What to do in and outside Salento

Travel Guide Salento

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What to do in Salento and surroundings? There is plenty to do to keep yourself well entertained for a few days. Activities range from hiking and horseback riding to exploring coffee culture, mountain biking and bird watching. Here are our tips for what to do in Salento.

ColombiaMyWay

10 tips + bonus tips

1. Stroll around the colorful city center

We like nothing better in Salento, than strolling around the streets and enjoying the atmosphere and the colorful architecture. In streets like Calle Real, one building is even more beautiful and colorful than the other. Be sure to catch the side streets, where it is quieter, but no less colorful. Plaza de Bolívar -the central square- is the perfect place to grab a terrace.

With the park and the stand of local taxis-the Willy Jeeps-there is always something to see!

2. Discover the coffee culture of Salento

With the many nice cafes with even nicer interiors, we find it a treat to grab a cup of coffee and choose from one of the many ways of preparing coffee.

If you want to know all about the coffee culture of Salento and the Colombian coffee triangle, take a tour of a coffee finca, such as at Finca El Ocaso, 4 kilometers from Salento. While walking around the grounds, you’ll see how the special ecosystem provides good conditions for growing coffee beans. For more information about the coffee tour at Finca el Ocaso in Salento.

3. Take a hike in the Valle de Cocora

In this nature reserve, a 20-minute drive from Salento, you will find the tallest palm trees in the world. The maximum height of these palma de cera is a whopping 60 meters. You get there by one of the Willy Jeeps, which leave from Salento’s central square. The jeep drops you off at the entrance to the Valle de Cocora, where you can choose the 2-hour or 5-hour hike. If you go early in the morning, you’ll be ahead of the crowds. Especially on weekends, it can get crowded. You are also more likely to spot birds, such as the mighty condor, in the morning. If you prefer to go to the Valle de Cocora with a guide, you can include these hiking tour booking.

4. Explore the area on horseback

A horseback ride is a special way to discover the countryside around Salento. You can also combine the tour with a trip to a waterfall, a visit to a coffee finca or a longer horseback ride do to the Valle de Cocora. Check here your options to horseback riding in Salento.

5. Shop a souvenir in the Calle Real and then climb the Mirador

Cl. 4 #5-8


At the Pasaje Real on Calle Real, you are guaranteed to find a nice souvenir or Mochila (handmade Wayuu bag).

The Calle Real is a colorful street filled with restaurants, cafes and stores. It is busy every day, but especially so on weekends, when locals and Colombian tourists come to shop. At the end of the Calle Real, you can climb the steps of the Mirador Alto de la Cruz, for a beautiful view of the surrounding area.

6. Spot birds

The coffee region is a paradise for birdwatchers. One of the best places to spot birds in Salento is the Camino Nacional, a 15-km long unpaved trail that runs uphill from Salento and then downhill to the Valle de Cocora.

As many as 349 bird species are found here. The trail is a good place to look for toucans, hummingbirds and tanagers (tangare), among others. Under the guidance of a expert bird guide you are more likely to see the different species and learn to recognize the bird species yourself. There are also options to combine a bird watching tour and coffee tour, including with this tour.

 

7. Play a game of Tejo

Cancha de Tejo Los Amigos
a 3-98, Cra. 4 #32.

This is the place for travelers to play Tejo, a Colombian game, which we love ourselves. With steel discs you have to throw into a plate of clay. If you throw near the center, you get the most points. If you throw at the paper triangles filled with gunpowder, a big bang follows and you get extra points. That, of course, is the thrill of the game! As soon as you enter, you get an explanation of the game. Most important advice and unwritten rule at Tejo: the more beer you drink, the better you throw -:)

8. Grab a mountain bike for a scenic bike ride

At Nativo Apartahotel you can rent mountain bikes, or take a guided tour to the Santa Rita waterfall and Carbonera . You can also book in advance online a bike tour to Carbonera book in advance. This is a mix of adventure and sightseeing, where you can enjoy the beautiful scenery.

 

9. Take a day trip to Filandia

The architecture of Filandia is similar to Salento. Still, it’s fun to take a side trip to Salento’s lesser-known “sister.” Take a lap around the square, grab a bite to eat at one of the good restaurants and do a “photo shoot” at the Mirador de Encanto.

You can catch a Willy Jeep at the Willy’s stand at the plaza. This costs around COP8000/€2 for a collectivo, where you share a cab with other travelers and locals. The Willy goes every hour on the hour. A private Willy costs around COP90,000/€22.50. In Filandia, you will be dropped off on a side street near the square.

10. Take a side trip and chill in one of the thermal pools

Staying a little longer in Salento and have time for a side trip? Then head to the natural thermal baths in the town of Santa Rosa de Cabal. There are two thermal baths here: Termales Santa Rosa de Cabal and Reserva Termal San Vicente.

Santa Rosa de Cabal is about a 1.5-hour drive from Salento. You can get there by bus, but more convenient for a day trip is a rental car saving you travel time. After Salento, are you traveling on toward Armenia, Pereira or Manizales? Then make a stopover of 1 or 2 days in Santa Rosa de Cabal. Both termales have a hotel on site so you can enjoy the wonderful baths to the fullest. Look here for more information: Hotel Termales San Vicente en Termales Santa Rosa de Cabal. Also check our travel guide Termales Santa Rosa de Cabal with additional information about the termales and the town.

#ColombiaMyWay bonus tips

If you like hiking, you might benefit from these additional tips for what to do in Salento, which include a scenic hike to a waterfall and an adventurous trek to a national park.

11. Hike to the Santa Rita waterfall

From Salento you can take a short hike of about an hour to the Santa Rita waterfall, passing through tunnels and over suspension bridges. The waterfall is located in Reserva Natural Santa Rita, a 173-hectare nature reserve. A day pass costs COP10,000/€2.50. You can also camp there or stay overnight in a cottage. Finca Santa Rita was a coffee inca for a long time. With changing conditions in the coffee market and the potential for eco-tourism, the finca turned its attention to protecting the area. The nature reserve has a large water reservoir and is home to several species of birds and other animals. Check out here for more information.

You can also visit the waterfall during a guided hiking tour.

Check this link for a combo tour with a hike to the Santa Rita waterfall, horseback riding and the Valle de Cocora.

12. Take a trek to Los Nevados National Park.

If you are an avid hiker, you can also do a guided trekking to Los Nevados National Park, one of the great adventures in Colombia’s coffee region! A trek to the Nevado Santa Isabel and Nevado del Tolima can be booked departing from Salento. Check out here for trekking options to Los Nevados National Park.

How to get to Salento

Travel Guide Salento

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Plane + taxi/bus

How to get to Salento?
Updated November 2024

Here you will read about the different ways of transportation to Salento, of which traveling by plane + cab is the fastest option. You cannot fly to Salento, because Salento itself has no airport, but within 50 km distance there are two airports: El Edén Airport (AXM) in Armenia (at 41km/region Quindío) and Matecaña airport (PEI) in Pereira (at 45km/region Risaralda). The cheapest flight can be booked with low-cost airline Wingo; a return Bogotá-Armenia ticket is as low as €50.

You can also fly to Armenia from Medellín. From Cartagena, there is a flight to Pereira.

Bogotá – Pereira (55 min), including Latam, Easyfly and Avianca
Bogotá – Armenia (1h), including Latam, Easyfly, Avianca and Wingo
Medellín – Armenia (50 min) a.o. Avianca
Cartagena – Pereira (1.25h), a.o. Avianca

Transportation from airport Armenia → Salento

  • Cab: COP150,000/€37.50, the ride takes an hour. Tip: we also paid this for a cab back to the airport with the cab service in Salento (an Uber turned out to be as expensive as the cab service). W e reserved a cab from Salento drivers in the central square one evening in advance. We kept in touch via WhatsApp and that went fine.

  • Taxi+bus: first take a cab to the bus terminal (COP25,000/€6.50) and then take the bus from the bus terminal to Salento (50 min.). Buses leave every 20 minutes and cost COP8,500/€2. (Cootracir/Expreso Alcala). During our trip, the staff at the bus terminal in Armenia was very helpful in directing us to the right bus.

Transportation from Pereira airport → Salento

  • Cab: COP150,000/€37.50, the ride takes an hour. Here to book a private cab from Pereira to Salento online
  • Taxi+bus: first grab a cab to the bus station (COP20,000/€5 / 15min) and then the bus to Salento (COP 8000/€2, 1h) Floto Occidental/Expreso Alcalá). A bus goes every hour.

Bus and taxi/jeep

How to get to Salento from Bogotá?
There are buses from Bogotá to Armenia all day, from early morning until late at night. There is also a night bus that leaves at 10:30 p.m. and arrives in Armenia at 6:30 a.m. (8 a.m.). Most buses depart from the Terminal del Sur and arrive at Armenia’s bus station. Bus companies running this route include Expreso Palmira, Coomotor, Bolivariano and Flota Magdalena. Prices start at COP 75,000/19€ and the trip takes between 7-9h. After arriving in Armenia, catch the bus from the terminal to Salento (approx. COP 5300/€1.45). Buses leave every 20 minutes.

How to get to Salento from Filandia?
By Willy Jeep (approx. 45 min.) The Willy Jeeps leave from the Willy’s stand at the central square. This costs around COP8000/€2 for a collectivo, where you share a cab with other travelers and locals. The Willy goes every hour on the hour. A private Willy costs around COP90,000/€22.50.

How to get to Salento from Medellín?Flota Occidental and Arauca operate this route. The ride takes 6 hours and there is also a night bus. Prices start at COP73,000/ €18.25)

How to get to Salento from Jardín?
This is not an obvious route because the drive is long and because the first part from Jardín to Riosucio is on a dirt road through the mountains. If it has rained a lot, this road can be very bad. Previously, it was only possible to do the first part with a (slow) chiva, but nowadays buses run on this route. The bus from Jardín to Riosucio leaves at 8 a.m. and arrives around noon. Tickets cost COP30,000/€7.50.

Tip: There is a limited number of spots on the bus (max 18) and you cannot buy these tickets online. Therefore, buy your ticket for the bus from Jardín to Riosucio a day in advance, at the Cootransio office on Calle 5 #52. After arriving in Riosucio, book a ticket to Salento at the Flota Occidental counter. The bus leaves at 1:15 pm and arrives around 5:00 pm. Tickets cost COP42,000/€10.50. If the direct bus from Riosucio to Salento is already full, catch the bus to Pereira, where you transfer to the bus to Salento.

Rent a car

Driving to Salento yourself is also possible, of course, except that the road through the mountains from Bogotá is a challenge, especially if you have no experience with traffic in Colombia. In the coffee triangle itself, the roads are generally good. Alternative to driving yourself to Salento is to rent a car at the Armenia or Pereira airports. These are small, regional airports, where you can start your tour in your rental car in a relaxed manner. We recommend renting a higher-end car, as there is a good chance that you will also be driving off the beaten track. The main roads are generally very good. You can here check out the options for a rental car. Want the convenience of a car but don’t want to drive yourself? Then hire a private driver. Most hotels have regular, reliable drivers they can recommend.

 

DiscoverCars.com

Practical information about Salento

Travel Guide Salento

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Here you can find practical information about Salento: useful information about the climate and the best time to travel, how many days do we recommend to stay in Salento, are there ATM machines to withdraw money, are there supermarkets and what about safety in Salento. Keep reading for our tips and other useful information about Salento.

Climate

Climate

Salento is located in a mountainous area. The climate is tropical, with warm days and nights that cool off considerably. The maximum temperature is around 25 degrees and the minimum temperature 15 degrees.

Best time to visit Salento

Salento can be visited throughout the year. It rains a lot, especially in the months of April/May and September through November. We have been to Salento twice, the first time in March 2019 and the second time at the end of September 2024. In the month of March there were beautiful sunny days, as shown in this picure, that was taken in the Valle de Cocora. There were also brief showers, especially in the afternoon. In late September, it also rained mostly in the afternoon, but the showers lasted a lot longer. We also had conversations with locals about the weather and they told us that the rainy season in Salento is actually no longer a rainy season and the dry season is no longer a dry season. Because of El Niño, everything has changed and the weather is no longer predictable.

Harvest times for coffee beans are April/May and Oct/Dec. For most action on the coffee plantations, that is the perfect time to visit the coffee triangle. High season is around Christmas and New Year’s period, from mid-December to mid-January. Easter week and (long) weekends are also very busy in Salento, so if possible, avoid these periods.

Safety

Safety

The Coffee Triangle is one of the safest regions of Colombia, and Salento is no exception. We did not feel unsafe for a moment. Plaza de Bolívar has a police presence during the day.

How many days do you need to visit Salento?

2-3 days

How many days do you need for Salento? If you want to do the hike in the Valle de Cocora, do a coffee tour and another activity like horseback riding or mountain biking, we recommend a minimum of 2 days so that you also have time to chill in the town.

Practical info A-Z

Drinking water

Water from the tap is not drinkable. If you don’t trust the hygiene anywhere, watch out for ice cubes, salads and uncooked vegetables.

 

Changing money

You can exchange euros and dollars at Recinto Gastronómico y Artesanal on Plaza Bolívar.

The exchange rate is just not very favorable. Check here for the current exchange rate: exchange rate Colombian peso

Locals and language

Little English is spoken in Salento, so a basic knowledge of Spanish is very useful. Still, you can usually get by if you don’t get beyond a few words of Spanish. The locals are generally very helpful and patient and ready to help you, even if it is in sign language -:)

 

Medical assistance

Salento Hospital
H. San Vicente De Paul
Carrera7ª, 6-60
Check here the facebook page of Hospital San Vicente De Paul

Dentist Salento
Sonrisalento
Cra. 4 #5-48

There are also services such as Angeles Al Llamado who can come to you if you need a doctor’s consultation in the coffee triangle. We used this ourselves once and were very happy with this service. Want to know more? Then read here about our own experience with the Angeles Al Llamado.

Follow this link for general information about medical matters in Colombia.

 

What to bring
  • It can get quite sunny and warm during the day, but it cools down at night, so bring a sweater or blouse as well. . If you are going to Nevado del Ruiz National Park, prepare for low temperatures anyway. Layers of clothing will come in handy
  • It rains a lot, so bring a rain jacket or poncho
  • Hiking shoes
ATM machine

You can withdraw cash in Salento. There are 2 ATM machines at Plaza de Bolívar; one next to Café Quindío and the other next to hotel El Jardín, a 3-minute walk from the square. The ATM at the plaza is widely used, so there may not be enough cash.

Supermarkets

There are many tienda’s little stores selling all sorts of things. There is a supermarket on the square, with a wide assortment, Vía Baloto Supercocora Salento, address Cra. 6 #5-30.

Vaccinations

No yellow fever or other vaccinations are required for Salento. 

Wifi

Most larger hotels and hostels have wifi, at least in the common areas. If you travel off the beaten track, there is often no or unstable Internet.

The best restaurants in Salento – Food and drink

Travel Guide Salento

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Food and drink in Salento

There is no shortage of restaurants in Salento. Whether you want traditional Colombian food, international, vegetarian or vegan, there is a lot to choose from. One of the local specialties served in almost all restaurants in Salento is trucha (salmon trout), which is prepared in a variety of ways: with garlic, stewed in coconut milk, baked with mushrooms and cheese and more.

Here you will find our tips for the best restaurants in Salento, the nicest cafes for a cup of coffee and the coziest places to have a drink.

Our tips

Traditional Colombian food

BALCONES DEL AYER

Cl 6 #5-40
Very good restaurant of the eponymous hotel Balcones Del Ayer. Ons favoriete gerecht hier is de gestoofde forel, die wordt afgebakken met champignons en kaas in de oven. Ook kun je hier terecht voor een goed ontbijt, zoals de American pancakes met fruit. Toen wij hier wilden lunchen, was er net een grote tourgroep in het restaurant en moesten we later terugkomen voor een tafeltje. We besloten te blijven en een biertje te bestellen, want er was live muziek en de sfeer was geweldig met opzwepende muziek en dansende toeristen!

CASA WILLYS

Cra. 7 # 5-17 (Plaza de Bolívar)
This spacious restaurant has a patio where you have a nice view of the mountains. We had delicious Trucha here and Mojarra eaten. The fish was served with salad and a large patacón (made of banana). The portions were giga, especially the Mojarra. Yet we paid only COP43,000/€11 for this huge fish!

LA FONDA DE LOS ARRIEROS

Cra. 6 #3-21
You would come here for the beautiful murals alone! La Fonda de los Arrieros is a traditional Colombian restaurant, serving fish, meat and chicken dishes and Colombian specialties such as Bandeja Paisa.

International restaurants

BRUNCH DE SALENTO

Cl. 6 #3-49
Brunch de Salento opens as early as 6 a.m. for the early birds. You can also bring a specially prepared packed lunch for your hike to the Valle de Cocora (also vegetarian and vegan). Furthermore, you can go there throughout the day for dishes like nachos, burgers and much more. The portions are large and the service is very friendly. Using a map with the hikes there are around Salento, the staff is happy to explain the routes to you.

MIRADOR DEL QUINDÍO CAFÉ RESTAURANTE BAR

Cra. 7 #4-09
One of the cozy places where you can have something to eat and drink while enjoying the view is the Mirador del Quindío restaurante bar. This café-restaurant is located in a quiet street next to hotel Salento Mirador. Er is van alles te krijgen, van hotdogs tot rijstgerechten en later op de dag is er ook pizza verkrijgbaar. Er zijn ook vegetarische opties en er kan ook rekening gehouden worden met allergieën.

LA CASA DE LAS RUIZ CAFÉ BISTRO

Cl. 7 #5-44
A café bistro in a nice setting, among the murals. Nice if you want to eat something different from traditional Colombian food, with dishes like Mexican bowl and Ramen.

Vegetarian and vegan restaurants in Salento

BUMI COCINA NATURAL-YERBATERIA

Cra. 5 #9-33
This restaurant serves vegan and non-vegan dishes and tasty, healthy drinks. It uses local vegetables and fresh herbs from its own garden. The dried herbs are also for sale.

BARROCCO 1842

Cl. 4 #6 55
The restaurant serves a daily veggie menu and alongside this, Barrocco 1842 is known for its delicious coffee and tea.

SERENDIPIA, VEGGIE FOOD AND PIZZA BAR

Cra. 6 #2-45
With dishes such as the Portobello burger and the Berenjena Toscana (eggplant dish) and different types of pizza, you have more than enough choices of vegetarian dishes here.

Cafes

We would love to try all the cafes in Salento, because the drinks (and goodies) are generally so delicious and the atmosphere so cozy! Here are a few of our favorite cafes in Salento.

CAFE CASA WILLYS

Cra. 7 # 5-17 (on the square)
Below the restaurant Casa Willys is a cute little cafe with a fun, creative interior.
What immediately stands out are the many delicious cakes and muffins on display. There are several kinds of coffee and hot chocolate, but you can also go there for a craft beer or mojito. Highly recommended: the chocolate caliente with marshmallows. Yummie!

CAFÉ JESÙS MARTÍN

Cra. 6a #6-14
For a special coffee, cocktails made with coffee and infusions. Dit cafeetje is net een museum, met allerlei decoraties die met koffie te maken hebben. Wij hadden een erg lekkere infusion van passievrucht en gember en een ijskoffie met Baileys. De huiskat maakte de huiselijke sfeer compleet. Je kunt er ook koffiebonen en gemalen koffie meenemen voor thuis.

CAFÉ QUINDÍO

Cra. 6 #510 (on the square)
One of our favorite cafes for a good cup of coffee, cakes and other goodies.
This is one of the few things that sell Nespresso capsules to take home. The other cafes or “roasters” usually only sell coffee beans and ground coffee.

Bars

CANCHA DE TEJO LOS AMIGOS

(a 3-98,) Cra. 4 #32
This is the place in Salento to play Tejo, a typical Colombian game accompanied by lots of beer drinking. Tejo is similar to bowling in terms of throwing, but more exciting -:) Namely, you have to aim at bags of gunpowder! Also a nice place to meet other travelers.

CAFE DANUBIO

Cra. 4 #30 Calle Real
It couldn’t be more local in Salento: a large café, where locals gather to play billiards.

EL TEJADITO DE SALENTO

Cra. 6 #3-30
The cafe is small and cozy with only a few tables. You can go there for a beer, a glass of wine or a Mojito.There is regular live music.

Where to stay in Salento? – The nicest neighborhoods + tips

Travel Guide Salento

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Tips for booking your hotel or hostel

Where to stay in Salento? There is a wide choice of hostels, mid-range hotels and more expensive hotels in Salento and its surroundings. In terms of location, you have 3 options here:

1) A hostel or hotel in the center, near the central square.
There is a wide choice of affordable accommodations downtown. These are mostly older houses in the authentic architecture of the coffee region, which have been renovated and converted into hostels and hotels. You will be right in the middle of the ambientThere are lots of nice bars, restaurants and Willy jeeps for transportation to the Valle de Cocora. Downside: if you are so central, the accommodations are generally noisy, due to the sound of the rumba in the bars and restaurants and the traffic. Early in the morning it is already busy with Willy Jeeps and motorcycles on their way to the square. Personally, we found that for a short stay no problem, but if you stay longer, we would recommend a hotel or hostel on the outskirts of the village.

2) A hostel or hotel a little further out of the city center
There is also plenty of choice of hostels and hotels located on the outskirts of the city. Here you are generally less affected by the (traffic) crowds. The city center is still easily accessible with a 5-10 minute walk.

3) Hostels and hotels in nature
Even outside Salento, there are accommodations for every budget, with a night in a nature reserve, on a finca or in the Valle de Cocora being special options. Especially if you have your own car, accommodation outside the city is an option. Don’t have your own transportation but would like to spend the night in nature? Then check if your hotel offers a shuttle service, or if the bus passes by it on the way to downtown.

Check below for each of the options for staying overnight in Salento.

$ price range up to $40

$$ price range $40 – $75

$$$ price range above $75

The center

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On the outskirts of Salento

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In nature

$

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More hotels in Salento

All about Salento Colombia – What to do and tips

Eje Cafetero, Travel Guide Salento

All about Salento Colombia – What to do and tips

Home 9 Category: Travel Guide Salento

About Salento

Everything about Salento Colombia can be found here: what to do and tips about this beautiful colonial village in the Colombian coffee region.

Salento is by far the most popular village in the coffee region, followed by Filandia, which is 30 kilometers away. Nearest major cities are Armenia (25 km) and Pereira (35 km). Salento is located in the mountains at an altitude of 1895 meters and is home to just under 10,000 people, if you include the countryside surrounding Salento. In 2011, the historic center with its colonial architecture was declared a World Heritage Site. The houses have colorful balconies and facades in the authentic architecture of early 20th century coffee towns.

There is a good reason that Salento is one of the most touristic places in the Eje Cafetero: the location is ideal: near the biggest attraction in Salento, the Valle de Cocora Nature Reserve, a hiker’s paradise. Hikers can also take treks to National Park Los Nevados, and nearby are coffee incas where you can experience the process from “field to cup.”

There is a beautiful and cozy city center and a wide choice of hotels & hostels, cafes and restaurants for every budget and taste.

In this travel guide you will read all about Salento Colombia: how to get there, what to do, what are the best neighborhoods to stay, tips for hostels and hotels, what are the best cafes and restaurants and more. If after reading this guide you are in doubt whether to go to Salento or Filandia, read this article with a comparison of the two coffee villages based on atmosphere, activities, accessibility and more.

All about Salento

How to get to Salento

 

What to do in and outside Salento
Where to stay in Salento?
The best restaurants in Salento – Food and drink.
Practical information about Salento