At an altitude of 1900 meters (6233 feet) and surrounded by Colombian rainforest, lies the cheerful mountain village of Salento. It is the perfect base to visit the famous Valle de Cocora, but Salento has much more to offer. The houses are all painted in vibrant colors, and in the evening, street musicians bring a lot of joy to the streets. The public transportation consists of Jeep Willys, and each Willy has been painted in a different vibrant color, like the blue one in the photo above. You won’t get bored quickly in Salento because there are so many things to do in the surrounding area.
How to get to Salento?
Chances are, you’ll want to travel to Salento from Bogota or Medellin. There are different ways to get to Salento, and below you’ll find information on how to travel from these destinations.
From Bogota to Salento
By bus: Go to Terminal de Transporte in Bogota and take the bus to Armenia. Bolivariano is the most comfortable bus company, and the journey takes about 7 hours. In Armenia, transfer to the bus to Salento, which is about a one-hour ride.
By plane: Airlines such as Avianca, Latam, and Wingo offer direct flights to Armenia. Latam and Avianca also have direct flights to Pereira. Both airports are equidistant from Salento. The flight duration is one hour. From both airports, you can take a bus to Salento or opt for a taxi. The bus is the cheaper option, but it takes longer. If you prefer taking a taxi to Salento, you can ask your hostel or hotel to arrange one for you so that you can hop in right after your flight.
From Medellin to Salento
By bus: In Medellin, go to Terminal del Sur to catch a direct bus to Salento. The bus company is called Flota Occidental, and they have comfortable buses that will take you to Salento in 8.5 hours.
By plane: Airlines such as Avianca and Easyfly offer direct flights from Medellin to both Armenia and Pereira. Budget airline Latam also flies directly to Pereira. The flight time to both destinations is approximately 50 minutes. Upon arrival, you can take a bus or a taxi to Salento. The bus is the cheaper option, but it takes longer. If you choose to take a taxi, it’s best to ask your hostel or hotel to arrange one for you so that you can hop in right after your flight.
What to do in Salento?
We recommend staying in Salento for two to three full days, depending on what you want to do.
Visit Valle de Cocora from Salento
Valle de Cocora is high on the bucket list of every traveler in Colombia. The valley is filled with wax palms, which are the tallest palm trees in the world, reaching heights of up to 60 meters (197 feet). You’ve probably seen pictures of this valley, but in person, Valle de Cocora is even more impressive. In the hilly area, you’ll find hundreds of these wax palms, and you can embark on a fantastic hike that takes you through a cloud forest, across rickety suspension bridges, and ultimately leads you to Valle de Cocora. This hike takes approximately 5 hours without travel time, so plan for a full day. Read all the tips for Valle de Cocora and the hiking route.
Downhill mountain biking
As mentioned earlier, everyone visits Valle de Cocora, but almost no one knows that about 20 kilometers (12.4 miles) away, there’s another valley that may be three times more beautiful. This valley is much larger, and as far as the eye can see, all you see are mountains and valleys filled with hundreds of thousands of wax palms. Yes, you read that right, hundreds of thousands! This valley is privately owned and cannot be entered without permission. As a result, this place is still a little secret and remains relatively unvisited. The only way to admire it is through this awesome downhill mountain biking tour. The tour starts with a short hike through the valley, followed by a picnic with a fantastic view. Afterward, you hop on your bike and enjoy a 20-kilometer (12.4 miles) downhill mountain biking experience. The tour is not strenuous, and no experience is required, but you should enjoy a bit of action and not mind getting dirty.
Play a game of tejo
Blowing things up while enjoying a beer, that sounds like a fun evening, right? The game of tejo (pronounced as “tego”) is the national sport of Colombia and is a must-try when traveling through Colombia. This quirky game is popular all over the country, and at Los Amigos in Salento, travelers are warmly invited to come and play it. Each lane has a clay pit with a metal ring and small explosives placed on it. The challenge is to make these explosives explode by throwing a flat metal disc, called a tejo, onto them. The explosives are small, so it’s secretly quite difficult to hit and cause an explosion. It’s a fun challenge! A game of tejo costs a few dollars, including a cold beer.
Experience the atmosphere at Plaza di Bolivar
Plaza di Bolivar is the heart of Salento. This square is always vibrant and lively, with stalls where you can eat and drink. It’s also the departure point for the Willys that take you to Valle de Cocora. Every Saturday and Sunday, there’s a market on the square. It’s usually bustling with locals and creates a cheerful atmosphere.
Learn about nature during an eco-walk
An absolute recommendation when you’re in Salento is the eco-walk at Kasaguadua. A few miles outside of Salento lies Kasaguadua Natural Reserve, a 12-hectare rainforest owned by Carlos. Carlos is a passionate man who deeply cares about nature and has a wealth of knowledge about it. During the two-hour walk, Carlos will take you to his habitat and teach you about the collaboration between plants, animals, and humans. He will also share the ecological history of Salento and the formation of Valle de Cocora. If you’re excited and would like to join the eco-walk, it’s best to send Carlos a WhatsApp message at +57 3204258075. The walk costs 30,000 pesos, approximately $10 per person.
Indulge in Trout Dining in Salento
Do you enjoy fish? Then you must definitely order trout in Salento. Trout is a typical Colombian dish and can be found in almost every restaurant in Salento, but the best trout can be found at Donde Laurita. They prepare trout in various ways. For example, try the ‘Trucha gratinada con champiñones,’ which is a delicious piece of fish with cheese and mushrooms. It’s perfect for sharing between two people. The fried variation is also highly recommended!
Visit Coffee Farms
Salento is located in the coffee region of Colombia. In the surroundings of Salento, you can find numerous coffee farms that offer interesting tours. Here, you will learn about the entire process from plant to cup of coffee, and of course, you will get to taste the coffee too. Finca El Ocaso is a popular coffee farm to book a tour.
Enjoy Salento from Above
When exploring Salento, it’s nice to take a walk to the viewpoint called Mirador Alto de la Cruz. You’ll need to climb about 200 steps, but once you reach the top, you’ll have a beautiful view of Salento. The atmosphere here is often pleasant, especially in the evening. Don’t expect anything too spectacular, just a nice spot to watch the sunset, for example. From here, you can also continue walking to Mirador de Salento, where you can overlook the mountains behind Salento all the way to Valle de Cocora.
Tip: If you’re in Salento over the weekend and looking for some fun, go have a cocktail at Botanica in the evening. It’s a café next to the viewpoint, and you’ll find both locals and travelers there. The atmosphere is often very lively!
Shop in Salento’s Boutique Stores
Believe it or not, you can do some great shopping in Salento! Along the main street, Calle Real, you’ll find many small boutique stores offering souvenirs, jewelry, and clothing.
Best Restaurants in Salento
There is certainly no shortage of good restaurants in Salento. We spent three full days there and tried many different places to eat. These are our favorites:
Brunch de Salento – A charming spot in the heart of Salento. The menu is extensive, offering options for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. The tuna salad sandwich is highly recommended!
Hamburguesería El Cacharrito – A great place for a quick bite if you’re feeling hungry after a day of hiking in Valle de Cocora. They also have vegetarian burger options.
Cumana Bistro Food – If you’re looking to try something different, Cumana Bistro Food is a tiny place with delicious Venezuelan cuisine.
Donde Laurita – Here you can enjoy the best trout in Salento.
Coco Bowl – The go-to place for a healthy breakfast and lunch. Everything on the menu is vegan, and only fresh ingredients are served (see photo below).
Etnia Arte y Sabor – A cozy little spot where you can enjoy tasty local food at affordable prices.
Our Favorite places to stay in Salento
Despite being a small village, Salento offers many great places to stay. We stayed at Terrazas de Salento and highly recommend it to everyone. This boutique hotel is run by an Austrian man and his Colombian wife. It’s situated slightly higher on a hill, offering beautiful views of the village and mountains. Nowhere else in Colombia did we have such an amazing breakfast. You can choose from a wide range of options to create your own breakfast, and it was a delightful experience every morning. Another great option is Coffee Tree Boutique Hostel, perfect if you want to meet other travelers. The staff is incredibly friendly and creates a wonderful atmosphere in the hostel. It’s located in a quiet area, just a 5-minute walk from the center. If you’re looking for an ultra-romantic hotel, we recommend Hotel Kawa Mountain Retreat. Book a room with a view and witness a beautiful sunset every evening.
  Terrazas de Salento
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  Coffee Tree Boutique Hostel
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  Hotel Kawa Mountain Retreat
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