Back in Colombia for the last two stops on my trip and it’s almost New years eve. Salento used to be a small quiet town in the heart of Colombia’s coffee region, where some families ended up escaping to during the 1990s after the heavy violence that terrorized Cali and Medellin. That is, until tourism arrived and everything boomed in the last couple of years, causing property values to triple after out-of-towners came in to town, bought up the properties and turned them in to hostels, restaurants and souvenir shops. The souvenir shops here are actually quite unique though, with lots of very creative local fashion and accessories.
The main activities here in Salento are horse back riding, coffee plantation tours, hiking in the Cocora valley and mountain biking. Since I’m not a big fan of coffee or horse back riding, I ended up going on two hikes.
The first one in the Cocora valley after taking a jeep wrangler from Salento’s main square to the beginning of the 5 hour trail, which passes through the wax palm tree forrest, which are the tallest palm trees in the world (up to 60m tall).
The next day’s hike was in another valley to a small water fall and was a bit shorter, to conserve some energy for the new year’s celebrations that night. Also to catch the water at the Hostel, since there was a water shortage in town, meaning only 9 hours of water per day, distributed through out the day.
New year’s celebrations in Colombia are quite special, I had a feeling that it’s more of a family celebration than Christmas is. Families and friends get together in the evening and have a big meal and start drinking and dancing at home. Afterwards, they go to the main squares and continue drinking and dancing, while they wait for the midnight burning man celebrations.
These are basically human sized stuffed dummies called “Año viejo” (Old year), which they then burn at midnight to make space for the new year.
The main square was full of loud latin music and families, friends and tourists gathered for the countdown. Finally after making space for the new year, some people eat 12 grapes, making 12 wishes for each month of the new year. It was a very special night, full of reflection about where I’ve been and where I was going. A new year was beginning and my trip was coming to an end. It was time to make my way to a very special destination.
Here you can see the Jeep Wranglers or Willys as they’re called there, waiting at Salento’s main square to take people to the Cocora Valley.
Salento’s shopping street before the shopping starts.
Let the hike begin!
Stopping be a small stream for a break.
There was a humming bird sanctuary along the way as well.
More spectacular views from the top.
A very tall Palm tree marking the start of the forrest.
It was kind of surreal to stand between these palm trees.
Playing around with the sun a little.
In this photo you can see just how tall these palm trees are!
Trying to be artistic again 😛
Love the creativity here 😉
Sunset from the hostel.
This was one of many Año viejo dummies.
Everyone gathered at the main square for the countdown.
The fire fighters also joined the party to make sure none of the burnings get out of control.
Farewell 2015.
I liked this small Año viejo dummy.
Another unlucky dummy.
One guy had his own stereo system set up in the trunk featuring some action figures as well.
Hello 2016.