Salento is a colourful little town in the heart of Colombia’s coffee region. The highlight of any trip to Salento is a hike around the stunning Cocora Valley but there is plenty more to explore in the area. Here is a guide to how to spend 3 days in Salento.
Day 1 Morning: Cocora Valley
On the morning of your first full day in Salento, head out to the Cocora Valley. This is the main attraction in the area, the thing most people come here to see and it’s easy to see why.
The valley is famous for having some of the world’s tallest palm trees, the wax palm. These actually grow like a bush on the ground first then the trunk grows to push the head up into the sky. The initial ground growth of the leaves requires shelter from other trees then it later rises above the canopy so they would naturally grow in forests. At one point the landscape of the Cocora Valley would have been forested but was cleared for grass and farm land with a few palms spared. This change means that once the current palms die, new ones would be unlikely to grow in the grassy valley – so go and see them while you can!Â
To reach the valley, you can take a jeep from Plaza de Bolivar in Salento to the starting point of the hike. This costs 4,000 Pesos each way. The hike takes around 4-5 hours so I recommend taking some snacks and plenty of water. Try to start early too to avoid the heat of the midday sun – and the crowds. You can either hike clockwise or anticlockwise. I recommend hiking anticlockwise so that you end with the magnificent few of the valley.
En route, there is a tiny hummingbird sanctuary that you can visit. You can grab a drink here if you need to!
Day 1 Afternoon: Salento
In the afternoon, if you have enough energy left, grab some lunch in Salento then slowly explore the town. There are plenty of shops and cafes behind colourful facades lined along Calle Real. Head up to Mirador Alto de la Cruz for a view over the town.Â
Day 2 Morning: Filandia
On your second day, head to the jeeps in Plaza de Bolivar again but this time take one to the nearby town of Filandia. This costs 8,000 Bolivar each way. Filandia is another picturesque colourful town.
Have lunch at Helenas – a restaurant serving delicious food with beautiful views over the countryside.
Day 2 Afternoon: Santa Rita Waterfall
On your way back to Salento, ask the driver to drop you off at just past Boquia or just before the bridge over the Quindio River. From this drop off point, hike up to Santa Rita waterfall, this is about 45 minutes from the main road. You will need to pass an entry checkpoint and pay 10,000 per person. Take a photo of the map displayed here but don’t pay too much attention to it, we found it to be really misleading! Definitely don’t follow the red route on the map, we got very lost and just seemed to go up and up and up with no sign of circling back, no signs of other humans or any sign posts. We made it out eventually but I recommend just sticking to the waterfall route!
After the hike, grab a taxi, flag down a passing jeep or walk back to Salento (45 minutes from the main road by La Cabana cafe.
Day 3 Morning: Kasaguadua Nature Reserve
On your third day, start with a tour of the Kasaguadua Nature Reserve. The two hour tour starts at 10am and costs 40,000 Pesos per person. Be sure to book your spot via Whatsapp before you go. The nature reserve is around a 30 minute walk from the centre of Salento.
The founders of the reserve are committed to preserving the ecosystem in the forest around the Salento valley. The tour guides are super knowledgeable about the flora and fauna you’ll be trekking through. If you’re a fan of nature this is a must visit! The reserve also has an ecolodge that you can stay in overnight if you want to extend your visit.
Day 3 Afternoon: Coffee Farm Tour
After your tour, continue walking away from Salento to head to El Rincon de Lucy for a cheap lunch! Once you’ve eaten, head over the road to Las Acacias for a tour of the coffee farm.Â
Salento is in the heart of Colombia’s coffee region, so it’s a great opportunity to visit a farm and learn more about how your coffee is produced! I don’t personally drink coffee (I’m a hot chocolate girl!) but I found the tour super interesting. I was amazed how much of the process is done by hand. You start the tour in the fields where you will get to find and pick beans yourself. They will later show you how the beans are processed and of course you’ll get to try a sample for yourself at the end!
Where to stay in Salento
We stayed at Hospedaje La Masia Salento which was a great budget hotel option, close to the centre of Salento. Hotel Salento Mirador is another great central option with views over the valley.
If you are looking for a hostel, try Coffee Tree Boutique Hostel or Viajero Salento Hostel
For accommodation that is more of an experience, than just a bed, take a look at Hotel Kawa Mountain Retreat, Glamping Lumbre or Ecoresort Gran Azul.
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How to get to Salento
How to get to Salento from Bogota
As the capital of Colombia, Bogota is often the entry point for international travellers. To reach Salento from Bogota, you have two main options – a bus or flight.
Flying from Bogota: You can take a 1 hour flight from Bogota to Armenia. From Armenia Airport, Salento is a 45 minute taxi.
Bus from Bogota: A cheaper but longer option is to take a bus from Bogota direct to Salento. This takes around 8 hours. Click here to check times and prices.
How to get to Salento from Medellin
Medellin is another popular destination for tourists in Colombia. Our journey took us from Medellin to Salento by bus but there is also the option to fly if you prefer.
Flying from Medellin: You can take a 1 hour flight from Medellin to Armenia. From Armenia Airport, Salento is a 45 minute taxi.
Bus from Medellin: Buses from Medellin to Salento take around 7 hours and there are overnight options available. Click here to check times and prices.
When is the Best Time to Visit Salento?
Salento, Colombia has fairly consistent temperatures all year round of around 20°C (68°F). Rainfall is fairly common throughout the year. The driest months are December to March and June to September.