Salento is one of Colombia’s most beautiful villages, but certainly one of the best known and most visited, located in the department of Quindio, a few kilometers from the sublime Cocora Valley.
Quindio is a paradise for the soul. The overriding impression here is one of harmony. These green landscapes, these small villages, this majestic mountain, this Cocora Valley, these coffee plantations, these horses, these hats, these people..
Everything here lends itself to taking a deep breath and letting down the armor.
I can’t think of anything better than walking, walking and walking through these fantastic landscapes. Simply enjoying every step, passing young people getting off the bus in a western village by the side of the road, a goat with a slight squint sitting quietly tied to a tree, a tree with flowers so pink they deposit their reflections on your skin..
Roll around in the grass, drink the best coffee in the world, discover passionate people, happy to share their love of their land and tradition.
Contents
Related posts
Travel Poster “Café de Colombia”
Buy our beautiful prints to get a taste of Colombia at home
General information Salento
- Founded: 1842
- Population: 9529
- People: Salentinos
- When to go: all year round
- Temperatures: 18° C average
- Climate: Temperate and humid
- Altitude: 2000 m avg.
- Region: Andes
- County: Quindio
- Distances: 25km from Armenia, 35km from Pereira
Disclaimer: we apologize in advance for any grammatical or syntactic errors, as our native language is not English (we're a Colombian-French couple), so we hope you'll forgive us and still enjoy the information we share with you! Please note that all the information on our blog is based on our own experience, and is checked and updated regularly.
Salento, a must-see village
WHY DISCOVER THIS COLORFUL COLOMBIAN VILLAGE
Salento is one of the many colorful villages typical of the coffee region. Why has Salento come into the limelight more than other equally beautiful villages? Probably because of the nearby Cocora Valley, a natural splendor that attracts many visitors. Salento is its base camp, and the village has made the most of it.
Despite an increase in visitor numbers, the village has managed to retain a semblance of authenticity. The village remains a popular weekend destination for Colombians themselves, and despite the crowds, foreign tourists can enjoy a typically Colombian atmosphere in the central square, with bodegas filled to the brim and music blasting.
The main street, despite its clearly commercial orientation, has lost none of its charm, and the houses compete in color and beauty. The handicrafts on offer are often of a high standard, and some bars and restaurants are still going strong, but tourism is starting to bring in its share of concepts aimed at foreigners, and the soul of Salento may well be starting to take a beating.
The traditional stroll will take you to the central square, its bars, restaurants, Willis jeeps and small market. On the corner, men in ponchos and chains chat in an epinal image of the South American dream. In the square, as the hours go by, you can choose between a huge fresh fruit juice, a cafe negro or a cold beer. At weekends and during Colombian vacations, the square takes on a fairground atmosphere, with each bar offering its own musical playlist on an outdoor sound system, a classic in Colombia.
Then your steps will naturally lead you to Salento’s main street. As you make your way up this shopping street, you’ll find yourself going back and forth to find the little gifts you want to bring back to your loved ones, drawing pictures of the multicolored wooden doors, and managing to tear yourself away to get ready to relive the passion of Christ!
Mirador de Salento
Visit Salento, Quindio
At the end of the street, staircases invite passers-by to climb the hill, while remembering Jesus’ ordeal. Catholicism in Colombia is no laughing matter. ” Gracias a dios” is certainly the most popular phrase in Colombia. Step by step, this mystical climb to heaven takes us to the Mirador Alto de la Cruz.
From up there, on one side, the village reveals itself from a different angle, the explosion of colors comes to an end, the geography of the streets takes shape and the tile and sheet metal roofs unify the whole.
On the other side, chlorophyll landscapes stretch as far as the eye can see, with the mythical Cocora Valley in the distance, indistinct but present.
From here, seated on his swing, the budding adventurer can decide whether to continue his stroll to the right, following this little path along the ridge path, or head left towards the official Mirador de Salento , offering a spectacular view of the valley.
Leave the main street
Step aside
Don’t turn back from the Mirador de Salento, as you’ll discover other, less-frequented streets on your way back down to the village. The streets are deserted, with no shops, and the houses less ornate, but just as charming in their color and simplicity.
At the end of the road, like us, you may come across this tiny, unpretentious shoe store and fall for a pair made in Colombia!
It certainly won’t take you 3 days to visit the village. But having spent 1 week there, Salento is also about relaxing in the piazza with a fresh fruit juice. Repeat the experience with a cup of coffee. Repeat the experience with a fresh Aguila.
Salento is also about discovering coffee fincas, horseback riding and walking around the village. It’s also the Cocora Valley and its incredible wax palms. Salento also offers superb high-mountain treks in Los Nevados National Park..
Best things to do in Salento
IDEAS FOR ACTIVITIES AROUND SALENTO
As you can see, Salento is a base camp for a wide range of activities around the village. A place where it’s entirely possible to stay for a week or more without getting bored for a single second.
So here are a few ideas for activities, excursions, visits, hikes and walks around Salento.
Play Tejo
Tejo is a traditional Colombian game originating from the indigenous culture, which consists of throwing a metal puck at a clay target. In the center of the target is a circle of small explosive packets that explode when the puck hits them – and you win!
This popular game is a great opportunity to drink, chat and have fun with friends. Most of the time, they’re found in unattractive sheds, but they have a very special atmosphere that immerses you in one of the distinctive features of Colombian culture.
- Address: Carrera 4 #3-32
- Opening hours: 3pm – 11pm (?)
Visit a finca cafetera
This is of course the number 1 and easiest activity to do around Salento. Most hotels will offer you two main options with the advantage of being within walking distance: Finca El Ocaso or Finca “Las Brisas” Don Elias.
During my two visits, I never visited the El Ocaso finca, as I always preferred the smaller, more modest Don Elias finca, which is resolutely oriented towards organic farming, which I think is a good thing to support.
Finca el Ocaso
According to our information, the El Ocaso finca offers an immersive tour in the shoes of a coffee grower, extremely well thought-out for tourists. Although they claim to be responsible, we know that the finca is not organic. Tours last 1h30 and groups can be up to 30 people.
- Price: $35.000 COP
Finca “Las Brisas” Don Elias
This is a much more modest home and estate. The tour at Don Elias will take you through the entire coffee-making process, from plant to cup. The part I found most interesting was the intelligent way they farm, in a spirit akin to permaculture, with total respect for plants and soil.
- Price: $25.000 COP
[UPDATE] Readers have told us that in peak season, it’s best to arrive in the morning to take a tour, otherwise groups are enlarged to 20 people in the afternoon, which probably makes the experience less enjoyable… Also, they may run out of coffee to sell at the end of the day, in which case they may direct you to a village store that sells their excellent coffee.
Walks around Salento
There are a number of walks you can take around the village, simply by grabbing your shoes and setting off. For example, the simple path to see the fincas cafetera is in itself a great walking map. But it’s also possible to take longer walks, such as the well-known one to the Santa Rita waterfall.
This is the classic walk that you can do on foot, horseback or mountain bike! Personally, I did it on horseback, and my body still feels the after-effects. I’ll have to find out why horseback rides make me suffer so much… But it was a great experience.
On site, at the waterfall, the water is cool, but it’s quite possible to swim, so depending on the weather, don’t forget your bathing suit.
You will always find information on these activities in your accommodation, but to give you an idea :
- Price for a 3-hour horseback ride at San Pablo: $65.000 COP
Trekking in the Cocora Valley
This is, of course, the must-do of any stay in Salento! Many of you visit the village just to see the Cocora Valley, one of Colombia’s most famous landscapes.
Trek to Los Nevados Park
Mountain lovers, this is one of Colombia’s top mountain tourism destinations. The Los Nevados Natural Park offers an infinite number of high-mountain treks that will delight amateurs and enthusiasts alike. Multi-day treks are possible, with crossings, climbs, mountaineering, hot springs… in incredible landscapes!
Trek to the Carbonera Valley, the other Cocora
And no! There’s more to Salento than the Cocora Valley! A funny “surprise” awaits you if you choose to discover the Carbonera Valley, a sort of big sister to the Cocora Valley.
Here, you’ll find similar landscapes, but with the greatest concentration of wax palms in the world! Far more than in the Cocora Valley!
Trek to Cerro Morrogacho
Cerro Morrogacho is a great alternative for sports enthusiasts looking for a real day’s sporting challenge starting out from Salento, combining hiking with the discovery of a “Cloud Forest”.
Little-known to the general public, Cerro Morrogacho offers the chance to trek to the summit of a mountain dominating the Cocora valley at an altitude of over 3450m.
On the way up from the Cocora valley, you’ll gain height, go deeper into the forest, and end up with a spectacular panorama at the summit of Cerro Morrogacho!
Local guide to trekking in Salento
Recommended local agency
There are several guide agencies in Salento, but we really advise you to use the services of our local partner, who, in our opinion, is probably the best guide agency in Salento.
Responsible tourism
Our partner is the first trekking operator in Colombia to have been awarded the Tourcert certificate and is working to develop a responsible tourism policy:
- Joint work with National Park authorities
- Guides certified in high mountain first aid
- Employment of local people with fair wages
- Contributing to the local economy with the aim of improving working conditions
- Commitment to local communities (school tool collection programs)
- Application of “Leave no trace” principles
Where to stay in Salento
Salento
Hotel
Salento Plaza Hotel
A superb hotel in Salento, in a beautiful colonial house very close to the main plaza.We would have loved to have stayed there, to tell you the truth! The decor is superb, and there’s a small interior garden that invites you to relax. The rooms are spacious and the bedding looks comfortable.Highly rated
Salento
Hotel
Hotel Vista hermosa
A nice hotel, and above all, very attractively priced for a city like Salento! This is where we stayed on our last trip in February 2022Basic but comfortable rooms, perfect cleanliness, good service.
Salento
Hostal
El Viajero Hostel Salento
A chain of hostals found in Cartagena, Cali and San Andres. Newly installed in Salento, El viajero offers a wide variety of rooms to suit all budgets, and can accommodate up to 90 people. Having said that, we have to admit that the location they have chosen has everything to seduce!
Salento
Hostal
Segrobe City Hostel
Somewhere between a hotel and a hostal, here’s a place where the decor is particularly meticulous! We love the ambiance of this superb colonial house. The location is central, just a few steps from Salento’s main square. But beware: almost all rooms face the street.
Salento
Finca
La Cabaña Eco Hotel
A hotel in a sublime traditional Colombian finca. A real value for money, located just outside the village, in the countryside. They offer a wide range of activities, including horseback riding and birdwatching.
Salento
Hostal
Yambolombia Hostal
This is the hostal where we stayed on our first visit to Salento. It’s a house on the outskirts of the village, about 20mn from the village on foot, 5mn by Jeep. Gabriel is an endearing character and the atmosphere is cool. Everything is meticulously maintained.
How to get to Salento
Salento is located in the Quindio department, and the nearest towns are Armenia and Pereira.
From Armenia
From the Armenia terminal, regular buses run all day from 6 a.m. to around 8 p.m.
Buseta Armenia – Salento
- Duration: around 1h
- Price: around $4.500 COP
Cab to/from Salento
- Duration: around. 1h
- Price: around $150.000 COP
From Pereira
From the Pereira terminal, regular buses run all day from 6:30 a.m. to around 7 p.m.
Buseta Pereira – Salento
- Duration: around 1h
- Price: around $7.500 COP
Cab to/from Salento
- Duration: around 1h
- Price: around $150.000 COP
Where to eat in Salento
Restaurants
Quindú
Calle 2 # 4-46
Un restaurante gourmet, con platos distintos que exaltan los productos de la región. Testeamos este sitio en nuestro último viaje y claramente lo recomendamos si quieres pasar una noche agradable y comer diferente. Lindo y buen servicio.
Donde Laurita
Cl. 5 #5-34
Uno de los restaurantes de comida tradicional más famosos del pueblo y la verdad es que la fama no es inventada porque es delicioso. Allí comimos una increíble bandeja paisa y lo que nos gustó es que tienen media porción para los que no son capaces como yo de comerse una entera!
El lugar es lindo, buen servicio y sirven todo el día. Recomendado
Somevia Pizza
Carrera 6 Calle 6 / 57 312 7660697
A change from traditional Colombian dishes. Not the best pizzas in the world, but a friendly, family atmosphere. There’s a “garden side” for outdoor dining.
Le K’Feee
Carrera 4 # 3-16 / 57 314 3391724
Modern, fresh and all homemade with great products – just great! The prices are in line with this approach, as we’re in the upper price bracket for Salento.
Acaime
Carrera 5 Calle 11 | # 11-11 Via A Fincas Cafeteras / 57 314 7 756 430
For a family atmosphere, the ideal place to feel at home!
Makao
Calle 4 5-59 / 57 312 6 349 658
A modern restaurant with a fun menu including tapas. We had the trout al ajillo (the local dish), which was pretty good.
Vegetarian restaurants in Salento
Veggie Salento
Carrera 5 # 5-58 / 57 311 2052631
A cool vegetarian restaurant at a reasonable price.
El Punto Veggie
Carrera 5a # 5-58
Bars and cafés
La Mojiteria
Calle 4 # 5-54 / 57 311 7 604 501
Mojito bar we discovered when we ate at Makao, and to tell you the atmosphere made you want to dip your lips in these delicious beverages..
Café Quindio
Cra 6 No 5-10 / 57 312 8646442
Café Quindio is our favorite café du commerce! Along with Café Matiz… But you should know that, as with Café Juan Valdez, Café Quindio has developed a tiny “chain” where you can go to drink their cooperative coffee. You’ll find them in Bogotá, Cali, Tunja and in the Cafetera zone, and therefore in Salento! You can sit down in the central square.
Los Amigos
CR. 4a No. 3-32 / 57 312 7928486
Do you know the Tejo? If not, you absolutely must try Colombia’s national game at least once during your trip. Head for Los Amigos, the Tejo de Salento cancha. You’ll be warmly welcomed and shown how the game is played. Grab a few beers or a bottle of aguardiente and let’s get ready for a cool evening!
