Our hostel here is the first place we have stayed where our room has a real window to the actual outdoors, but with this view out of it, it was worth the wait.

Room with a view, Salento

A short jeep ride away was the Valle de Cocora, which provided us with our first chance to do some trekking.  We walked for 2 hours through spectacular Wax Palm plantations and pristine cloud forest, without seeing a single other person, to a small humming bird reserve, where the birds whizzed and hummed freely all around us.  We stayed for almost an hour, drinking coffee, watching the birds and trying to get the perfect photograph.
 

Trekking in the Valle de Cocora

Rob fairing better on the bridges than Rachel

Valle de Cocora

Hummingbirds, Valle de Cocora

Although most of the best Colombian coffee is exported, it is still possible in this region to get some of the “good stuff” – I am even starting to like it.  Don´t get me wrong though I´m not going to be giving up my 3 p.m. cup of tea and a biscuit!

Coffee

We both agree the Zona Cafetera is one of the most relaxing places we have ever been.  As we sat on the terrace of our hostel, drinking fresh coffee, looking out at the amazing scenery, with no job to worry or stress about, life felt pretty good.

Hacienda Guyanbal, Manizales