The Wax Palm Forest

About 12 miles from Pereira, the gateway to coffee country is the Valley of Cocoras--home of Colombia's national tree, the Wax Palm which can grow to about 270 feet tall.
This verdant area is overwhelmingly beautiful. First we passed through a town called Salento, and then took a dirt road toward our lunch destination, the restaurant Bosques De Cocoras. With a trout farm down the road, we had the most amazing trout, served on a fried plantain pancake, and either grilled with garlic butter or smoked.
After lunch we mounted some horses and took a ride through the valley, enveloped by the stunning scenery.

Colombia's National Tree, Wax Palm

Horse Back riding in Cocoras Valley

Grilled Trout specialty dish

The swinging town of Salento