Salento is a small and charming town located in the coffee-growing region of Colombia, in the department of Quindio. One of the main places to see in Salento is the impressive Cocora Valley. It is famous for its high wax palms. They are the highest in the world. Visitors can enjoy hiking the valley’s trails, admire the majestic palms and enjoy panoramic views of the beautiful mountain scenery that surrounds it.
In addition to the Cocora Valley, Salento also has charming cobblestone streets and colorful houses that are perfect for exploring on foot. There you can enjoy the typical architecture of Colombia’s coffee-growing region. You can immerse yourself in the daily life of this picturesque town. Salento is best known for its coffee culture, where you can visit local farms and learn about the production process of Colombian coffee, which is one of the country’s main agricultural products and economic engines of the region.
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What are the best things to do in Salento?
1. Simon Bolivar Square
Simon Bolivar Square is an iconic public space in Salento. It is named in honor of the Latin American leader Simon Bolivar, “El Libertador” (The Liberator). With its colonial architecture, the square houses the Church of San Juan Bautista. Dating back to the 19th century, it is an example of the Colombian neo-Gothic style. Also, there you’ll find the House of Culture, an outstanding historical building. This square is a meeting point for locals and visitors. Here you can find local artisans exhibiting and selling their products and a lively atmosphere that reflects the history and culture of the region.
The Simon Bolivar Square is an emblematic place in Salento that represents the historical and cultural richness of the coffee region. With its typical architecture, historic buildings, local artisans and lively atmosphere, the square is an important meeting point and a must for those visiting Salento in Colombia.
2. Calle Real in Salento, Colombia
Salento’s Calle Real is a real treasure in the Eje Cafetero region of Colombia. This picturesque cobblestone street is an iconic tourist destination that captivates visitors with its colonial charm and traditional architecture. Calle Real is a testament to the town’s rich historical and cultural heritage. Surrounded by colorful Antioquian-style houses with wrought-iron balconies and flower-adorned facades, it is a must-see on your Salento trip.
The street is full of life, with craft stores, restaurants, cafes and ice cream parlors offering local delicacies and unique souvenirs. It’s a perfect place to taste the local gastronomy. You’ll find fresh trout and typical dishes from the region. Also, you can buy a bag of authentic Colombian coffee at the famous Café Salento Coffee Shop.
In addition, Calle Real is also a starting point for exploring Salento’s surroundings. These include the Cocora Valley and its iconic wax palms, the Salento lookout point with panoramic views of the mountainous landscape, and the hiking trails in the surrounding area.
3. Mirador Alto de la Cruz in Salento Colombia
The Alto de la Cruz viewpoint, also known as Mirador de Salento, is an emblematic place of the city that offers impressive panoramic views of the beautiful mountainous landscape of the region. To get there you must follow Calle Real until you reach stairs, with no less than 283 steps!!! Then you’ll have to climb to the top of the hill overlooking the town.
Once at the top, you can enjoy breathtaking views of the green-covered mountains, valleys, coffee crops, Salento’s picturesque architecture. And, if the day is clear, you can even see the beautiful wax palms of the Cocora Valley. The Mirador de Salento is, without a doubt, the best place to get the perfect picture of your trip – don’t miss it!
4. Coffee farm el Ocaso, things to do in Salento Colombia
The El Ocaso coffee farm is a treasure, nestled in the hills of Salento, Colombia. With more than a century of history in the production of high quality coffee, it is also one of the best places to visit in the city.
The farm offers a complete experience to learn about the coffee production process. You’ll lear everything: from the planting of the beans in their terraces to the selection and processing of the beans. Guided tours provide a detailed overview of the sustainable agricultural practices used on the farm, such as soil conservation, responsible water use and protection of local biodiversity.
In addition, at Finca el Ocaso, the cherry on the cake is the degustation of their coffees. Among other things to do in Salento Colombia, you will discover the nuances of flavor and aroma that make Colombian coffee famous around the world. Price of the visit: 36,6€
Travel Tip: To organize your trip we recommend using Passporter totally free. You can be inspired by the experiences of other travelers, choose the places that interest you most, create the travel route with a geolocated map, upload all important documents such as reservations and invite your friends so that everyone can participate in the organization of the trip.
Things to do around Salento Colombia
1. Valley of Cocora
The main destination near Salento is the Valle del Cocora, just 10km away. In fact, the village owes much of its fame to the fact that it is the main gateway to this impressive park.
The Cocora Valley is a wonderful natural landscape located in the central mountain range of the Colombian Andes, between the high courses of the Quindio River. More precisely, in the town of Salento, 30 km from Armenia, in the department of Quindio. It’s one of the key points of the Coffee Axis.
The Cocora Valley has a great diversity of fauna and flora. In fact, one of the main attractions of this park are its enormous Wax Palm Trees of Quindío, the highest in the world. They are also the national tree of Colombia. As for its fauna, you can find a multitude of species, from pumas to hummingbirds and even cows that roam freely in some areas.
The key activity of the Cocora Valley is for your to explore it. The trekking takes about 4 to 6 hours and covers a distance of 14km. The tour is on a circular path of moderate complexity, although sometimes you will have to go deeper into the jungle and cross some streams through wooden suspension bridges that provide an extra point of excitement. There you will find the impressive Palm Forest, home to 85% of the wax palms in Colombia, the highest palm tree in the world. And in addition, you can contemplate the grandeur of the landscape in its many viewpoints, watch hummingbirds in the Acaime Reserve, go onhorseback tours…
What and where to eat in Salento
The gastronomy of Quindio stands out for its authentic and traditional flavor, as well as the use of local, fresh and tasty products. In addition, as you know, this area is known for its production of high quality coffee. So, you can not leave without trying a delicious cup of coffee from the Coffee Axis itself. Among the typical dishes of Quindío are: trout, a specialty of Salento; bandeja paisa, with beans, rice, minced meat, pork rinds, chorizo, arepa, fried plantain, egg, avocado…; sancocho, a very hearty broth of poultry or beef, yucca, potatoes, plantain and other additional ingredients. Some of the best restaurants in Salento where to try the local cuisine are:
- Donde Laurita: Located on Carrera 5, this is one of the most famous restaurants in Salento. At Donde Laurita they serve delicious traditional dishes with lots of flavor and in good quantities for an affordable price. Price range: 2-10€
- Café Bernabé Gourmet: A very nice place to relax with a cup of coffee and one of the delicious sweets, in the middle of Calle Real. Or even, if you’re hungry, where you can stop to eat one of their Colombian fusion cuisine dishes, such as their pork loin with passion fruit and coffee. Price range: 2-12€
Where to stay in Salento
- Hotel San José: this country estate turned into a hotel is one of the best options to spend the night in Salento. Its price is 17.75€ per night per person and includes a room with private bathroom and breakfast.
- Hotel Salento Plaza: Right in the center of Salento, this accommodation offers spacious and comfortable rooms, with beautiful views of the garden. A perfect place to rest after a day of sightseeing in Salento and the Cocora Valley. Price per night: 67€
- Cabañas Valle del Cocora La Truchera: If you are thinking of staying in the Cocora Valley, you will love this accommodation. Beautiful cabins with bedroom, living room and private bathroom, plus fantastic views of the valley and breakfast included. Pets allowed (36-62€ per night)
What should I know before a trip to Salento
- The currency of Colombia is the Colombian peso (1€ = 4,412.08 Colombian pesos)
- Wear comfortable and breathable clothing, the weather is very humid. Bring a raincoat and hiking boots or sneakers if you will be trekking in the nature.
- Take warm clothes and a raincoat, especially, if you are traveling in the rainy season.
- Always take water and food with you in the natural parks, there are no food stands to stop and recharge your batteries.
- Put on insect repellent before heading into the jungle.
- We recommend to carry a power bank for your cell phone if you are going to hike the Cocora Valley. Also, download a GPS that doesn’t require internet access in case you run out of coverage.
- Always carry some cash, not all stores, especially the smaller ones, accept cards.
- Take care of the Cocora Valley park. Keep your garbage if you can’t find trash cans, never throw it on the ground.
- Do not light fires in areas that are not designated for it.
- Be covered for possible medical emergencies: travel insured.
How to organize the things to do in Salento Colombia
Register or download the Passporter app and take advantage of all its benefits:
- Get inspiration from other travelers’ experiences
- Create your own itinerary and add the suggestions from the app to it.
- Add the stops you are most interested in, as well as the restaurants and bars where you want to eat. If you need inspiration you can use the points of interest listed in this post as a reference
- Organize your itinerary by route days according to their location on the map (you can be inspired by the routes we mention in the post).
- Check out the travel budget that the app calculates for you based on your travel stops, restaurants, and leisure activities.
- Make the modifications you need and you’ll be all set for your trip.
- Share your experience. Upload photos of each of the places you visited on your trip to the app to inspire other users.
Frequently asked questions about a trip to Salento
The climate in Salento is considered tropical mountain climate, with cool and pleasant temperatures throughout the year due to its altitude.
Average temperatures in Salento range from 15°C to 25°C during the day, and can drop to around 10°C at night. Salento is also known for its rainy season, which extends mainly from March to May and from October to November. It is recommended to wear warm clothes and a waterproof jacket at all times, but especially during the rainy season.
The dry season, from mid-December to the end of February, and then from June to August, is the best time to travel to Salento. During these months, the weather tends to be more stable, with sunny days and less rain compared to the rainy season. This can make it more comfortable for outdoor activities such as hiking, biking and exploring the area’s beautiful mountain scenery.
The easiest way to get to Salento is to take one of the buses that leave from the main cities of the Eje Cafetero, such as Armenia, which is only about 30km away. The price of this trip is 4700$ COP (1’05 €).
To go to the Cocora Valley you must first get to the town of Salento, located 10km from the valley. If you have a car you can go by yourself and leave it in the parking lot of one of the restaurants located at the entrance of the valley. But if you don’t have a car or if you prefer to be taken there, you can catch one of the Jeep “Willys” (the typical transport of the region) that leave from the Plaza Simon Bolivar in Salento. The trip costs about 4000 $COP (<1€) per person.
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