Top Things to Do in Salento, Colombia’s Coffee Heart
The colourful town of Salento is a must on every Colombia itinerary. Find out where to stay, where to eat and the best things to do in Salento as well as all my top tips!
Salento is the place to come for coffee, palm trees…and probably more coffee. Its location in the heart of Colombia’s well-known coffee triangle means that this is one of the best places to explore, sip and buy some of the best coffee this region has to offer.
Coffee isn’t however the only thing to do in Salento. Also famed for its main street – Calle Real- with colourful doorways and balconies, local trout dishes and seriously beautiful countryside, Salento is one of those places you could get lost in for weeks or take it all in in a day if you are pushed for time.
Keep reading to plan your perfect trip to Colombia’s coffee heart.
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THE BEST TIME TO VISIT
Salento and this part of Colombia is an all year round destination with temperatures staying pretty much constant all year round with highs of 25°C/77°F and nightly lows of 11°C/50°F. The best time to visit really depends on the levels of rainfall that vary throughout the year.
Salento is generally a rainy place and both times I visited we got rained on quite a bit. The driest months are December and January. The wettest months are April and May and then October and November. These months also coincide with rainy seasons all over Colombia so it’s generally better to visit outside of those months.
Note that Colombians take their vacations in January so you might want to avoid this time along with Christmas, New Year and Holy Week, right before Easter when things get really busy not just here but around the whole country.
Finally, try not to visit Salento on a weekend if you can. It’s generally a super popular place for locals living in the surrounding cities of Pereira and Armenia and things can be pretty busy during the weekends. It’s much more enjoyable to come on a weekday.
HOW TO GET TO SALENTO
Car– If you’ve rented a car to drive around the surrounding area, getting to Salento from you’re starting point is pretty straight forward providing you aren’t coming from too far away. From Armenia and Pereira, it’s an easy drive to Salento along the highway first and then on the winding round through the valley to Salento.
If you’re coming from Medellin to Salento it will take at least 6 hours. When we did this trip in March 2022 most of the major highway from Medellin south to Pereira was being built so expect big holdups. Allow the whole day to drive from Medellin.
The drive from Bogota to Salento takes about 6 hours too and while this highway is finished there are many tunnels to pass through.
Bus- Salento can be reached directly by bus from Armenia and Pereira’s bus terminals. There are quite a few departures per day and the trip takes just over an hour.
There are also direct buses from Medellin’s main terminal but from Bogota, you’ll need to get the bus to Armenia and change for a local one to Salento. From Medellin and Bogota expect the journey to take over 6 hours- oftentimes the journey is much longer than what the bus companies expect due to things like landslides, congestion and accidents.
Fly- If you prefer to fly into this area, you can fly into Pereira or Armenia- Pereira has the bigger airport of the two therefore more destinations and onward flight options.
From the airport you can take a taxi to the bus terminal and continue by bus to Salento or you can also take a private taxi all the way to Salento but this would be quite costly.
WHERE TO STAY IN SALENTO
There are two areas you can choose in Salento and the ultimate question is whether to stay in town or just outside town, in the countryside. There are pros and cons to both. Staying in town means that you’re within walking distance to all restaurants, cafes and services, including the Jeep taxis you can catch from the main square to go to places like Cocora or Filandia.
If you decide to stay in the countryside you’ll most probably have access to incredible views of the beautiful region, peace and quiet and privacy. As the town is small you can also find a few gems on the edge of town that have the best of both worlds.
Hotel Kawa Mountain Retreat
A beautiful wooden mountain retreat surrounded by countryside and rolling green hills. It’s the kind of place you make a cup of coffee, wrap yourself in a blanket and relax on the terrace as the sun comes up every morning. The rooms here are well-lit, clean and colorful. The hotel also has a great restaurant on-site and a hot tub for those cooler evenings.
Check rates and availability here
Ecohotel Piedemonte
Another great option in the countryside surrounding Salento is this beautiful, eco-conscious rustic hotel that is great for nature lovers. Rent their private cottage in the jungle and relax amongst the gardens, birds and sounds of nature or opt for the suite with bath spa where you can spend the evening soaking in the tub looking up at the stars. It’s located off the main highway before getting to Salento. It’s easier to get in and out of town if you have a car.
Check rates and availability here
Coffee Tree Boutique Hostel
If you’re looking for a great option in town, this is one of the best hostels located on the edge of Salento. With amazing views of the county-side and just a short walk away from the centre of Salento, this place has the best of both worlds.
With dorms and rustic- lux privates, a great living area to meet other travellers and plenty of garden space to enjoy, this is a great pick for your time in Salento. I stayed here when I first visited Salento in 2017 and had a wonderful stay.
Check rates and availability here
WHERE TO EAT IN SALENTO
Coco Bowl – A great healthy option for plant-based eaters, this little cafe at the base of the stairs to the main viewpoint is full of great dishes like açai bowls, buddha bowls, and tofu banh mi sandwiches as well as drinks like coconut lemonade and fresh juices and smoothies. This was one of our favourite eats in Salento.
Cumana Bistro food – Great Venezuelan food a block or two from Calle Real. Make sure to check before going as they seem to just be open towards the later part of the week.
Donde Laurita – A uniquely decorated and adored restaurant, this is one of Salento’s most popular restaurants specialising in Colombian classics. It’s here you can try giant patacones, bandeja paisa and the Salento speciality- trout. While the menu doesn’t seem very veggie-friendly, they can do a veggie/vegan bandeja paisa and a veggie patacon– just ask inside.
El Cacharito – If you’re craving a rest from Colombia food then this is the best burger place in town. They have several burger options including a healthy lentil one as well as a falafel wrap which is also vegan.
Serendipia Veggie Food – Another great fully vegetarian option right on Calle Real, this is a great evening spot for a few entrees to share with friends or a warming bowl of soup on a chilly or rainy evening.
TOP THINGS TO DO IN SALENTO COLOMBIA
Hike the Cocora Valley
The stunning, palm-filled Cocora Valley is on everyone’s Salento and Colombia bucket list. Hiking around this valley is one of the best ways to get to know the surrounding countryside and the endemic wax palm- Colombia’s national tree- which can grow to heights of 60m/200ft.
Arriving at the Cocora Valley you’ll need to pay an entrance fee of about 5,000 COP each before following the path to the trek. There will be two paths in front of you, you can opt for the stair path to take you straight up to the first viewpoint or you can take the path that goes around. I highly recommend this way, as even though it’s longer, you’ll walk through a magnificent area of wax palms the other stair route misses.
Keep hiking the path and you’ll get to viewpoint 1 and later viewpoint 2, which is the highlight of the trek in my opinion. From here you can continue to the farmhouse at the top and the Hummingbird Reserve.
In theory, this trail is in fact a loop trail, you can loop and come back around the other side of the valley. This was closed however due to landslides when we did it so visitors could only go up and come back down the same way.
Make sure to keep your eye out for wildlife, especially if you arrive early in the morning. We saw so many amazing birds species and animals in this area. Have your eye out for the yellow eared parrot in particular as it’s endemic to this area as it lives in the wax palms.
