There´s more to Colombia than just coffee and white powder

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Venturing to Salento in the Zona Cafetera was like landing in the green hills of Switzerland, but with palm trees and coffee farms. Did a fantastic 11km circuit hike in the Cocora Valley, surrounded by 60 to 70 metre tall wax palms (Colombia´s national tree), with a side trip to Acaime Natural Reserve to see hummingbirds. Then I hit the heady heights (2600m) of Bogota; exploring the various parts of the capital by bike and cable car, the interesting Gold Museum, and the underground salt cathedral at Zipaquia. Next stop was the charming Villa de Leyva with colonial houses, cobblestone streets and plazas, and lots of fancy-schmancy artesan shops for visiting Bogotanos - a very pretty town with a similar vibe (and cost) to Leura in the Blue Mountains. Final highlight was an amazing 4-day hike in the Sierra Nevada del Cocuy National Park, at an altitude ranging from 4000 to 5000 metres, with some of the largest glaciers in Colombia and a fascinating paramo ecosystem with the frailejones. So ends a thoroughly enjoyable 6 week trip to Colombia.

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Photos

midget
yep the tiny blip is little ole me standing next to one of the tall buggers

lush
the second part of the Cocora Valley walk is in lush (and muddy) jungle

Acaime Natural Reserve
lots of beautiful hummingbrds - fascinating to watch

downtown Salento
a really picturesque town full of arty craft shops

Zona Cafetera
coffee farms

organic coffee tour
We visited this small organic family-run coffee farm and did a tour with the owner. I don´t drink coffee but I found the process pretty interesting. Afterwards you are given a cup of coffee.

Bogota sunset
From the Monserrate funicular

downtown Bogota
It´s pretty cool that they block off a main thoroughfare for pedestrians and cyclists only

choose your steed
From Botero art to the modern version

murals
representing the destruction of mining to the nature and the environment

guinea pig race
you bet which one the guinea pig will go into by placing coins on the bowl numbers - the locals were loving it