• home
  • about
  • Blog
  • Contact
  • Work with me
  • Plan a Trip with Me
  • Best Travel Cards
  • Read the blog

ashley on the move

  • Travel Planning
  • Destinations
  • Blog

Central & South America, Destinations · July 20, 2022

Incredible Things to Do in Salento, Colombia

Ashley on the Move is part of an affiliate sales network and receives compensation for sending traffic to partner sites, such as Milevalue.com. This compensation may impact how and where links appear on this site. This site does not include all financial companies or all available financial offers. Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Enrollment may be required for select American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more. Read the full disclosure here

Heads up! This post may have affiliate links sprinkled throughout. This means I get a small commission on anything you purchase through these links at no extra cost to you. It helps me to keep this blog up and running so I can provide free content for you 🙂 Okay, with that out of the way, onto things to do in Salento!

View of Salento from the Mirador Salento (Viewpoint in Salento)

After a whirlwind couple of days in Bogotá, our Colombia itinerary next brought us to the beautiful town of Salento. We had just attended a wedding, traveled 8 hours to Bogotá, slept 5 hours, and then ran around Bogotá like crazy. So I was very ready for a smaller town and a slower pace. Luckily, that’s just what we got in Salento! 

I first learned of Salento while researching unique things to do in Colombia. As soon as I saw pictures of the beautiful, lush greens and trees of the Cocora Valley I just knew we had to visit. Hiking is my favorite hobby, coffee is my favorite drink, and I’m a sucker for an Instagrammable street… Salento had it all! Our three days in Salento were a great way to experience another side of Colombia. 

Table of Contents

  • About Salento
  • How to Get to Salento
  • Things to Do in Salento
    • Hiking in the Cocora Valley
    • Coffee Farm Tour
    • Walk to Mirador Salento
    • Meander on Calle Real
    • Pet the friendly dogs in the square
    • Play the national sport of Tejo 
    • Relax in the square 
    • Ride in a Willy Jeep
    • Shop for souvenirs 
    • Enjoy coffee at Cafe Jesus Martin
    • Listen to live music at Kafe del Alma
    • Watch the sunset over the mountains
      • Pin these to come back to this post later!

About Salento

Wax palm tree in the Cocora Valley
Wax palms in the Cocora Valley

Salento is an adorable town in the middle of hundreds of coffee farms located west of Bogotá in the department of Quindio. Salento is home to colorful buildings with friendly locals and a vibrant tourist scene. You can also experience the amazing wax palm trees and greenery of the surrounding Andes mountains. Many people flock to Salento to hike in the Cocora Valley and sip coffee at one of the several coffee farms just outside of town. 

In stark contrast to some of the bustling cities like Medellin or Cartagena, Salento is a small yet lively town that must be on your Colombia itinerary.

How to Get to Salento

Colorful building and hostel in Salento
Colorful buildings in Salento

Salento is tucked into the Andes mountains in between two airports. The easiest and quickest way to Salento is to fly into either Pereira or Armenia and take a bus or car into town. Because of its location in the mountains, you CAN take a bus from whatever larger city you’re coming from… but it will take much longer. Like the whole day and part of your night. If you only have a couple of weeks in Colombia, it’s best just to fly. Luckily, flying is pretty affordable because the local airlines compete with the buses to make fares as affordable as possible! Our flights from Bogota were around $100 for both my husband and me.

Once you get to the airport, you can take a bus to Salento. From Armenia, Cootracir operates a bus to Salento departing every 30 minutes. Expreso Alcala runs a bus from Pereria to Salento hourly. Each costs only $2 one way and the trip from either city to Salento will take you about an hour.

You can also rent a car if you feel you will need it in Salento. Spoiler alert: Salento is tiny and unless you plan to take many day trips, you won’t need it. You can walk or take a very cheap taxi just about anywhere you need to go. 

Several hotels in Salento will offer an affordable shuttle from the airport to the hotel. We opted for this because I didn’t feel like navigating the bus station! For 150,000 COP (about $38 USD) we were able to take a private car from the airport to the hotel and back to the airport when it was time to leave. This option is definitely more expensive than the bus but much easier.

Things to Do in Salento

Hiking in the Cocora Valley

Horses waiting along the trail in the Cocora Valley
Horses waiting in the Cocora Valley

This is the #1 reason I wanted to visit Salento and everything else was just an incredible bonus! Located a short drive away from the center of town lies the Valle de Cocora, or Cocora Valley. The valley is home to the famous wax palm trees that tower above you and seem to be perfectly dotted along the landscape. Set against rich, lush forest and rolling hills is an amazing hiking trail that takes you to some amazing viewpoints!

Hop on a Willy Jeep in the Salento square and head out to the valley. The Willy will drop you off right before the entrance to the park. Just follow the trail (and all the other tourists!) to the entrance where you’ll pay 20,000 COP to enter. Once inside, you’ll have access to the hiking trail, some amazing props for cool photos, and a little cafe. You can choose to do the full loop, taking around 6 hours, or stop at either viewpoint 1 or viewpoint 2 which are 2 hours and 3 hours long, respectively. We went to viewpoint 2 and it was the perfect length for us! 

After your hike, be sure to enjoy the hammocks and a cup of coffee before heading back to town. 

Coffee Farm Tour

Hundreds of thousands of coffee plants on the side of the mountain in Salento, Colombia
Coffee plants at Las Acacias Coffee Farm

Salento is surrounded by hundreds and hundreds of acres of coffee plants. There are over 500 small coffee farms in this area! Within a kilometer or so from the center of town are 3-4 popular coffee farms that you can tour. We chose Las Acacias, a family owned farm about a kilometer outside of town. Las Acacias picks, processes, and roasts their own coffee and it can only be bought from the farm which I thought was incredible and unique. 

You simply can’t go to this corner of the world and not check out a coffee farm. Even if I weren’t a coffee drinker, I would have loved this experience to learn about the process and an important piece of Colombian culture! 

Walk to Mirador Salento

View from the Mirador Salento with the town in the bottom of the image
The view from Mirador Salento

Located at the end of Calle Real, you’ll find a set of steps that seems to head to nowhere. Or heaven. You decide?! Our first day in Salento, I wasn’t sure if this was public access or if it led to somewhere we would even want to be. On the second day, we just decided to go for it and I’m so glad we did! Not many other resources I looked at mentioned this overlook but it’s worth a quick visit! 

Walk up the couple hundred or so stairs and you’ll be rewarded with a gorgeous view over Salento and the surrounding valley. 

Meander on Calle Real

Calle Real in Salento with many patrons exploring the street
Calle Real at night

Calle Real is the main street in Salento, just off Salento Plaza. The street is filled with adorable shops, cafes, and restaurants. Adding to its charm is the brightly colored buildings with flowers cascading over the edges of the balconies. Locals and tourists alike wander along the street and hang out in bars or cafes. It’s just very quaint and the perfect way to spend an afternoon! A day in Salento isn’t complete without strolling down Calle Real.

Pet the friendly dogs in the square

If you know me, you know how much I love dogs. Usually it makes me sad to see stray dogs wandering around a city, but not here! To be honest, I’m not even sure if the dogs are stray… They look so healthy and well taken care of. All the locals know the dogs and their habits, too, which makes me feel like they are just “town dogs.” One day, we were eating lunch outside and a man walked by and pointed to the dog begging at our feet, “he only eats fish, no meat!” It was hilarious and adorable. The pups are all friendly and look healthy enough.

This may be the strangest thing you’ve been instructed to do by a blogger, but hey, I’m a dog lover! Just maybe wash your hands after 🙂 

Play the national sport of Tejo 

Tejo is a traditional throwing game in Colombia. It can be found all over the country, but Salento is the perfect town to do it in! Essentially, you throw little clay discs towards targets which are full of gunpowder so they explode on impact. If you walk by a bar or building and hear booms and cheers, you can be sure there’s probably a game of tejo going on inside!

What better way to make new friends in Colombia than a rowdy game of tejo?!

Relax in the square 

The beautiful and busy Salento Plaza with many people waiting to ride on the jeeps to get to the Cocora Valley
Salento Plaza with the Willy Jeeps out front

The town is small enough that even after a couple hours of exploring, you’ll definitely know where “the square” is located. Salento Plaza is the heart of the city, with Calle Real jutting off just to the side. The plaza is lined with restaurants and features a statue of Simon Bolivar in the center. In the heart of the action, the plaza is the perfect place to grab a bench and just people watch for a while. Grab some ice cream and just enjoy this beautiful little town.

Salento Plaza is also important to know because this is where the willys leave from! Which brings me to your next task…

Ride in a Willy Jeep

Willys are colorful Jeeps that have been outfitted to pack 10 or so people in the back. Leaving from the Salento Plaza, Willys are the best way to take you to either the Cocora Valley or to the coffee farms. While you can walk to the coffee farms, like we did, the Cocora Valley would take you all day just to walk to the entrance! So it’s best to just grab a Willy and head on your way. The open back of the Jeep and the excitement of the other tourists is just an experience you don’t want to miss. It’s very affordable as well, with a round trip to the valley and back costing just 8 COP per person (~$2 USD).

Shop for souvenirs 

Out of all the places on my 2 week itinerary for visiting Colombia, Salento is THE best place for souvenirs. Of course, you’ve got your standard magnets and knick knacks but many of the shops also sell one-of-a-kind pieces that you’ll want to take home. I absolutely loved the model houses painted in bright colors and of course I had to bring home a handmade mug for my collection!  

Enjoy coffee at Cafe Jesus Martin

You’re in a coffee-growing region, so enjoying a leisurely cup of Colombian coffee has to be on your list of things to do in Salento. The ambiance and patrons of Cafe Jesus Martin only add to its charm. Grab a seat and make sure you have plenty of time to linger and sip a delicious cup of coffee.

Listen to live music at Kafe del Alma

Beautiful colorful buildings of Salento with flowers lining the balconies and windows
Colorful buildings on Calle Real

Located at the end of Calle Real just before the stairs to Mirador de Salento, you’ll find Kafe del Alma. An open air cafe, this adorable spot is the perfect place for a night cap. Many nights you’ll find a local musician serenading the cafe. While Salento is not known for nightlife, you can certainly find a group hanging out, enjoying the music, and having a drink into the late hours of the night!

Watch the sunset over the mountains

With its location in the Andes mountains, Salento is surrounded by breathtaking views on all sides. So… you could technically enjoy sunrise OR sunset. But you’re on vacation, so unless you just like getting up at sunrise for fun then you can most definitely enjoy sunset over the mountains. 

Even though Salento is small, it’s packed with amazing things to do. This town is perfect for a 3 or 4 day stay during your trip to Colombia! You certainly won’t be bored as you enjoy the beautiful scenery and delicious coffee! Visiting Salento is a must on your longer travels around the country and it may just end up being your favorite place! If you need planning inspiration, be sure to check out my 2 week Colombia itinerary and one day guide to Bogota. Hopefully this post has inspired you to take a visit and explore all the wonderful things to do in Salento. 

Have you added Salento to your bucket list? If you’ve been to Salento, what was your favorite part? Leave me a comment or hop over to my DMs and let’s chat about it!

Pin these to come back to this post later!

In: Central & South America, Destinations

You’ll Also Love

Bull City sign lit up in downtown Durham, NCThe BEST Places to Eat in Durham, North Carolina
NC Bucket List (MASSIVE list of all the best things to do in North Carolina)
The Complete Guide to a Weekend Getaway (or staycation!) in Columbia, SC

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Next Post >

How to See the Best of Bogotá in Only One Day

meet ashley

Hi friend! I’m Ashley, a 20-something newlywed, dog mom, and pediatric physical therapist. I have incurable wanderlust and when I’m not working, I’m dreaming up our next adventure. We utilize credit card points and miles to see the world for nearly free and I’m teaching you the same thing. I’m so glad you’re here!

free credit card consultation

Not sure what credit card you need to meet your travel goals? Fill out the survey to get a FREE personalized credit card recommendation.

connect on instagram

Can’t wait to add another girlie pop to our squa Can’t wait to add another girlie pop to our squad!!!!
🚨Exciting news!! Personalized travel planning j 🚨Exciting news!! Personalized travel planning just entered the chat. 

I’m so grateful and excited to have partnered with Fora Travel to to help you book your next bucket list trip as a travel advisor. Fora has partnerships with over 2,000 hotels and tour companies around the world so you can get VIP perks anywhere you wanna go. Whether you want to just book a hotel for the perks or want a full customized itinerary. 

As such, it’s time to retire this account because it just doesn’t match the vision of my travel advising business. I would LOVE for you to follow me over at @ashleyrice.travel to keep up to date with my blog and travel business. This account will still remain as more of a personal/Raleigh-Durham account. Whether you follow my business account, stick around here, or decide it’s time for us to part ways—thanks for being apart of my journey. 

I’m so excited for what 2023 has to bring! If you have questions about my new venture as a travel advisor, want to book a trip with me, or just see what all the fuss is about, follow me @ashleyrice.travel or send me a DM on either account. I can’t wait to hear from you!

#traveladvisor #travelplanning #luxurytravel #adventuretravel #frequentflyer #firstclass
In 2022, I started to see the potential of what my In 2022, I started to see the potential of what my life could be. Thanks to the blog, Instagram, and burn out in my professional life—I traveled more last year than ever. And 2023 is shaping up to be the same way! My advice remains the same as always: take the damn trip. Use the PTO! Explore on the weekends. Life is short, make it worth it!! 

#travelinspiration #travelreels #travelblogger #luxurytravel #businessclassflyer #frequentflyer #weekendwarrior #sheisnotlost #womenwhotravel #traveladvisor
“Ashley, you just asked for PTO last month” I “Ashley, you just asked for PTO last month” I can’t hearrrr youuuuu 🙉

Who can relate?? Do you have a goal to use more PTO this year?

#travelblogger #travelinspiration #sheisnotlost #womenwhotravel #luxurytravel #pointsandmiles #travelmore #travelreels #traveladvisor
Ready to finally travel more like you always said Ready to finally travel more like you always said in 2023?! Avoid these 3 things and… 

follow @ashleyonthemove_  for more travel tips, travel hacks, and itineraries!

#travelblogger #travelmore #travelinspiration #travelvibes #travelreels #traveladdict #luxurytravel #adventuretravel #womenwhotravel #sheisnotlost #travelcouple
——- See ya, 2022! 👏🏻👋🏻 It was a ——-

See ya, 2022! 👏🏻👋🏻

It was a great year: we bought a house, went on tons of weekend trips, visited 2 new countries, and I changed jobs. 

This space grew by about 100%… even though it’s still small I’m proud of the community here! Instagram is easy to get burned out on and even through my wild inconsistency (lol) I’ve made so many new connections and learned a ton. 

The blog grew by over 60%, too! I’ve been much more consistent over the last 5 months and it’s paying off big time. 

But of course, I’ve got huge goals for 2023 and I can’t wait to make them happen. Thanks for being along for the ride!

#travelblog #travelblogger #sheisnotlost #womenwhotravel #travelcommunity #travelwriters #ncliving #pointsandmiles #pointsandmilescommunity
Plan 👏🏻 ahead👏🏻when👏🏻using👏🏻points!
 
If you really want to maximize your points earnings and use, you need to be thinking about travel 1-2 years out! High ticket items like business class flights and luxury hotels have limited award space… and they go fast. Many hotels and airlines release 360-370 days in advance and award availability goes quick! Like, sometimes same day. 

If you want to book your dream trip with points, you can! Just plan waaaay ahead. Need help figuring out how?! Comment “plan ahead” below so we can chat about what card and points you need for that dream trip!

#pointsandmiles #pointsandmileslifestyle #frequentflyer #luxurylifestyle #luxurytravel #travelhacks #travelhacking #firstclassflight #firstclass #businessclass #businessclassflyer #airportlounge
Cloud over the Andes mountains in Sale to, colombi Cloud over the Andes mountains in Sale to, colombia 🙌🏻 What was your favorite view of 2022?

#travelblogger #travelviews #luxurytravel #frequentflyer #businessclass #firstclassflight #firstclasstravel #pointsandmiles #travelhacks #colombiatravel #salentoquindio #cocoravalley

latest pins

the archives

trending now

work with me

  • Travel Design
  • Brands / General Inquiries

join the club

Read more

  • home
  • about
  • Blog
  • Contact
  • Work with me
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms & Conditions
  • Blog
  • About

Copyright © 2023 ashley on the move · Theme by 17th Avenue