The best things to do in metropolis MedellÃn
March 8, 2023
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In the middle of the mountains, surrounded by nothing but the Colombian rainforest, you will find the colorful mountain village of Salento. Known as the base for a brisk hike through Valle de Cocora. But did you know that Salento has so much more to offer? You can do and experience incredibly fun things. These are our 10 best tips to do in Salento!
How to get to Salento?
If you our itinerary through Colombia follows then travel to Salento from Bogota, but it is also possible to travel to Salento from MedellÃn. There are actually two options to reach Salento: by bus or by plane.
By bus to Salento
To get to Salento from Bogota, take the bus from Terminal de Transporte to Armenia. This ride takes about 7 hours. We recommend you reserve a seat with bus company Bolivariano. The buses are comfortable and the bus company is well regarded. In Armenia you transfer to the bus to Salento, this ride takes about 1 hour.Â
Traveling from MedellÃn, catch the bus from Terminal del Sur. Bus company Flota Occidental has a direct connection to Salento. This bus company is also well regarded and has comfortable seats. The ride from MedellÃn to Salento takes about 8.5 hours.
Tip: take travel tablets if you are carsick. The last kilometers are bumpy and there are many hairpin turns!
By plane to Salento
Flying to Salento is a more expensive but also faster way to get to the colorful mountain village. Viva Air is Colombia's low-cost airline and in our opinion the best airline to book tickets. A good alternative is Latam which often offers discounted tickets as well.Â
You can fly direct to Armenia and Pereira from MedellÃn and direct to Pereira from Bogota. From both airports - Armenia and Pereira - you can drive to Salento within an hour. You can take the bus or a cab. Obviously, the bus is the most economical option, but if you are traveling with a group you can split the cab cost. We paid 145,000 COP for the cab ride from Pereira to Salento, which translates to about €30.
What to do in Salento?
Just have your photo camera ready because you won't be able to hold back in Salento's lively and colorful center. The many beautifully painted houses, pretty flowers, colorful willies and photogenic locals create a particularly photogenic backdrop. You'll find cozy cafes, fun stores and fantastic sights in Salento. Here are the best tips to do in Salento:
1. Drinking coffee at Café Jesús MartÃn
Nothing is better than starting the day with a good cup of coffee. And the place for that in Salento is without a doubt Café Jesús MartÃn. There is a lovely relaxed atmosphere at this hot spot. The staff is very friendly and if you want advice on which coffee to choose, they can help you. We ordered a cappuccino which tasted good, but the filter coffee was especially delicious. By the way, don't forget to order a freshly baked piece of cake with your coffee, after all, you are on vacation!
2. Take a hike through the Cocora Valley
Valle de Cocora is the reason many tourists travel to Salento, and we don't blame them. The Coroca Valley is a breathtakingly beautiful place. You can do a cool and challenging hike of about 5 hours to finally reach the impressive valley full of palm trees. By the way, it is not just any valley full of palm trees, it is the valley with the tallest palm trees in the world!
Want to know more about this special place and the hike? Read all of our tips for hiking in the Cocora Valley.
3. Taste the typical local dish Trout
Trout is a typical Colombian dish and you must have tasted this at least once. Especially if you are a fish lover. There are several restaurants in Salento where you can order trout, but the best trout you eat at La Casona. A busy restaurant on the beautiful Plaza de BolÃvar. Trout (trout) can be prepared in a variety of ways. Our favorite is Trucha gratinada con champiñones, which is trout with cheese and mushrooms.
4. Visit one of the coffee farms in Salento
Besides the iconic Cocora Valley, there is one more thing that draws so many travelers to Salento: coffee. In fact, Salento is in the middle of Colombia's coffee region. As such, you will find several coffee farms in the vicinity of the mountain village. It is therefore nice to make time to visit one of these farms. We visited Finca El Ocaso where we were given a tour with lots of information about the processing from bean to coffee. And finally, of course, a delicious coffee tasting. To get to Finca El Ocaso you take a so-called Willy (a jeep) from Plaza de BolÃvar. These leave every whole hour when a Willy is full. An alternative is to walk to one of the coffee farms.
5. Have lunch at Etnia Arte Y Sabor for COP 24,000
One of our best finds in Salento is the hotspot Etnia Arte Y Sabor. Here you can enjoy a tasty three-course meal for 24,000 COP per person, which translates to less than €5. It is a small and cozy restaurant on a side street of Calle Real. The place you want to have lunch after a brisk hike through the Cocora Valley!
6. Play the local game of Tejo
Tejo is a typical Colombian game you want to play in Salento. The idea is to throw a flat metal disc at an explosive so that it explodes. The explosives are in a container of clay and you throw from a distance of 15 meters. It may seem easy, but it's really hard to hit the explosives. Are you a competitive player? Then you can also compete with each other after the warm-up throw. After all, there is a real scoring system. Who wins gets a beer? The nicest place in Salento where you can play Tejo is Los Amigos.
7. Stay overnight at hotel El Jardin
A nice place in Salento to stay is hotel El Jardin. It is a colorful hotel with spacious rooms, friendly staff, a good breakfast and, as a bonus, a beautiful view from the lawn. A nice place to watch the sunset with a beer. From El Jardin you can walk into the bustling center of the village within 5 minutes. The hotel El Jardin is a popular stay so it is advisable to book your room in time. Check here availability and rates.
8. Delicious food at Brunch de Salento
Local food is often very tasty, but sometimes you also get a little bored of it. So would you rather not eat local for once? Then remember Brunch de Salento. At this restaurant, they have a very extensive menu. From fresh smoothies to fries and burgers. But also a nice pancake on its time is nothing wrong with it!
9. Watch the sunset from Mirador Alto de la Cruz
The great thing about Salento is that it is located at an altitude of 1,900 meters in the middle of a mountainous region. Walking around the streets of Salento can be tough, but the climb to Mirador Alto de la Cruz is well worth it. To reach the viewpoint, you have to overcome some 200 steps, but then you have a breathtaking view of the mountain village. Come here about an hour before sunset, buy a beer and watch the sun slowly disappear behind the horizon.Â
Tip: Do you have enough time? Then hike on to Mirador de Salento where you overlook the mountains where the Cocora Valley lies.
10. Luxury dining out at Bernabé
If you want a more upscale dining experience then Bernabé the hotspot to be. From the outside it does not look very attractive but when you step inside you immediately feel the fine ambiance that hangs there. We sat at a table in the courtyard garden, a beautiful spot. The food here is fantastic, as is the friendly staff. Bernabe is recommended for its delicious meat dishes and we can definitely confirm this!
Lois Weeterings
A dreamer and adventure seeker, always on the lookout for new experiences. But also a hard worker with a thousand ideas racing through my mind. As a personal travel consultant and travel blogger, I share my passion for faraway destinations, thrilling adventures, and winter sports. With deep knowledge of places like Namibia, Colombia, the ABC Islands, and the Middle East, I’m here to help you craft a trip you’ll never forget. Through my personal stories and expert tips, I aim to inspire you to explore the world your way. Always with my camera in hand, I’m determined to capture every magical moment and share it with you.
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