On our way back from Maniz�les Cali, we took a long detour to see El Valle de C�cora and the small town of Salento which lies on the foothills of this gorgeous valley. The valley, a national park and wildlife sanctuary, is surrounded by very tall mountains of the Cordillera Central and it is breathtaking. It is in the middle of the coffee growing region of Colombia, and it is known for its wax palm trees which can grow as tall as 75 feet. Colombia has acknowledged the valley's wax palms as a national symbol. The Latin name given to these wax palms, Ceroxylo Quindiunse, refers to the region in which they grow in Colombia - el Departamento del Quind�o.

C�cora valley is a popular touristic destination in Colombia. People can camp, hike, bird-watch, and bathe in the rivers. There is also mountain biking, horseback riding, rafting and scenic flights. The food specialty is rainbow trout from the rivers, baked "al ajillo" that is with garlic and served with "pl�tano frito" or fried plantains. We ate a typical trout dish from a Restaurant in Salento and it was delicious!

The town of Salento in itself is a great place to visit. There are about 2,000 inhabitants in the town. They were isolated from the rest of the country for many years as have a lot of towns in this region of the Colombia. They have maintained their buildings and traditions, featuring an annual Cavalgata Fair of horses which lasts several days each year. The houses are all just like Colombian houses in post Colonial times.

To view pictures of Salento and Valle de C�cora visit the blog's "Photo Gallery" album called "Salento y el Valle del C�cora." For more information about El Valle de C�cora you can visit Wikipedias' write up at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cocora_valley