Salento
South America · Colombia
Did you know?
- Tejo players throw metal weights at gunpowder targets.
- Patacón con Trucha pairs trout with fried plantain.
- Willys jeeps carry hikers from the main plaza toward the wax-palm valley.
See also
Valle de Cocora
Colombia4.63°N 75.46°W · 2,366 m
Pereira
Colombia4.81°N 75.69°W · 1,411 m
Overview
Salento pairs colorful colonial streets with the green hills of Colombia's coffee region. The town is a base for visiting the wax palms of Valle de Cocora.
Languages: Spanish
Why go?
Salento is a charming, tranquil town in Colombia's Quindío department nestled in the Zona Cafetera hills. Its cobbled streets and colorful colonial architecture offer a peaceful escape during the week, while weekends and holidays transform it into a lively hub as visitors from Armenia and Pereira pour in to soak up its scenic beauty and local culture. The town serves as the gateway to Valle de Cocora, home of Colombia's national symbol—the 60-meter wax palms.
Adapted from Wikivoyage contributors · CC BY-SA 4.0
Get around
Salento is compact enough to explore on foot, but for longer distances there's Mototaxi driver Alexis who operates Colombia's version of a rickshaw. The mototaxi accommodates up to 3 adults for the same price, and many locals have his phone number. Contact Alexis at +57 4-727-2141, 317-467-7735, or 300-785-6349. Hiking is popular, with trails to the Mirador viewpoint and organic coffee fincas accessible via carrera 5.
Adapted from Wikivoyage contributors · CC BY-SA 4.0
Things to do
Visit the Mirador for what locals claim is one of the best views in Colombia—ask at Plantation House for directions to an even better private viewpoint. Eat Trucha (trout) at restaurants around the main plaza for COP$10,000-20,000, or visit a fish farm to buy or catch your own. Play Tejo at the tejo bar two blocks from the main square (usually weekends only), where you throw metal weights at gunpowder targets. Hike or horseback ride into Valle de Cocora via Willys jeeps departing from the main square every hour for COP$4,500 each way (30-minute ride). Salento's fiesta takes place the first week of January, transforming the sleepy village into party central.
Adapted from Wikivoyage contributors · CC BY-SA 4.0
Food and drink
El Rincón de Lucy on calle 2 between Carrera 4&5 serves cheap but rich set lunches for COP$16,000 (December 2023). Bar Camino Real at the end of Calle Real offers a small but delicious menu with a fireplace, recommended for dinner or drinks after dark. Café Jesus Martin at Cra 6 # 6-14 is an excellent cozy coffee house with great cappuccinos and incredible chocolate cake. Traditional Patacón con Trucha (trout with fried plantain) is a regional specialty available at Pueblito Montañero on Calle 5 5-51. On weekends, all bars around the main square set up beer tents. Bar Danubio on Carrera 6 has operated for over 100 years with traditional music, pool tables, and a 93-year-old owner.
Adapted from Wikivoyage contributors · CC BY-SA 4.0
Where to stay
Estrella Sin Fronteras (take opposite corner to Mirador stairs, walk down the rubber tires) offers dorms for COP$26,000, run by Ruben Escobar. Hostal La Floresta at Carrera 5 # 10-11 is 500m from town center with dorms at COP$29,000, free breakfast 7-10am, and free coffee/tea all day. Hostal Tralala Salento at cra. 7, 6-45 accommodates 21 guests in double rooms and dorms for COP$25,000, with quality mattresses, hot showers, and two well-equipped kitchens. Plantation House at Calle 7 #1-04 has dorms for COP$35,000 with kitchen use, fireplace, free coffee, laundry, and good trekking maps. La Serrana at Via Palestina km 1.5 offers dorms at COP$30,000, triples with bathroom at COP$105,000, and camping at COP$20,000—all including breakfast.
Adapted from Wikivoyage contributors · CC BY-SA 4.0
Go next
Valle de Cocora is a must-see, where Colombia's national symbol—the 60-meter wax palms (palma de cera)—grow. Willys jeeps depart from Salento plaza daily until 6PM (more on weekends) for COP$4,000 each way, or pay COP$24,000 for a jeep that leaves whenever you want. A highlight is the half-day hike up to Finca Acaima through cloudforest and back through the valley. Parque Natural Nacional Los Nevados offers ample trekking opportunities, with fincas providing food and beds at bargain prices—their way of life hasn't changed in 200 years.
Adapted from Wikivoyage contributors · CC BY-SA 4.0
Budget tips
Salento is a budget-friendly destination. Dorm beds range from COP$18,000-35,000 per night. Set lunches cost COP$10,000-20,000. Willys rides to Valle de Cocora are COP$4,000-4,500 each way. Budget COP$30,000-50,000 per day for accommodation, food, and activities if staying in dorms and eating local meals. Coffee tours at Finca de Don Elias cost COP$5,000 per person, including a cup of homemade coffee from grain to cup.
Adapted from Wikivoyage contributors · CC BY-SA 4.0
Field guide adapted from Wikivoyage contributors · CC BY-SA 4.0. Text has been adapted and organized for this guide. About our sources.
Places to know
A few starting points from the guide. Check current hours and prices before you go.
- sleep
Estrella Sin Fronteras
Run by Colombian man named Ruben Escobar.
Recorded price: Dorm COP$26,000
Adapted from Wikivoyage contributors
- sleep
Finca de Don Elias
Don Elias is the owner of a coffee plantation. It offers only one bedroom that fits up to 4-5 people, with clean facilities and a private bathroom. Price is COP$15,000 per person per night. Don Elias offers coffee tours in Spanish for COP$5,000 per person, with a cup of truly homemade coffee (from grain to cup) at the end. Ask around Salento for Alexis, the gentleman with the mototaxi, and he can take you there for COP$8,000 (up to three people for this price). You can always just go to Don Elias' plantation for the coffee tour, which is COP$5,000.
Adapted from Wikivoyage contributors
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Hostal Ciudad de Segorbe
A quiet place, not yet discovered by the backpacker crowd. Run by a friendly Spanish-Colombian team, this hostel provides cozy, wooden floor rooms with clean bathrooms and steaming hot showers. The owners have good knowledge about the region. Breakfast is included and is, for once, not a synonym for cheap cereals or eggs and arepa.
Recorded price: COP$90,000 double with bathroom; COP$40,000 dorm bed
Adapted from Wikivoyage contributors
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Hostal La Casona de Lili
Warm welcomes. Colombian owned. Great tourist advice. Free coffee.
Recorded price: COP$30,000 dorm bed
Adapted from Wikivoyage contributors
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Hostal La Floresta
Quiet place 500 m away from the town center. Spacious, couches and hammocks, outside space, computer. Quality breakfast served from 7 to 10, free coffee and tea available all day long. Tourists advice.
Recorded price: Dorm COP$29,000
Adapted from Wikivoyage contributors
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Hostal Tralala Salento
Hostal Tralala Salento is in a typical Paisa house that has been completely renovated up to modern standards. There is room for 21 guests in 5 double rooms, a dorm for 3, and a dorm for 8 persons. Has two well equipped kitchens, a garden with sun terrace, a TV lounge with lots of quality DVDs and showers with steaming hot water. The beds have quality mattresses, soft pillows, white linen and comfortable duvets. All guests get a towel and there are personal lockers in the dorm. The atmosphere is warm and personal.
Recorded price: COP$25,000 for dormitory
Adapted from Wikivoyage contributors
- sleep
La Serrana
Finca that is located 1.5km outside of Salento. This place breaths quietness amidst slopes of farmland. The hostel is beautifully decorated, has a cozy living room with couches and the owner has an excellent music selection playing through the old speakers. There is also a large movie and book (English and Spanish) selection. Call the owner on his cellphone for a pick-up from Salento or let them pay the Jeep (COP$6,000 from the main square) when you first arrive there.
Recorded price: COP$105,000 triple with bathroom; COP$30,000 dorm bed; COP$20,000 for camping. Breakfast included
Adapted from Wikivoyage contributors
- sleep
Plantation House
Nice hostels with big gardens - one dormitory style, one with private rooms. The hostels offer kitchen use, fireplace, free coffee, laundry facilities, bookswap, mountain bike rental and have good trekking maps of the nearby parque Los Nevados and a map of Salento showing restaurants, supermarkets, etc.
Recorded price: COP$35,000 for dorm bed.
Adapted from Wikivoyage contributors
Before you go
Culture
Weekends and holidays bring crowds from Armenia and Pereira. Salento's fiesta is typically the first week of January.
Money
Banco Agrario de Colombia and Bancolombia have ATMs on the main plaza. Cash is essential for most transactions.
Transport
Willys jeeps connect Salento to Valle de Cocora (COP$4,000 each way, hourly, 30 min). Mototaxi available from driver Alexis.
Weather
Located in the Zona Cafetera hills; expect mild temperatures and potential afternoon rain year-round.