Exploring Salento Where to stay Where to eat How to get around How to get there Favourite stays
Despite its relatively small size, Salento is one of the most popular places to visit in Colombia. From its colourful streets and coffee tours to the magnificent Valle de Cocora, Salento is a town you shouldn’t miss!
And in case you need more convincing before you put Salento on your bucket list, it even inspired aspects of the Disney movie Encanto! There must be a reason for this, right?
If you’re visiting Salento soon, you’ve come to the right place. After reading this guide, you’ll know which area to stay in, where to find the best restaurants and how to get around the charming coffee town of Colombia.
Also, check out our list of the best activities in Salento!
Is Salento worth visiting?
Salento is Colombia’s colourful coffee town. Situated within the mountains of Colombia’s coffee growing region, it’s one of the best places to join a coffee tour and enjoy some of the tastiest coffee in the country.
The coffee farms and delicious coffee sound great, but they’re not even the star of the show. Most people visit Salento for the Valle de Cocora — home to the tallest palm trees in the world. Find out how to visit the valley in our guide to the best things to do in Salento.
No matter where you look in Salento, you’ll be stunned by its beauty. Whether it’s the social town square, the vibrantly decorated streets or the rolling green hills on all sides of the town.
If by this point you haven’t completely fallen in love with Salento, the people will make sure you do. We’re not exaggerating when we say that the people in Salento are some of the friendliest in Colombia.
Despite living in quite a touristy town, most of the people welcome you and treat you like a friend. They’re more than happy to stop and talk with you. To share the love they have for their town.
Now, are you starting to understand why everyone loves Salento so much? Are you dying to visit?
How long should you spend in Salento?
Salento can feel a little bit like a tick-box destination. There are things that you MUST DO, and then you can leave. These two things tend to be the Valle de Cocora and a coffee tour.
If you’re tight on time, then two days in Salento is enough — one day for the Valle de Cocora and the other for a coffee tour.
For those with a bit more time, we’d recommend an extra day or two to embrace the ambience of the little town or take some day trips to other nearby towns.
Where to stay in Salento
Salento isn’t a very big place. Even if you stay outside the main town, you still won’t be too far from the action.
Seeing as location doesn’t matter as much in Salento, we’d recommend picking the accommodation that you like most.
Location #1: In the centre of Salento — close to cafes, restaurants and transport
If you’re looking for ultimate convenience, then staying in the centre of Salento is going to be easier. You’re closer to all of the restaurants, cafes and shops. Plus, the main square is where the jeeps to popular destinations depart.
Some great options close to the centre are Hotel Terasu Salento and Hotel Kawa Mountain Retreat.
Location #2: Stay on a finca surrounded by nature – relax and rejuvenate
A lot of the stunning fincas (farms) are situated slightly outside of the town, such as La Cabaña Ecohotel and Ecohotel Piedemonte.
Staying at places like these tends to be an experience in itself. You’ll be surrounded by nothing but nature and tranquillity.
Best restaurants and street food in Salento
Food in Salento can be a bit hit and miss. Some places look like they’d be great, due to their pretty interior, but actually end up being a disappointment.
That being said, there are plenty of gems that will blow you away. They serve memorable food that you’ll be thinking about months later.
To help you make the right choices, here are our 3 favourite places to eat in Salento:
Brunch de Salento — the best brownie you’ll ever have
If you want to try the best brownie of your life, head to Brunch de Salento. Their warm peanut butter brownie with ice cream is to die for! It’s their bestseller for a reason.
The rest of the menu is also something to rave about. They have an extensive menu of homemade, delicious and predominantly healthy dishes. The owner might also be one of the friendliest people in Salento.
Top Tip: Brunch de Salento sells a packed lunch for your hike in Valle de Cocora. For a very reasonable price, you get a sandwich, granola, fruit, a drink, a brownie and a few other treats.
Coco Bowl — healthy and delicious food with a beautiful ambience
Situated at the end of Carrera 6, Coco Bowl might be missed if you stop walking too soon. Keep going! The food is worth it.
All of their food is fresh, vegetarian and nutritious, ranging from smoothie bowls, pasta and noodles dishes, poke bowls, sandwiches and soups. It’s a great spot to visit for breakfast, lunch or an early dinner as it closes at 6pm.
Salento’s street food
If you’re looking for cheap and delicious food, then indulge in some street food. Once the sun sets, the street vendors begin to appear.
You can find a number of street food stalls in the main square, or dispersed along the main road. They’re whipping up tasty arepas, empanadas, burgers, sausages and other amazing treats. You probably won’t pay more than 10,000 COP ($2.50) for any of it.
How to get around Salento
Salento is a touristy destination, so they’ve made it as easy as possible to get around.
Most of the time you’ll be able to walk to where you want to go, but for attractions outside of the town, jeeps are the best.
By foot
The best way to get around the town of Salento is by foot. This way you can pop in and out of the souvenir shops, cafes and restaurants.
Even if your accommodation is towards the outskirts of the town, it won’t take you longer than 15 minutes to walk to the centre.
By jeep
The multi-coloured jeeps of Salento have become somewhat iconic for the town. They will take you to the main attractions like the Valle de Cocora and nearby coffee farms, but they’re an experience in themselves.
Hanging off the back of the jeep is something you’re unlikely to forget.
The jeeps wait in the main square. They’re hard to miss! All you need to do is buy your ticket at the little ticket booth and they’ll tell you which jeep to get in. There’s no set timetable, they leave when they’re full.
This is the best way to get to the Valle de Cocora and nearby coffee farms. A return trip to Valle de Cocora costs only 8,000 COP ($2.00).
How to get to Salento
In summary
Now that you’ve finished reading this guide, you’re almost ready for your adventure in Salento. The next step is to create your personalised itinerary with our top picks of things to do in Salento. Simply choose your favourite activities and places to visit, and you’re all set to make lasting memories in Salento.
Our favourite places to stay in Salento
Salento takes accommodation expectations to a whole new level. Here you’ll find some incredible properties that are surrounded by nature and pure tranquillity.
The majority of accommodations offer great value for money and a place that you won’t want to leave.
These accommodations are just incredible:
Hotel Kawa Mountain Retreat - Treating Yourself
You can’t help but say wow when you see this place! The treehouse-style rooms are a magical combination of rustic and modern. The star of the show are the incredible views from your own private balcony.
Enjoy lounging on your hammock or opt for a room with a jacuzzi on your balcony. This place really feels like a retreat. You don’t even have to leave because there’s an on-site restaurant serving up the most incredible food.
- Treehouse style rooms with spectacular views
- Hot tub
- Onsite restaurant
- Exceptional breakfast included
Double rooms costs $80+ per night
Hotel Terasu Salento - Mid Range
Hotel Terasu is another great example of the extraordinary accommodation that you can find in Salento. The staff here help to take your stay to another level. They are incredibly friendly and helpful. Nothing is too much.
Here you’ll find lots of beautiful and secluded places to just relax and take in nature. One being your private balcony with a hammock. There’s also an onsite bar, if that’s your form of relaxation.
- Exceptional staff
- Private balcony with great views
- Onsite bar and private gardens
- Superb breakfast included
Double rooms cost between $40-$80 per night
La Cabaña Ecohotel - Mid Range
La Cabaña Ecohotel feels like you’re staying in your very own ranch, nestled within the lush mountains. You can spend your time relaxing in the vast hotel grounds or taking part in the activities offered by the accommodation – horse riding, cycling and fishing.
The homely rooms open up onto terraces adorned with hammocks and rocking chairs. The perfect place to relax. Friendly staff are also one of the best things about this place!
- Situated by a river amongst the mountains
- Activities available with the accommodation
- Amazing staff
- Delicious breakfast included
Double rooms available between $40-$80 per night
Ecohotel Piedemonte - Budget Friendly
Ecohotel Piedemonte is an absolute steal! For the facilities and views that they offer, you’d expect to pay at least double. Every room has its own terrace that overlooks the lush nature surrounding the complex.
Just sit back and listen to the sound of the river nearby!
They have their own restaurant and bar onsite, so you literally never have to leave the tranquillity of the hotel. Please do so though! Salento is amazing.
- Beautifully-designed rooms with terraces
- Surrounded by green and nature
- Restaurant and bar onsite
- Superb breakfast included
Double rooms between $20-$40 per night
Kate is a writer, (ex)Management Consultant and avid traveller. She recently returned from a 2-year career break exploring the world and decided corporate life wasn’t for her. She’ll soon be testing life as a digital nomad. She’s visited over 40 countries and fell in love with Latin America in particular. Her travelling has inspired a passion for yoga, salsa, hiking and Spanish.
Aleksandra is a writer and editor who recently moved from Hong Kong to London. She’s worked and studied in four countries (and counting) and picked up a new hobby in each of them. She’s a big fan of long train journeys so you can count on her to take the scenic route, finding a few hidden gems along the way.
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