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.
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 enTermalesSanta 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.
