Colombia holds a special place in my heart for so many reasons but the biggest one is the staggering improvement this country has made in the last 20 years. Neighborhoods and even cities as a whole that were deemed unsafe in the 90’s are now bustling hubs for tourism. There is so much to see and do in this beautiful country that it’s definitely one you can keep returning to. This was my fourth time in Colombia but my first time in Salento and I fell in love. The people, the colorful buildings, the ability to immerse yourself in nature, the coffee, and so much more! Here’s a travel guide to help you experience all that this picturesque town has to offer.
How to Get to Salento
Salento is a small town located in the coffee triangle (Eje cCafetero). The coffee region of Colombia is a must on any traveler’s bucket list and is the second largest producer of coffee in South America (third in the world). Salento boasts beautiful landscapes and is a popular destination to sample some of the best coffee and immerse yourself in the outdoors.
Flying into Salento
There are two main airports that you can fly into: Pereira (PEI) and Armenia airport (AXM). Once you land, the quickest way to get to Salento is via car. I highly recommend arranging a pickup with your hotel in Salento to save time and energy.
You can also take a bus from both towns into Salento, though if you’re going to go this route I recommend flying into Armenia as it is closest to the bus stop. You will first need to get a taxi to the bus station and then take a 45 minute bus ride into Salento.
Bus to Salento
You can also take a bus from Medellin, Cali, or Bogota to Salento though I believe you will need to change buses on the Cali-Salento route and the Bogota-Salento route. While the bus will save you some money, it is definitely a more time consuming option especially if you’re coming from Medellin or Bogota. Here’s a link to check different bus ticket options.
Know Before You Go
Shared Jeeps are the way to get around
There aren’t taxis in the traditional sense in Salento. Instead, you’ll be taking a shared jeep from the city center if you want to get to Cocora Valley (Valle del Cocora) or anywhere outside of Salento town. They are a great way to get around and they have standard rates so you don’t have to worry about negotiating.
Best Time to Visit Salento
The best time to visit Salento is between December – February or July – September. We visited in early March and didn’t feel like it was too crowded. It did rain quite a bit while we were there but it seems that the amount of rain was fairly uncharacteristic for the season.
Packing Tips for Salento
Definitely pack layers and something for the rain. The weather can change fairly unpredictably and if you’re on a hike, you’ll want to be prepared. The town is also fairly hilly so comfortable walking shoes are a must.
Where to Stay in Salento, Colombia
We stayed at La Cabaña Eco-Hotel and loved every moment of our stay. This woman-owned and family operated hotel is located a little outside of Salento city center but is easily accessible via jeep from the town. The hotel staff was nice enough to drop us into town whenever we needed a ride as well. They can also easily arrange transportation for you at any point.
Even though it’s only five minutes from Salento, the hotel is in the middle of nature, surrounded by stunning views. It is a great place to rest and recharge after a long day hiking or touring coffee farms. The pictures do not do this place justice.
Also, they have freshly brewed coffee available at all hours of the day and it is truly some of the best coffee I’ve ever tasted. I loved waking up in the morning and having a cup before heading to breakfast.
If you’re looking for your own personal oasis, this is 100% the perfect place to stay at. You will love every minute of your experience.
I was welcomed as a guest at La Cabaña Eco-hotel and all opinions are my own. I only ever recommend hotels that I have truly loved and believe you would enjoy staying at.
Top Things to do in Salento, Colombia
Go on a coffee farm tour
You can’t go to the coffee region and not do a coffee farm tour! This is the first thing you should do on your trip to Salento! There are plenty of coffee plantations (coffee fincas) to choose from and if you do a Google search you’ll see that Finca El Ocaso is one of the most popular options. I’m sure this tour is a great experience however we opted to do a tour at Don Eduardo and highly recommend it.
If you’re someone who really wants to learn about coffee, this is the tour for you. The owner aka Don Eduardo is extremely knowledgeable about coffee and you’ll walk away actually having learned something. Plus, he has the cutest dogs who follow him throughout the tour.
Play a Game of Tejo
Playing a game of Tejo is one of the top things to do in Salento. The best way I can describe this game is a version of corn hole except with gunpowder. The goal is to get your metal weight into the metal inner circle for the most points (6 points). The metal circle is also lined with these triangle packets that are full of gunpowder so if you hit one of them and it explodes you get 3 points. If you can get a bulls eye and explode a gunpowder packet on the same turn you get 9 points. Needless to say I sucked at this game. Ironically, the only points I got were actually a bullseye plus explosion. My partner loved it (he was wayy better than me). It’s a wonderful idea for a rainy day in Salento and there are plenty of places to play the game. We played at Los Amigos and can recommend it!
Relax at a coffee shop
One of my favorite things to do in Salento was to relax at a coffee shop. My absolute favorite was Jesus Martin and for good reason. They are incredibly knowledgable about Colombian coffee and will make the coffee right at your table while explaining the origin of the beans and the brewing process. It completely changes the experience of drinking coffee when you understand where the beans come from and even the story of the farmer.
Visit Valle de Cocora
I’m sure you’ve seen the iconic photos of the wax palm trees that dot Valle de Cocora (if you haven’t, watch Disney’s Encanto!). No trip to Salento would be complete without a trip to the Valle de Cocora, one of the cloud forests in Colombia.
The best way to get there is on a day trip from Salento’s main plaza. You’ll find shared jeeps waiting to take people to the start of the hiking trails. I recommend going in the morning so you can beat the crowds. Be sure to check the timetables with your hotel or with the jeep drivers themsleves. You don’t have to share a jeep if you don’t want to but then you have to pay for the whole jeep yourself.
The jeeps will drop you off at the parking lot and then it’s a short walk until the entrance where you’ll start your Cocora Valley hike to see the wax palms and the beautiful valley.
You have two options for the hike: the shorter version which is a couple of hours round trip or the longer version which is about five hours long. We opted for the shorter version which was a good idea for us given the weather conditions but I’ve also heard the longer version is a beautiful hike and is worth the time.
I’d recommend asking the booth where you pay your entrance fee which way to start off. Even with the longer hike, there are two circuits you can do. I’ll be honest it’s a bit confusing and we ended our hike with a semi-terrifying descent which would have been much better to start off with as a steep climb instead. Definitely do your research before embarking on the hike!
Enjoy the outdoors
One of the best things to do in Salento is to get outdoors. You won’t be able to get over how lush and green the area is. If you’re looking for a unique experience, try doing horseback riding or mountain biking. You can do either one with a guided tour. Though we didn’t do either of these tours, we heard a lot about them from locals in the town. A quick google search shows that there are a lot of options that can be customized to your interests.
Take in the stunning views
There are so many beautiful places around Salento where you’ll find incredible views. My favorite spot with some of the best views was the Mirador de Salento. This lookout point is a bit of a steep walk to get to but it’s perfectly bearable. You’ll see signs all along the town leading you the right way. Once you get to the top, you’ll see sweeping views of the rolling green hills. For a different vantage point (arguably an even better view), head to the cafe Botánica which is on the opposite side of the Mirador. Grab a juice (or a beer) and take in the beautiful view.
Walk around the town
While Salento is a small town, it’s incredibly picturesque and is well worth strolling around. You’ll find the shared jeeps at the main square (Plaza de Bolivar) which is also a great place to start exploring the town from. Take Calle Real (the main street) which runs parallel to the square for one of the most beautiful streets in Salento. You’ll find that it’s dotted with souvenir shops but despite it’s touristy vibe, there are some great spots along the street including Tejadito where we heard some incredible live music while people watching.
Bottom Line
There are a lot of fantastic things to do in Salento and it is a must add for any trip to Colombia, especially if you are a coffee lover.
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