How to get from Bogota to Salento

Why visit Salento?

Salento is a charming and colourful town within the mountains and in the heart of Colombia’s coffee region. Despite its small size, it exudes beauty everywhere you go — so much so that the town even inspired aspects of the Disney movie Encanto!

There are two things you must do when in Salento: visit a coffee plantation and hike to the beautiful Cocora Valley, home to the tallest palm trees in the world. Whether you are a coffee lover or a nature lover, Salento is a great place to go.

There are 5 ways to travel the 300 kilometres (186 miles) from Bogota to Salento. You can choose between the bus via Armenia, private transfer, flight via Armenia, bus via Pereira and flight via Pereira . The journey takes 2 hours 30 minutes to 13 hours and the quickest way is by flight via Armenia. If you're on a budget, the cheapest option is by bus via Armenia with tickets starting at 63,000 COP ($16.20).

The bus is the cheapest way to get from Bogota to Salento. But there’s a catch: there are no direct buses operating from Bogota to Salento. You’ll have to make a bus transfer either in Armenia or in Pereira.

We think it is best to travel via Armenia. Thanks to the frequency of the buses leaving from Armenia to Salento, you won’t have to wait too long. Buses from Armenia leave every 20 minutes, while buses from Pereira leave every hour.

Also, in case of delays, the chance of missing the last bus connection is lower when you travel via Armenia. The last bus departs from Armenia to Salento around 20:00, while the last one from Pereira to Salento leaves earlier around 18:30.

No matter which route you take, it’s best to go with a night bus, preferably the bus with the latest departure time. That way, you won’t arrive too early in the morning in Armenia or Pereira. Travelling overnight also saves you the cost of a night’s accommodation. Plus, you get a glimpse of Colombia’s rural landscape!

Alternatively, you can leave Bogota early in the morning so you can arrive in Salento before the end of the day.

Buses running from Bogota to Armenia leave from Terminal Salitre. The fastest way to get there from the city centre is a 30-minute ride by taxi or Uber.

Uber is more comfortable and reliable, with prices from 30,000 COP ($7.70). Taxis cost around 15,000 COP ($3.80), but some drivers may try to overcharge tourists.

If you’re on a tight budget, you can take the TransMilenio bus. From Universidades Station, take Line 1 towards Portal El Dorado and get off at El Tiempo – Cámara de Comercio. It costs just 3,000 COP ($0.80), making it the cheapest option.

Kate’s insider tip: You need a Tullave card to pay for your fare on Transmilenio buses. If you don’t already have one, you can buy this card for 8,000 COP ($2) at any Transmilenio bus station in Bogota.

Terminal de Transporte Salitre is quite big and can be intimidating for first-time visitors. But don’t worry, there are signs everywhere and finding your way around is easy.

Two main companies run this route: Expreso Bolivariano and Flota Magdalena. Ticket prices start from 53,000 COP ($13.50), and the journey takes around 7h 30m - 8h.

For convenience, we recommend booking your tickets online beforehand on BookAway. It saves you the hassle of getting to the station early, and you won’t have to stress about seats selling out.

You can also buy your ticket directly at the terminal, but try to get there at least one hour before departure for a better chance of getting a seat on your preferred bus. Alternatively, you can book via your hostel or a travel agency, but they might add a small fee.

Bogota

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Armenia

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Flota Magdalena

From 53,000 COP ($13.50)

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• 24/7 customer support

53,000 COP ($13.50)

08:30

8h

16:30

Check on BookAway

• 24/7 customer support

74,000 COP ($18.90)

10:00

8h

18:00

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8h

20:00

14:30

8h

22:30

16:00

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Check on BookAway

Terminal de Salitre

2G Gold

Terminal de Armenia

10:00

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Expreso Bolivariano

74,000 COP ($18.80)

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• 24/7 customer support

74,000 COP ($18.80)

20:30

7h 50m

04:20

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• 24/7 customer support

82,000 COP ($21)

10:00

7h 50m

17:50

21:40

7h 50m

05:30

Check on BookAway

When you arrive at Armenia Bus Station (Terminal de Transportes de Armenia), walk towards the parking lot until you find the sign saying “Salento.” Here you can catch your second bus.

Most of the time someone will walk through the station to call for and collect passengers to fill up the bus going to Salento.

This is a smaller, local bus that takes you to Salento Bus Terminal in 45 minutes. A bus ticket costs around 7,000 COP ($1.80).

There’s no timetable. The Armenia-Salento bus runs every 20 minutes or when full, from 05:00 until 20:00. You can pay on the bus, to the driver or the attendant.

Travelling by bus from Bogota to Salento via Pereira takes a little longer than the Armenia route. The whole journey takes around 9 hours 15 minutes to 13 hours, since the Bogota to Pereira leg is about three hours longer than the trip to Armenia.

In Pereira, you’ll need to transfer to your second bus, which takes you to Salento in about 45 minutes. But unlike the frequent local buses from Armenia to Salento, buses from Pereira to Salento are available only every hour.

Like buses bound for Armenia, Bogota-Pereira buses depart from Terminal de Transporte Salitre. As we mentioned above, you can get from Bogota City Centre to Salitre in 2 ways: a 30-minute taxi for 15,000 COP ($3.80) or Uber for30,000 COP ($7.70), or a 1-hour bus for 3,000 COP ($0.80).

More bus companies run this route compared to Armenia, but the trip takes longer. Buses run throughout the day, with departures from morning to evening.

The main companies are Expreso Bolivariano, Flota Magdalena, Velotax, Expreso Palmira and Flota La Macarena.

Fares start from 70,000 COP ($18), and the journey takes around 8-11h.

Terminal de Salitre

2G Gold

Terminal de Pereira

06:00

8h 30m

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8h 30m

07:20

23:30

8h 30m

08:00

Expreso Bolivariano

From 70,000 COP ($18)

Compare prices

• 24/7 customer support

70,000 COP ($18)

06:00

8h 30m

14:30

08:00

8h 30m

16:30

10:30

8h 30m

19:00

14:40

8h 30m

23:10

17:10

8h 30m

01:40

18:50

8h 30m

03:20

23:30

8h 30m

08:00

Check on BookAway

• 24/7 customer support

81,000 COP ($20.50)

20:50

8h 30m

05:20

22:50

8h 30m

07:20

Check on BookAway

Terminal de Salitre

Duo

Terminal de Pereira

19:50

8h 30m

04:20

21:50

8h 30m

06:20

Expreso Bolivariano

70,000 COP ($18)

Compare prices

• 24/7 customer support

70,000 COP ($18)

21:50

8h 30m

06:20

Check on BookAway

• 24/7 customer support

81,000 COP ($20.50)

19:50

8h 30m

04:20

Check on BookAway

For the last part of the trip (Pereira to Salento), Expreso Alcalá is the only bus operator. Buses depart from Pereira Bus Station, the same terminal you arrive in from Bogota.

 There are horuly departures from 06:30 to 18:30. It runs less frequently in comparison with the transfer in Armenia. Make sure to check the bus schedules.

It’s worth noting that these buses depart on “Latino times,” which means that delays are rather the rule than the exception!

The bus fare is 13,000 COP ($3.20) for a ride that takes around 45 minutes.

TIP: In case you have to wait for a little while, there are cafeterias in the terminal where you can eat, drink and relax safely.

If you have enough time, you can also explore the shopping mall, named La 14 (La Catorce), across the street. You will find some restaurants, a food court and a supermarket. Perfect for hungry travellers on the go!

Travelling by plane from Bogota to Salento is fast and easy. However, you will miss the beautiful scenery along the way. Also, you will still need to transfer as Salento doesn’t have an airport.

From Bogota Airport (El Dorado International Airport, BOG) you have two options, a 1-hour flight to Armenia or a 1-hour flight to Pereira.

Just like the bus, flying to Armenia is more convenient. The bus line from Armenia to Salento is more frequent than from Pereira to Salento.

TIP: If you decide to travel by plane, please consider including a carbon compensation fee to reduce your impact on the environment.

Flights from Bogota to Salento via Armenia depart from El Dorado International Airport (BOG), about 30 minutes from the city centre by private transport. If you’re flying in the evening, leave early. Rush hour traffic (16:30–19:30) can double travel time.

We recommend taxi-hailing apps like InDrive and Uber. InDrive fares start from 30,000 COP ($7.70), while Uber Taxi costs around 29,000 COP ($7.40) to 38,000 COP ($9.60).

If you prefer to book ahead, you can do so via BookAway:

• • Shared minivan – 39,000 COP ($10) per seat
  • Private car – 48,000 COP ($12.30) for 2 people

On a budget? The TransMilenio bus costs only 3,000 COP ($0.80), but you’ll need a TuLlave card — cash isn’t accepted. Also note that buses are often crowded and usually require a transfer.

Check out our page on Bogota Airport for a more detailed guide.

Avianca, Wingo and LATAM all fly from Bogota to Armenia. Flights take about 1 hour, with ticket prices starting from 109,000 COP ($28).

There are only five flights a day, with the earliest at 06:14 and the last one at 21:00. On Sundays, the earliest flight can be as early as 05:20. For up-to-date schedules and prices, check Skyscanner.

Flights arrive at Armenia Airport, also known as El Eden International Airport. From the airport, a 25-minute taxi drive will bring you to the bus terminal for about 25,000 COP ($6.40).

As we discussed in the bus section above, you will find the local buses to Salento just outside Armenia Bus Terminal. A bus ticket costs 7,000 COP ($1.80).

If you opt for a taxi from Armenia Airport directly to Salento, expect to pay about 98,000 COP ($25).

Flying from Bogota to Salento via Pereira takes just about as long as the flight via Armenia. The only difference is that there are fewer buses operating on the Pereira to Salento route.

That means that there’s a chance you’ll be waiting a while for your connecting bus. And if you miss the last bus of the day, you’ll have no choice but to take an expensive taxi from Pereira to Salento.

As we mentioned above, you can reach Bogota Airport from the city centre in two ways: via a 30-minute private transfer or a 1-hour bus. Fares start from 29,000 COP ($7.40) and 3,000 COP ($0.80), respectively.

The three carriers flying from Bogota to Pereira Airport, also known as Matecaña International Airport, are Avianca, LATAM and JetSmart.

Flights are available several times a day from 05:14 until 22:25. But keep in mind that the last bus from Pereira to Salento departs at 18:30. So it’s best to take one of the earlier flights if you want to arrive in Salento on the same day.

Prices start from 109,000 COP ($28). The flight takes around 1 hour.

The easiest and fastest way to get to Salento from Pereira Airport is by taxi. You will find a taxi queue just outside the airport. The ride takes about 45 minutes and drops you off right at your accommodation — no extra transfers needed.

Fares start from around 150,000 COP ($38.50). Make sure to agree on a price before getting in the taxi! No driver in Pereira will agree to turn on the meter for this long-distance taxi journey.

Prefer to take the bus?

If you want to take the bus, you will first need to take a taxi to Pereira Bus Terminal. This takes about 25 minutes and costs around 25,000 COP ($6.40).

A cheaper, but more complex, way to reach the bus terminal is by using Pereira’s Megabús public transport system. The trip takes around 45 minutes and can save you quite a bit.

Here’s how to do it:

• • Take the yellow bus #25 from just outside the airport. Get off at El Viajero Station.
  • Transfer to a green Megabús (Line 1, 2 or 3). Ride it to Intercambiador Cuba Station.
  • Switch to yellow bus #27 heading to Terminal de Transportes de Pereira.

The fare is only about 3,000 COP ($0.80), but keep in mind you’ll need a Tarjeta Megabús card — cash isn’t accepted.

From the terminal you can take a 45-minute bus to Salento. A ticket costs 13,000 COP ($3.20). You can get more details about this in the bus section for Pereira to Salento above.

Looking for a direct transfer from Bogota to Salento? Then booking a private transfer is the way to go. One important thing to note though is that this journey will take around 7 hours 45 minutes. Therefore we strongly recommend booking with a trusted driver.

If you have any local contacts, you can ask them. But otherwise, we recommend booking your private transport via BookAway. They offer professional drivers and nice cars (more comfortable and spacious than regular taxis). You can get a 3-seater private car with prices starting from 927,000 COP ($235).

Just keep in mind that because it’s a long-distance journey, availability can be limited. It’s a good idea to check ahead before locking in your plans.