Things to do in Salento
Nestled between the lush green hills of the Colombian coffee zone lies the small, enchanting town of Salento. The town is particularly well known as the starting point for the famous wax palms in the Cocora Valley, for the region’s coffee farms and as a starting point for many other activities in the region. Salento is located 25 kilometers northeast of Armenia and about 36 km southeast of Pereira.
Salento — Old town
Salento is a manageable size and is best explored on foot. The colorfully painted house facades and the narrow cobbled streets of the old town give the town a particularly charming beauty. Calle Real , which also leads to the town’s viewpoint, is particularly beautiful and the ideal photo opportunity.
Plaza Bolívaris the heart of Salento and is the city’s central square. From here, the pretty alleyways lead in all directions and there are small cafés, restaurants and stores in every side street. This central square is also the starting point for the so-called “Willys”, the colorful jeeps that drive to the coffee farms in the area or to the Cocora Valley.
El Mirador
The El Mirador viewpoint is located on a hill at the end of Calle Real and can be reached on foot in just a few minutes. From up here you can see the whole of Salento and the surrounding countryside. If you arrive at the top and follow the path to the left above the steps, you will reach the back of the hill, which also offers a wonderful view of the green mountain landscape and towards Cocora Valley.
Excursion to the coffee farms
There are countless coffee farms around Salento that you can visit during your stay. These can either be reached by Willys from Plaza Bolivar or you can combine a visit to the coffee farms with a short hike. The nearest and best-known coffee farms are Finca El Ocaso, Las Acacias Coffee Farm and Finca de Don Elias. On all farms, the entire coffee production process is usually explained to you and you can taste the coffee.
Finca De Don Elias
I spontaneously opted for the Finca de Don Elias as it was relatively small and owner-managed. Once we arrived at the coffee farm, we were given a guided tour of the plantation in a small group of 3 people, where we learned everything we could possibly imagine about coffee cultivation and coffee beans, before continuing with the details of how the coffee beans are processed right through to the finished drinkable coffee.
- Costs: 25,000.00 COP (~ 4.75€)
I walked from Salento to Finca de Don Elias, which took about 1 hour at a very leisurely pace. The path was really easy to find and in good condition. I decided to take the Willy back.
- Costs Willyfahrt : 3.000,00 COP (~ 0,55€)
Cocora Valley
I walked from Salento to Finca de Don Elias, which took about 1 hour at a very leisurely pace. The path was really easy to find and in good condition. I decided to take the Willy back.
How to get to Cocora Valley
Cocora Valley is located about 40 minutes outside of Salento. The best way to get there is by taking one of the colorful Willy Jeeps, which depart regularly from Salento’s main square and return there as well. The first Jeeps leave at 6:10 AM, and the journey takes approximately 30 minutes, costing 9,000 COP (~€1.75 as of March 2023).
Hiking Cocora Valley
If you want to see the famous wax palm trees, you have two options. You can either hike from the parking area to the palms and return the same way, or you can take the approximately 10-kilometer loop trail, which includes both the wax palms and a stunning hike through the rainforest.
I chose the loop trail and started counterclockwise, so the wax palms were the first highlight of the hike. This approach has the advantage of enjoying the viewpoints near the wax palms with fewer crowds, as most hikers go clockwise. I highly recommend starting as early as possible, as the loop takes around 7 hours, including plenty of breaks and photo stops.
The Wax Palm Trees of Cocora Valley
The first stretch of the hike from the parking area leads you to the famous wax palm trees. After just 20–30 minutes, you’ll reach the first miradores (viewpoints) and be able to admire these towering giants, which can grow up to 60 meters tall. It’s truly an awe-inspiring sight that feels almost unique to this place—a must-see for anyone visiting the region.
Finca la Montaña
From the wax palm trees, the hike continues along a well-maintained and wide trail leading to Finca La Montaña. The path winds through sections of forest until you finally reach the finca. From here, you’ll enjoy stunning views over the valley, making it a perfect spot for a short break before heading deeper into the rainforest.
From the Finca, the trail leads steeply downhill across meadows until it enters the Colombian rainforest.
Acaime — House of the Hummingbird
The narrow trail leads through the forest, crossing small and larger streams along the way. You can take a short detour to visit the Acaime Hummingbird Farm, and I absolutely recommend it! It’s an amazing opportunity to see these beautiful birds up close. (Entrance fee: 15,000 COP ~ €2.90)
The path back to the parking lot continues through the rainforest, past smaller waterfalls until the path finally leads flat through the valley.
Helpful tips for hiking Cocora Valley
- Sturdy Shoes:
The hiking trails can be slippery and wet. - Outdoor clothing (Layering)
It is often foggy and damp in the morning and then warm and humid in between. It is therefore advisable to be equipped for all situations. - Sufficient water and snacks
There are no opportunities to buy water or food on the way. You should therefore bring enough food for the whole day from Salento. - Cash
There are two check points on the circular hiking trail where you have to pay a fee. When I was there in March 2023, this was relatively at the beginning and end of the trail, and you also have to pay for the jeep. Here is a brief overview
16,000 COP for the hiking trails
9,000 COP for the round trip with Willy’s
15,000 COP for the hummingbird farm (optional)
- Costs: 25,000 — 50,000 COP (as of 03/23)
- Duration of loop hike: 6 — 7 hours
The best restaurants & cafés in Salento
There is a relatively large selection of restaurants in Salento around Plaza Bolívar and the surrounding alleyways. The selection is relatively large and varied.
La Gata Carola
Gata Carola is located in a small side street and offers delicious Colombian food. The Menu del Día in particular is good value, very tasty and the portions are quite large. An absolute recommendation from me!
Concreto Café
The café in the lively Calle Real is perfect for a little break in between. The coffee and cakes are delicious and the ambience is also great.
El Cacharrito
El Cacharrito serves burgers in all variations. Vegetarian options such as falafel are also served. The burgers are delicious and the price is absolutely fair.
Brunch de Salento
Brunch de Salento is the perfect breakfast location. There is fine coffee and delicious breakfast menus and options. But pizza, burgers and desserts are also on offer.
Best places to stay in Salento, Colombia
The choice of accommodation in Salento is quite large and offers something for almost every taste, from cheap hostels to expensive luxury hotels. So everyone can decide for themselves how big their budget is and whether they prefer to stay in the center of Salento or prefer the peace and quiet of the countryside a little outside.
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How to get to Salento
Travelers come to Salento from the most diverse places and from the most diverse directions. Most come from Medellín, Bogotá, Cali or Neiva or travel on to these places. But no matter where you come from, here are some ways to get to Salento:
By plane
Salento itself does not have its own airport. The two closest airports are in Pereira and Armenia. Both are around an hour’s drive from Salento and are served by flights from Bogotá, Medellín and many other places.
I flew from Bogotá to Pereira myself. At Pereira airport, I took an Uber that took me to the bus station in Pereira to catch the bus to Salento.
By bus
There are very regular bus connections from Pereira and Armenia to Salento. However, there was also a direct bus from Salento to Medellín twice a day from the provider ‘Flota Occidental’, which is why I assume that there is also a bus from Medellín to Salento. The journey takes around 8–10 hours. My tip: buy your ticket the day before!
Bus Salento — Medellín: 73.000 COP (~14,- €)
Bus Pereira — Salento: 10.500 COP (~2,- €)
Getting around in Salento
Salento itself is not particularly large and can therefore be easily explored on foot. To get to the coffee farms or the Cocora Valley, it is a good idea to use one of the so-called “Willys”, i.e. the jeeps from Plaza Bolívar.
Costs of traveling Salento
Salento is quite touristy and, due to the size of the town, the range of activities on offer is somewhat limited, which is why it is a little more expensive than in the big cities in Colombia. However, most of the budget tends to be spent on activities around Salento. Basically, you can expect a daily budget of around €30 — €80 depending on the accommodation category you choose and the activities planned.
- Hostel: 8 — 20€ / night
- Menú del Día: approx. 2,50€
- Excursions/ activities: approx. 5€ — 50€ per person
- Hotel: 30 — 150€/night
- Bus Pereira — Salento: 2 €
- Willy ride: 0,60 — 2 €
Best time to visit Salento
Salento is surrounded by tropical rainforest and the local climate is accordingly. The best time to visit is therefore the dry season from December to March and from June to September. However, this is no guarantee that it won’t rain. After all, Salento is located in the mountains and the weather can change quickly and is often a mix of sun and clouds. Even in the dry season, the days often start dry and fog or rain showers appear in the late afternoon.
My conclusion about Salento:
Salento was an absolute highlight for me on my round trip to Colombia. The lush green mountains, the unreal palm trees towering in the sky and the rainforest next to them were an absolutely fascinating mix for me and a welcome contrast to the big cities and the Caribbean beaches. I felt at home in Salento from the very first second, certainly also because Salento is very manageable, you quickly get to know all the corners and the place is very safe.
I can therefore only recommend Salento for any tour of Colombia!
