Very Colombian Experience - Termales Santa Rosa de Cabal

We got up early from our country spot in Salento and took a short ride into town.  From there, we took a bus 1 hour to Pereira.  From Pereira, a 25 minute bus ride to Santa Rosa de Cabal, then a taxi ride to the hot springs.

There you will find a hotel and commercial hot springs.  There is a large swimming pool size soaking area where people of all ages (from children to grandparents) were soaking an enjoying the Thursday morning.  

Above the hot pool, there is an incredible waterfall.  So before the hot water from deep underground is mixed with cold from the river, the water falls from a taaaaaalllll, cold waterfall.  We  weren't feeling very adventurous, so we just dipped in our toes into the cold pool.  It was a cool day to start with, so submerging our bodies into the cold water of the small pool wasn't very tempting.

As the cold water spills over the rocks below, it is mixed with 40 degrees Celsius, scalding hot water.  The minerals that cascaded over the rocks over the years create a soft, swoopy look.

There is even a little cave to escape the heat.

The soaking pool varies from hot to comfortable to body temperature as you move away from the falls.

Valle de Cocora

We spent our October break in the Zona Cafetera town of Salento.  There, we visited a coffee finca, hiked amongst the tallest palms in the world, went horseback riding (Linnea went 3 times) soaked in thermal hot springs and relaxed at our hostel, La Serrana.

On our first full day there, we went hiking in the Valle de Cocora is just east of Salento.  From Salento, we took a 30 minute ride in a jeep taxi called a Willy and started the hike.  The valley is know for the wax palms that can reach up to 60 meters high.  Palma de cera is the largest palm tree in the world and is Colombia's national tree.  The trees were threatened to extinction because of their use of wax for candles, being cut by farmers to build with and the fronds that were used on Palm Sunday.  So in 1985 the Colombian government designated the valley a protected area to preserve the endangered tree.  As you can see, the trees came back.

Kid hikers - Eli, Linnea, Dempsey and Finn

Before the big trek over the mountain

At the top of the mountain, we found the La Montaña ranger post where we had a cup of chocolate con queso, a typical Colombian snack.  We were up in a cloud forest and it was cold and a little drizzly.  The valley ranges in altitudes of 1800 to 2400 meters.

After leaving the ranger post, we zig-zagged down the mountain and made several crossings over the Rio Quindío on rickety suspension bridges.

After making it off the mountain, we were in the valley where the majority of the magnificent 

palms grew.  We were in good company with a lot of cows too.

 End of the 5 hour hike!