Salento, Colombia: Coffee Country + Cocora Valley

in Salento i was mostly in recovery mode from mi amor Medellin, but this teeny town in coffee country still captured my heart because it’s adorable and also it’s Colombia, duh.

so if you’re planning on visiting Salento (which you must), listen up cause i’ve got some tips!!

How to get there

I took the rockiest 8 hour bus ever from Medellin with Flota Occidental, or you can fly into Pereira or Armenia airports (both about a 1-hr drive to Salento).

a lot of people do this ride on a night bus, which is a good option (if you can sleep) because it saves you a day and also the drive will be shorter with no traffic. just remember to be extra careful with your belongings on night busses. i didn’t take this option because welp i hate night busses.

Where to stay

Coffee Tree Boutique Hostel is definitely the best hostel in Salento. it’s beautiful, got a full 360 degree view of the mountains, you’ll hear horses trotting along the road. it’s so cool and a different side of Colombia.

there at 2 giant St Bernards living there and the owner Eddie is awesome. it’s peaceful and has free breakfast, and lots of coffee, i loved writing my blog on the couches and looking out at the beautiful view. you’ll need this place as a recharge after Medellin.

What to do

There are 2 main things tourists do in Salento:

1) Cocora Valley: I honestly think this may be my new fave hike in the world (sorry, Lion’s Head!). It’s definitely the most beautiful start to a hike I’ve ever seen, with the world’s largest palm trees stretching all across the hills and valley. They’re wax palm trees that can get up to 60 metres tall, and they are insanely beautiful and yes, insanely Instagrammable (let’s not pretend this wasn’t the main reason I came). no but really, they are so gorgeous and you must stop to take it in — it’s a magical view.

I loveloveloved the whole hike and ended up doing most of it solo, just me and nature, which was amazing. along with the stunning palm trees, there is a beautiful cloud forest, finca (farm) with epic views, a hummingbird sanctuary called Acaime, a jungle with like 7-8 hanging bridges, which are so fun to flounce on, and then beautiful farmland with horses and cows as you wrap back into the palm trees.

the hike is a loop, but i recommend starting at the furthest entrance by the palm trees. this will ensure you get your insta when it’s clear skies (i gotchu insta fam), and also you’ll be going downhill in the ending jungle part, which is much easier.

I think the hike is the perfect level of difficulty, nothing too steep or too hard but 5-6 hours so you’ll get a nice workout.

i caught the 6:30 jeep from the main square of Salento, which I would recommend because a) early morning hikes are the best, and b) at least when I was there in November it rained every afternoon in Salento, like clockwork. so you’ll want to get your hike done before you’re hit with a downpour and have to deal with soaking wet clothes and shoes for the next 4 days.

you pay $8k (colombian pesos) round trip for the Jeep ride, which is about 25 mins each way. park entrance is $4k. Acaime (hummingbird farm where you stop for coffee, or in my case, hot chocolate and cheese) is $5k. then some random charged us a bogus $3k to exit the park, because sometimes Colombia is funny like that.

2) the other thing people do here is a coffee tour on horseback, i’m not a big coffee drinker so don’t really care tbh but i’m sure it’s absolutely amazing and you should do it. i heard to “ask for Oscar” for a good tour. just ask any random person for Oscar, it’s a small town, they’ll know him.

I spent my other free day wandering the adorable town, taking pics with my new friend Genevieve from Melbs, walked up the stairs to the viewpoint, got an acai bowl, browsed the adorable shops. Shopping here is next level guys, save your budget and some room in your suitcase. So much amazing jewelry, purses, clothes, and - this may come as a shock - coffee!

The other thing to do is Tejo, a Colombian game where you blow shit up. like you throw stuff at a block filled with gun powder. it’s fun. go play. #colombia

Where to eat/drink

Cafe Alma was the BEST — tiny corner bar, so intimate you are basically sitting on each others’ laps, there was live latin acoustic music that made me feel all the feels
acai bowl at Coco Bowl — very Instagrammable, was inspired by Bali!
good healthy food at Veggie (thai noodles or quesadilla)

there’s a few other spots with good burgers and pizza but don’t worry, the town is teeny and you’ll find them.

that’s it from me, Salento was short and sweet, let me know if you have any questions!! <3