Things to Do in Salento, Colombia: Top Attractions & Tips

Where is Salento in Colombia?

Salento sits in the heart of Colombia’s Coffee Triangle, roughly between the major cities of Bogotá, Medellín, and Cali in the western part of the country. The region is world-famous for its coffee, and this charming little town is one of the most popular attractions in Colombia.

The famous Cocora Valley is just 10 kilometers from Salento. The city of Pereira, which has an airport, is just under 40 kilometers away, and Armenia is about 20 kilometers away.

On this map we’ve marked exactly where Salento is located in Colombia.

The Perfect Itinerary for Salento

Most visitors set aside two days for Salento — that’s enough time to hit all the main highlights. But honestly, the town has even more to offer. If you can spare extra time on your Colombia road trip, you definitely should.

2-Day Itinerary:

• Day 1: Arrival, coffee tour on a coffee farm, and sightseeing in Salento
• Day 2: Valle de Cocora, departure

Do you have 3–6 days? Great. Here’s everything else you can do:

• Day 3: Mountain biking tour or horseback riding
• Day 4: Day trip to Filandia
• Day 5: Day trip to the hot springs of Santa Rosa de Cabal
• Day 6: Go hiking

Attractions in Salento

Salento is a small town where you can cover all the main sights in about an hour. That said, it’s really worth taking more time to wander through the beautiful alleyways and past the colorful, traditional houses — the atmosphere is what makes this place so special.

Here are the top things to do and see in Salento:

• Calle Real: Salento’s main street, lined with charming little shops and restaurants. This is the heart of town.
• Mirador Alto de la Cruz and Mirador de Salento: Two beautiful viewpoints connected by a small path. From the Calle Real, around 235 steps lead up to them — the panorama is totally worth the climb.
• Plaza de Bolívar: Salento’s main square, featuring a beautiful church. Perfect for people-watching over a coffee.

Cafés and Restaurants in Salento

We absolutely fell in love with Salento — and the café scene is a big part of why. After two weeks here, we felt like we’d worked our way through every single one of them.

Our top café picks in Salento:

• Café Jesus Martin: Probably the best-known coffee house in town, and for good reason — the coffee is excellent and the seating area is seriously cozy.
• Café Concreto: Great coffee and hands-down the best cakes in Salento.
• Kiwi Kafé: A sweet little café with an amazing breakfast. Don’t skip it.
• Andariego! Coffee to go: Your go-to spot for a coffee on the move.

But Salento isn’t just about charming cafés — it also has some really great restaurants.

Our restaurant recommendations for Salento:

• Restaurante Maria Ocampos: The trucha (fish) and plátanos (fried green plantains) are fantastic. A real local favorite.
• Wabi Asian Kitchen: Outstanding Asian dishes and a delicious, affordable lunch menu.
• Rincon de Lucy: Tasty, budget-friendly daily menus with generous portions.
• Hostal La Gata Carola: Traditional regional dishes and affordable daily menus.

Salento also has plenty going on after dark.

Our tips for a night out in Salento:

• Cancha de Tejo Los Amigos: Tejo is Colombia’s national sport, and this bar is the perfect place to try it over a cold beer. The rules are simple: throw a puck at a disc and aim for the center, where small paper pieces are placed — they explode when you hit them. Super fun.
• La Fuente: Dance bar with Colombian music for all ages.
• Kafé del Alma: Great drinks and live music.
• Mojiteria: Nightclub for dancing.

Valle de Cocora

The Cocora Valley is an absolute must on your Colombia vacation — it’s one of the country’s top highlights, and the best part is that it’s only 10 kilometers from Salento.

We recommend planning a half-day trip to the Valle de Cocora and heading out early in the morning. The weather is usually at its best then, and the valley isn’t as crowded yet.

We’ve written a dedicated article with all the info you need for your visit.

Coffee Tour on a Farm

One of the best things to do in Salento, Colombia is visiting a working coffee farm. There are a huge number of fincas in and around town, and many offer tours where you can learn about the coffee-making process from bean to cup — and sample some seriously good coffee along the way.

Our top pick is Finca El Ocaso, which we visited ourselves. Tours are offered in English, the finca itself is stunning, and the coffee is incredible.

Great alternatives are Finca de Don Elias and Finca Don Eduardo.

The Best Hikes near Salento

Salento is a hiker’s paradise. The surrounding area offers everything from rewarding day hikes to serious multi-day adventures.

Day hikes near Salento

• Santa Rita La Cascada: This waterfall is about 7 kilometers from Salento. Take the bus from the Salento terminal to La Boquía, then walk about 3 kilometers to reach it. Admission is 10,000 COP.
• Morrogacho: A challenging mountain ascent starting at the Valle de Cocora, with around 1,000 meters of elevation gain. Our advice: wear rubber boots and bring rain gear. A guide is strongly recommended.

Multi-day hikes near Salento

• Laguna El Encanto: A three-day hike into the highlands. On Day 1, you start in the Valle de Cocora and hike to Finca La Primavera or Finca La Playa. There are two trails: one via the Estrella de Agua hut and one via Finca La Argentina. Both cover about 1,600 meters of elevation gain over 18 kilometers. On Day 2, you hike to Laguna El Encanto and back to the finca (13 kilometers). On Day 3, you descend.
• Ascent of the Tolima Volcano: Only possible with a guide. A four-day hike where on Day 3 you summit the snow-capped volcano, which stands 5,225 meters tall. One of the most epic experiences in the region.

Mountain Biking and Horseback Riding Excursions

Beyond hiking, Salento has a ton of other outdoor activities to offer. The town is especially popular among mountain bikers and horseback riders.

There are plenty of agencies in Salento that offer mountain biking trips and horseback riding excursions. You can often book these directly through your accommodation as well.

Book a horseback riding excursion in the Valle de Cocora

Filandia

Filandia is another small town in the Coffee Triangle and one of the best day trips from Salento. Willys (Jeeps) run from Salento’s main square directly to Filandia — the ride takes about an hour and costs 8,000 COP.

Filandia has a similar architectural style to Salento but feels a little less touristy. You can easily spend a morning strolling through town and taking in Filandia’s viewpoints.

Our tip: Don’t miss Café MOCAFE — they serve great coffee and cake.

Termales Santa Rosa de Cabal

The hot springs in Santa Rosa de Cabal are the perfect day-trip destination if you want to truly unwind — and they make a great addition to any Salento Colombia travel plan.

Santa Rosa is located about 40 kilometers north of Salento. Just outside town, there are two thermal bath complexes: the Termales Santa Rosa and the Termales San Vicente.

The Termales Santa Rosa are better known and more popular, with several outdoor hot pools and a waterfall where you can cool off.

Admission varies by season, ranging from 41,000 to 71,000 COP. You can book your ticket online on the Termales Santa Rosa website — buying on-site is a bit more expensive.

The Termales San Vicente are more natural, a little less crowded, and honestly we think they’re slightly nicer. Admission costs 70,000 COP.

From Salento, take a bus to Pereira and transfer to a bus heading to Santa Rosa. In Santa Rosa, hop in a Jeep to either complex. Guided tours from Salento are also available if you’d rather not figure out the connections yourself.

Book a guided tour from Salento to the Termales de Santa Rosa

Practical Tips for Salento, Colombia

To round things out, here are a few helpful pointers for your trip to Salento.

Also check out our travel tips for Colombia

Hotel Tips for Salento

Salento is a safe place in Colombia. You can walk through the village day or night without any concerns, so it doesn’t matter too much exactly where you stay.

Staying in the Center of Salento

If you have trouble getting around on foot, try to stay as close to the center as possible — the streets in Salento are very hilly. The trade-off is that the center can get noisy at night.

Staying in Salento with a Beautiful View

If you stay a little outside the center, you’ll usually need to walk 5–10 minutes up a steep street to get there. In return, many accommodations offer stunning views and a much quieter atmosphere.

Getting to Salento

Salento is located near two major cities: Armenia and Pereira. If you’re traveling by bus, you’ll most likely need to transfer in one of these two cities. Buses run regularly from the terminals in Armenia and Pereira to Salento throughout the day — from Pereira it takes just over an hour, from Armenia a little less.

Book long-distance buses in Colombia via Bookaway

If you’re flying into the region — for example from Cartagena or Santa Marta — you’ll land at Pereira Airport. From there, you can book a private transfer to Salento, or take a bus or taxi to the Pereira terminal and catch a bus from there.

Book a transfer from Pereira Airport to Salento

Best Time to Visit Salento

Salento sits in a fairly rainy region of Colombia, so expect some rain year-round. The dry season falls in June, July, August and January, February, March — during these months it rains less and the sun comes out more often, making them the best time to visit.

The rainy season runs through September, October, November, December, and April, May. It rains almost every day during this period, though the showers are usually short and heavy and tend to roll in only in the afternoon.