather conditions. Normally groups finish around 4:00 - 5:00 pm but this can change.

Previous mountaineering experience is required. Activities can last more than 12 hours a day, with distances up to 19 kilometers (≈12 miles) and an elevation change of 2,800 meters (≈9,000ft). The terrain is rugged, with steep slopes, uneven or even no trail (exploratory), some stretches with mud, others rocky, others sandy and without shade; sometimes it may be necessary to use your hands for support and balance. The altitude is above 4,000 meters (≈13.000 ft)

This experience has a basic insurance which covers accidents during your trip (it does not cover altitude sickness). However, it is recommended that you carry a separate insurance policy that covers adventure activities, mountaineering and/or trekking.

It is necessary for each traveler to bring his/her own basic equipment which consists of: Sunglasses, hat, sunscreen, appropriate backpack for trekking (30 to 40 liters), trekking pants, appropriate shoes for walking (trekking boots), waterproof jacket, waterproof pants, change of socks to be on the farm, change of clothes (to sleep warm), change of shoes (sandals), flashlight, gloves, sleeping bag, 2 liter water bottle, mask.

We recommend carrying a trekking backpack of 30 liters or more, with support at the waist and chest (chest strap and comfortable lumbar belt), with its rain protection (rain cover). The weight to carry is approximately 8 to 10 kilos per person. That would be lunch for day one, personal items, change of clothes and warm clothes for sleeping, your snacks, flashlight, change of shoes, sleeping bag, among others.

It is necessary to check directly with the embassy of your country to confirm if there are any visa requirements to visit Colombia. This will depend on your nationality. It is also important that your passport has at least six months validity from the date of your return. In the following link you can find information about the countries that require a visa to visit Colombia: https://pasaportecolombiano.wordpress.com/paises-que-requieren-visa-para-entrar-a-colombia/ ###MX Travelers with Mexican passports do NOT need a visa to visit Colombia for a maximum of 90 days Note: It is the traveler's responsibility to have the corresponding requirements to leave the country and to access the destination; in case of denial, LocalAdventures is not responsible for any charges derived from such situation.

No, this experience does not include flights and/or international and/or local transfers. ###MX The approximate fare departing from Mexico ranges between $12,010.00 MXN to Bogota. NOTE: The above rates are merely indicative, the price may vary according to the weather.