Cocora Valley
A gem of Colombia’s Coffee Region
The Cocora valley
(Spanish: Valle de Cocora) is a valley in
the Quindío Department of Colombia. It is located in the Central
Cordillera of the Andean mountains. "Cocora" was the name of a Quimbayan
princess, daughter of the local chief Acaime, and means "star of water"
(Spanish: estrella de agua).
The valley is part of the Los Nevados National Natural Park,
incorporated into the existing national park by the Colombian government
in 1985. It is the main location where the national tree of Colombia,
the Quindío wax palm can be found, as well as a wide variety of other
flora and fauna (some endangered), all of which are protected under the
park's national status.