What to expect when visiting 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.
5 ways to get from Bogota to Salento
There are 5 ways to travel the distance of 300 kilometers (186 miles) from Bogota to Salento by bus via Armenia (9 hours 35 minutes to 11 hours 30 minutes), private Transfer (7 hours 45 minutes), flight via Armenia (2 hours 30 minutes to 3 hours), bus via Pereira (10 hours 30 minutes to 13 hours 30 minutes) and flight via Pereira (3 hours 30 minutes). The journey duration ranges between 2 hours 30 minutes to 13 hours 30 minutes and the quickest way is by flight via Armenia. The lowest priced tickets start from €13.90 for the bus via Armenia.Where to stay in Salento?
Still looking for accommodation? Don't forget to check out our favourite places to stay in Salento.
Bogota to Salento by Bus via Armenia
The bus is the cheapest way to get from Bogota to Salento. If you travel overnight, you can also save on a night of accommodation. Plus, you get a glimpse of Colombia’s rural landscape!
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 one or two hours.
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.
Whichever route you choose to take, we recommend taking a night bus for this long journey —preferably the bus with the latest departure time — so you don’t arrive too early in the morning in Armenia or Pereira. Alternatively, you can leave Bogota early in the morning so you can arrive in Salento before the end of the day.
Step 1: Bogota City Centre to Bogota Bus Terminal
Most buses operating from Bogota to Armenia depart from Terminal de Transporte Salitre, the main bus station in the city. If you’re coming from the tourist centre in La Candelaria, you can get to Salitre in two ways: by taxi for around 25,000 COP (€5.40) or by Transmilenio bus for 2,000 COP (€0.40).
Some buses on the Bogota-Armenia route also depart from Terminal del Sur, which you can get to by taxi for about 30,000 COP (€6.50). But for safety and convenience, we recommend taking one of the buses departing from Terminal de Transporte Salitre. We give more details on how to get to Salitre below.
Option 1: Bogota City Centre to Bogota Bus Terminal by Taxi
Taking a taxi from La Candelaria to Terminal de Transporte Salitre is fast and direct. The taxi can even drop you off at the exact Module you want (there are five modules in Salitre), so you won’t have a hard time finding your way around the bus terminal.
A word of advice: don’t hail a taxi from the street when in Bogota. Taxi drivers in this city are known for their faulty meters. Sometimes, they also take the longer route with foreign passengers so you end up paying more.
A better way to get a taxi in Bogota would be to order one via Uber or ask your hotel to hail one for you. Taxi rates start from 25,000 COP (€5.40) and you can reach Terminal de Transporte Salitre in around 30 minutes.
Option 2: Bogota City Centre to Bogota Bus Terminal by Bus
Looking for a cheaper way to get to Salitre from Bogota city centre? A bus ride costs only 2,000 COP (€0.40), but the journey takes about 1 hour and includes a bit of walking. Not a great idea if you’re travelling with big luggage.
To catch the bus, head to Universidades Bus Station in La Candelaria. Take Bus #1 for around 45 minutes to El Tiempo-Maloka, the nearest Transmilenio bus stop to Salitre Terminal. From El Tiempo-Maloka, it’s a 15-minute walk across several pedestrian passes to Terminal de Transporte Salitre.
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 6,000 COP (€1.30) at any Transmilenio bus station in Bogota.
Step 2: Bogota to Armenia by Bus
Terminal de Transporte Salitre is quite big and can be intimidating for first-time visitors. But don’t, there are signs everywhere and finding your way around is easy.
This bus station is divided into five modules. Buses operating on the Bogota-Armenia route depart from the blue Module 2.
Which company to take?
You can choose from a number of companies offering several trips daily. The most popular operator for this route is Expreso Bolivariano, which many consider as the most comfortable and safest bus company. Bolivariano offers large buses with toilets, AC, Wi-Fi, and sockets to charge your devices.
Other popular companies include Flota Magdalena and Velotax.
Buy tickets online for convenience
We recommend buying your tickets online beforehand for convenience. This way, you won’t have to arrive very early at the bus station or worry about not being able to secure a seat for your desired time.
Flota Magdalena and Velotax are available for online booking on BookAway. If you want to travel with Expreso Bolivariano, you can pre-book a ticket via BusBud. Bus ticket prices start from €12.10
Some bus companies will tell you that the travel time from Bogota to Armenia takes only about 7.5 hours. But that’s not really possible. Given traffic conditions and the number of road constructions along the way, this bus journey takes around 7h 20m - 9h.
- 24/7 customer support
- 24/7 customer support
It’s also possible to buy your tickets at the bus station, but you’ll have to arrive at least one hour before departure to increase your chances of getting a seat for your preferred bus. Alternatively, you can book via your hostel or a travel agency, but they might charge you a little more.
Step 3: Armenia to Salento by Bus
You will be dropped off 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 6,000 COP (€1.30).
There’s no timetable. The Armenia-Salento bus runs every 20 minutes or when full, from 05:00 in the morning until 20:00 in the evening. You can pay on the bus, to the driver or the attendant.
Bogota to Salento by Bus via Pereira
Travelling by bus from Bogota to Salento via Pereira takes a little longer than the Armenia route. The journey to Pereira takes around 10 hours 30 minutes to 13 hours 30 minutes, two hours longer than the bus 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 one to two hours.
Step 1: Bogota City Centre to Bogota Bus Terminal
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 about 25,000 COP (€5.40) and a 1-hour bus for 2,000 COP (€0.40).
Step 2: Bogota to Pereira by Bus
Getting to Pereira from Bogota is quite easy because there are buses leaving almost every hour from 06:30 in the morning to 23:00 in the evening.
We also recommend travelling with Expreso Bolivariano for this route, which has bus departures 14 times a day. If you want a more luxurious bus ride, you can travel with Flota Magdalena. Other good choices include Flota La Macarena, Velotax and Expreso Palmira.
- 24/7 customer support
- 24/7 customer support
Step 3: Pereira to Salento by Bus
For the second part of the trip (Pereira to Salento), Expreso Alcalá is the only bus operator.
It runs less frequently (once every one or two hours, from 06:30 to 18:30) in comparison with the transfer in Armenia (every 20 minutes, from 05:00 to 20:00). Make sure to check the bus schedules.
Buses depart from Pereira Bus Station, the same terminal you arrive in from Bogota. It’s worth noting that these buses depart on “latino times,” which means that delays are rather the rule than the exception!
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!
Bogota to Salento by Flight via Armenia
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.
Step 1: Bogota City Centre to Bogota Airport
Bogota Airport (El Dorado International Airport) is 12 km west of Bogota city centre. You can get there in two ways: a 30-minute bus for 2,000 COP (€0.40) or a 1-hour private transfer for around 60,000 COP (€12.90).
Option 1: Bogota City Centre to Bogota Airport by Taxi
When heading to Bogota Airport, we recommend asking your hotel’s staff if they can help you get a “white car.” White cars are more expensive than regular yellow taxis, but they’re also more reliable.
It’s not really a good idea to hail a regular taxi from the streets of Bogota. Not a lot of drivers offer a fair rate, and many try to overcharge tourists.
Rates start from 60,000 COP (€12.90) for a white car ride from the city to El Dorado Airport, which takes around 30 minutes.
Why we don’t recommend taking an Uber to Bogota Airport
Uber is technically illegal in Colombia. But because of a loophole in local laws, the ride-hailing app is still able to operate in the country. In fact, it is widely used in big cities like Bogota — except when travelling to/from the airports.
There is a strong police presence at airports and you risk police harassment for both yourself and the driver if you hail an Uber.
Do you still want to take an Uber to Bogota Airport? If yes, you can order a ride through the Uber hailing app. But don’t be surprised if the driver asks to drop you off a distance from the entrance to the airport’s departure gate.
Option 2: Bogota City Centre to Bogota Airport by Bus
Transmilenio buses are a cheap way to get from Bogota city centre to Bogota Airport. They’re quite convenient too, as long as you’re not travelling during rush hour or carrying bulky luggage. If you are, then we don’t recommend taking the bus!
Pickpockets are very common on these city buses. And if they’re overcrowded, it may be hard to keep track of your valuables.
To take a bus to El Dorado Airport from La Candelaria, head to Universidades Bus Station and hail Bus #1. If your hotel is in any of the northern neighbourhoods like Chapinero, take Bus K86.
Both buses will drop you off at Porta El Dorado, 4 km away from Bogota Airport. At Porta El Dorado, you can transfer to a feeder bus that will take you the rest of the way to the airport for free. These feeder buses are green in colour and have a sign in front that says “Aeropuerto.”
The bus ride from La Candelaria to Bogota Airport takes about 1 hour. From Chapinero, it’s about 30 minutes. A bus ticket costs 2,000 COP (€0.40).
Step 2: Bogota to Armenia by Flight
Wingo, Avianca and Latam Airlines are the carriers offering flights from Bogota to Salento via Armenia. Wingo often offers the cheapest flight tickets, but it’s not available daily. You can check Skyscanner beforehand for its availability.
Airfares start from 120,000 COP (€26) – 160,000 COP (€34). Flight time is about 1 hour.
Step 3: Armenia Airport to Salento
Flights arrive at Armenia Airport (El Eden International Airport). From the airport, a 15-minute taxi drive will bring you to the bus terminal for about 25,000 COP (€5.40).
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 6,000 COP (€1.30).
If you opt for a taxi from Armenia Airport directly to Salento, expect to pay about 95,000 COP (€20) – 120,000 COP (€26).
Bogota to Salento by Flight via Pereira
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.
Step 1: Bogota City Centre to Bogota Airport by Taxi or Bus
As we mentioned above, you can reach Bogota Airport from the city centre in two ways: via a 30-minute taxi or a 1-hour bus. Fares start from 60,000 COP (€12.90) and 2,000 COP (€0.40), respectively.
Step 2: Bogota to Pereira by Flight
Flights from Bogota to Salento via Pereira (Matecaña International Airport) are available several times a day. There are flight departures from 05:00 in the morning through 22:00 in the evening.
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.
You can choose from three carriers: Avianca, Latham Airlines and EasyFly. Prices vary between 130,000 COP (€28) – 180,000 COP (€39). The flight takes around 1 hour.
Step 3: Pereira to Salento by Bus
From Pereira Airport, you will first need to take a taxi to Pereira Bus Terminal. This takes about 15 minutes and costs around 20,000 COP (€4.30).
From the terminal you can take a 45-minute bus to Salento. A ticket costs 8,000 COP (€1.60). You can get more details about this in the bus section for Pereira to Salento above.
Another option is to take a taxi from Pereira Airport to Salento. The journey time is about 1 hour and this door-to-door service costs about 140,000 COP (€30). You will find a taxi queue just outside the airport. 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.
Bogota to Salento by Private Transfer
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.
BookAway offers professional drivers and nice cars (more comfortable and spacious than regular taxis). You can get a 3-seater private car with prices starting from €215.
Private Transport option from Bogota to Salento
Frequently Asked Questions about Bogota to Salento
What are my options from Bogota to Salento?
You have 3 ways to get to Sorrento from Bogota: a 9-hour bus, a 2-hour flight (including transfers), and an 8-hour taxi.
Travelling by bus from Bogota to Salento is the cheapest option, but it is not direct. You can only take a bus to Armenia or Pereira, and then transfer to another bus going to Salento.
The Bogota to Salento taxi is the only direct option for this route, but it is also the most expensive with prices from 860,000 VND (€32).
Is there a direct bus from Bogota to Salento?
There are no direct buses from Bogota to Salento. You can first take a bus from Bogota to Armenia, and then take another bus or hop on a taxi to Salento.
Another option would be to take a bus from Bogota to Pereira, and then transfer to a bus going to Salento. But we recommend the indirect bus via Armenia because it’s faster.
How to get from Armenia to Salento?
Where can I go after Salento?
After visiting Salento, a good next destination is Medellín, 280 km north. Also called the City of Eternal Spring, the city is known for its year-round spring-like weather, beautiful parks, and friendly people. Rich in culture and history, Medellin is also home to a number of museums and art galleries — the most popular being the Antioquia Museum, which features a huge collection of art pieces from Fernando Botero and Pedro Nel Gómez.
Find out how to get from Salento to Medellin in our detailed guide.
What is the best way to get from Salento to Armenia Airport?
The most convenient way to get from Salento to Armenia Airport would be to take a taxi. Rates range from 95,000 COP (€20) – 120,000 COP (€26).
On a budget? You can also first take a bus to Armenia Bus Terminal for 5,000 COP (€1). From here, you can then take a short taxi ride to Armenia Airport for around 20,000 COP (€4.30).
Rounding it up
We hope this guide was helpful in planning how to get from Bogota to Salento. If there's anything else you're wondering about, drop us a comment and we'll do our best to answer you within a few days.
PS: If you've recently travelled this route, share your experience with fellow travellers and help us improve this post. Thanks for helping out our travel community!
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Ela is a storyteller, content producer, solo traveller and a mermaid-in-training. When she’s not in front of her laptop, you will find her barefoot and living her best tan on some island in the Philippines… Or exploring the depths of its seas as a budding freediver. An island girl at heart, she’ll be happy anywhere there is sea, sand, sun and coffee.
Perfecto
Por favor el precio del traslado para 2 personas de el aeropuerto el dorado amén bogota a Salento. Gracias.
Hi Jose, private transfers from El Dorado Airport to any hotel in Salento start from $90 on BookAway. Safe travels!
PD: Esta respuesta está escrita en inglés para que sea útil para los viajeros de todo el mundo. Recomiendo usar Google Translate para traducir esta respuesta al español.