17-19 May 2010
Colombia is known for its cocaine and for its coffee. I don´t plan to visit the coca fields around these parts, but I did visit the lovely coffee growing region and spent a couple of nights there. Salento´s a lovely town, Plantation houses' coffee plantation tour was fantastic (and I thought that after being in Guatemala and seeing coffee production there that I might be bored), and the Valle de Cocora Hike was splendid.
Coffee beans drying.... with sliding roof to cover over if it rains.
The view from the coffee plantation, and the building on it is made from native home grown bamboo... beautiful!
Colombia doesn´t have a lot of seasonality... so this stem shows the coffee plant with several stages of coffee bean growth. Flowers, small beans, and large beans.
Wax palms
Bridge crossings were tricky on the hike.
The suspension bridge we had to cross was a bit rough.
Saw this sign about a dozen times in Spanish and in English. You have to pay... if you keep going. It is about $1.50 and you´ll get a free drink, with cheese.
Why you had to pay to keep going was to sit and enjoy the hummingbirds. I might never tire of them and I saw about 6 different ones here.
There was a road on the other side of the mountin top farm, but they were bringing stuff down on the backs of small horses down the rough track.
More Wax Palms and tourist, so you can appreciate how tall they are.
Notes
Plantation House Accomodation $9
Plantation House Coffee Plantation tour $2.50
Jeep to Valle de Cocora Hike $1.50 each way, entry to Hummingbird spot $1.50, incl free drink and cheese.
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