La Carbonera

Our day trip to La Carbonera is an exploration of the less known trails and unspoiled land of the mountains surrounding Salento. We discover a forest of Palma de Cera twice as large as in Cocora Valle but without the crowd of tourists.

We meet at Salento Trekking office at 7:30am and hop on the Land Rover for a 23km drive up on the old road that connects Salento to Ibague and even Bogota. It is now a gravel road used by a few mountain bikers on week end and farmers. The drive offers some of the most beautiful view of the Andes of the Cordillera Central and the Nevados National Park. As we make out way to the pass a 3,600 m we will stop to enjoy the view of the Paramillo del Quindío (4,750m) and take a short trek to an indigenous cemetery in the forest.

Shortly after the pass, the valley opens up on a forest of Palma de Cera and we take a break at the Finca La Carbonera, also a colibri reserve and drink an agua panela with cheese. We then start our 16 km trek back down to Salento on the eastern side of the mountain on open trails and through Forest. On the way, we will stop at a finca perched on a hill with breathtaking views of the mountains and department of Quindío and enjoy a traditional Colombian lunch. We will be back in Salento by 5pm.

In case of weather change, the guide determines the safest path.