For exploring the valley, you have several options: trekking, mountain biking, or even horseback riding. Hiking is the most popular, and there’s a well-known loop trail that takes you past some of the most scenic viewpoints. If you enter the hiking trail from the point where the jeeps drop you, there are two small entrance fees to the park, one at the entrance after a blue gate (5,000 COP) and one a bit further on after the finca (10,000 COP). The entire loop is a medium difficulty hike that takes 5-6 hours (or a bit more if you take frequent stops for photos and to relax), but every step is worth it. About halfway through the hike you can even add on a little extra detour (about 30min) that leads to Acaime, a hummingbird sanctuary (entry 15,000 COP). They have bird feeders to attract hummingbirds – while this is not a rare practice in Colombia, if you haven’t yet seen a hummingbird “refugee”, it is fun to do so (if you have, it’s not different from the others). For a detailed guide about doing the hike, see this post.

2 Take a stroll down Calle Real

Strolling down Calle Real should definitely be on your agenda while visiting Salento. It’s the main artery of the town, with  a charming blend of restaurants, guesthouses, artisan stores, and an array of shops offering both souvenirs and local crafts. 

Calle Real has preserved its charm over time with brightly colored details, beautifully painted doors, and whitewashed walls. Early mornings (before 9am) is when the street reveals its true colors – quite literally. This is when you can spot the colorful doorways before all the shops open –  and once they do, the street transforms, full of activity.

3 Make your way to el Mirador

After walking through Calle Real, continue your journey to the steep staircase at its end. These steps are more than just a colorful backdrop for photos; they lead to a rewarding viewpoint, Mirador Alto De La Cruz. 

Here you get your first glimpse of the valley below, and if you go a bit further left from Alto De La Cruz, in just about a five-minute hike, you’ll arrive at Mirador de Salento. This spot offers unobstructed views of Salento’s landscape – a great setting to admire the sunset. Access to Mirador de Salento is free.

4 Eat trout

Salento and trout go hand in hand – it’s a culinary pairing you simply can’t miss. As you wander the streets, you’ll notice that nearly every restaurant showcases this local favorite, often with a menu dedicated to it. The trout here isn’t just any trout; it’s served in a variety of ways, the crowd-pleaser being Trout baked in a creamy, garlicky sauce, generously smothered with cheese. It might not be the epitome of healthy food, but the flavors are irresistible. Prices for this delightful fish dish can vary, typically ranging from around 20,000 COP for a simple grilled trout to about 40,000 COP for the saucy style goodness.

My top pick is Restaurante Donde Laurita. It’s conveniently located right at the northern corner of Plaza Bolivar. They serve up delicious trout, and their dishes also come accompanied by rice, patacones (fried plantains), and some salad. The limonada de coco is very good. If you’re looking to explore beyond, other highly recommended spots include Restaurante Andrea and Shalem. Each offers its unique take on the region’s signature dish, so your taste buds are in for a treat in Salento.

5 Play Tejo

Tejo, a game steeped in over 500 years of history and rooted in indigenous culture, is Colombia’s national sport – but it’s unlike any sport you’ve encountered before. Imagine a hybrid of darts and bowls, where the objective is to throw a heavy metal disc (the tejo) across about 20 meters, aiming for a tray of mud (cancha). The real thrill? The target has a metal ring (bocin) containing a parcel of gunpowder (mocha). Success is met with a small explosion and a satisfying bang.

What sets tejo apart is its unique ‘payment’ system. It’s not the game you pay for, but the beers you drink while playing – the game comes free with your drinks. This quirky aspect turns tejo into a distinctly Colombian experience, blending sport with leisure in a way that’s hard to find anywhere else. Increasingly popular among foreign tourists, tejo offers a fun glimpse into local culture and a chance to mingle with both locals and fellow travelers.

Los Amigos in Salento is the go-to spot for an authentic tejo experience. Here, the game is typically combined with enjoying a beer, and each player is expected to buy a bottle (around 3500 COP each) with an additional nominal fee of 1000 COP per person. It’s located just two streets north of Calle Real, on Carrera 4 between Calle 3 and 4. If you have trouble finding it, any local will likely point you in the right direction.

6 Visit a Coffee Finca

Salento, while renowned for its iconic wax palm trees, is also celebrated for its coffee farms nestled in the heart of Colombia’s coffee cultural landscape, a UNESCO World Heritage site. These farms offer more than just scenic beauty; they provide a deep dive into coffee growing and production. In a country that exports most of its coffee beans, these tours are a great opportunity to sample some of Colombia’s finest coffee right at the source. But joining a coffee farm tour is not just about savoring high-quality brews; it’s an educational journey tracing the journey of coffee beans from the plant to your cup. You’ll gain insights into the critical role of coffee in Colombia’s culture and economy, and understand the entire production process. Most tours include a tasting session where you can indulge in various coffee types and brewing methods.

7 Drink great coffee in town

Tucked away in Salento’s lively town center, Café Jesus Martin stands as a coffee sanctuary, steeped in a narrative as rich as the coffee it serves. The café’s namesake, Jesus Martin, is not just a revered figure in the Colombian coffee scene, but also wears multiple hats as a farmer, innovator, and café proprietor. Although his Santa Ana farm is not open to the general public, his café warmly welcomes visitors to experience the fruits of his award-winning efforts.

The café features a wide range of coffee options, their pour-over coffees are the best for appreciating the taste. The baristas here are also happy to educate people about everything from the origin of the beans to the details of their brewing techniques. As a bonus, they have great cakes and cookies (especially the chocolate cake), and the tranquil space is perfect for working.

8 Day Trip to Filandia

Filandia, a picturesque town, is a mere 30-minute drive from Salento. It shares Salento’s vibrant aesthetic, boasting houses adorned with brightly painted doorways, window frames, and roof tiles in a spectrum of rainbow hues. Yet, Filandia offers a more tranquil ambiance, making it an ideal day-trip destination for those seeking to avoid Salento’s bustling crowds.

The town is renowned for its delectable cuisine, local coffee farms, and the stunning waterfalls in its vicinity.

9 Go on a monkey tour

Near Filandia, you can take a tour to visit Barbas Bremen national park to look for howler monkeys. Do not attempt this trek without a guide, it’s very easy to get lost in the jungle and instructions on Google Maps are all wrong!

Your guide will take you through beautiful trails, while telling you about the most outstanding aspects of the region, as well as the history and habitat of howler monkeys. During the walk you will be able to connect with nature, take a bath in a waterfall and enjoy seeing howler monkeys in the wild. These monkeys are completely wild, and you will only spot them from a distance (if you’re lucky!), not interact with them directly, so the tour very much respect nature and its inhabitants. I found it super exciting to walk around looking for the monkeys who I could hear all the time on my South American trips, but never actually spotted. Until now! 

How to get there

From Armenia | The most common and easiest way to get to Salento from Armenia is by bus. Armenia, being the closest major city to Salento, has frequent bus services to Salento. Buses run roughly every 30 minutes from Armenia’s main bus terminal. The journey takes about 45 minutes to an hour.

From Pereira | Regular bus services operate from Pereira to Salento. Buses depart from Pereira’s main bus terminal and the journey takes about 1 to 1.5 hours. It’s a scenic route, offering views of the coffee landscape.

From Medellin | The journey from Medellin to Salento is longer, taking about 6 to 7 hours. Buses depart from Medellin’s North Terminal (Terminal Norte). It’s also possible to take a bus to Armenia or Pereira first and then transfer to a bus heading to Salento. This option can be more comfortable as it breaks the journey into two shorter segments. An alternative is to fly with Avianca or LATAM from Medellin to either Armenia or Pereira and then catch a bus to Salento.

How to get around

Explore the Tatacoa Desert by tuk-tuk, bicycle, or walking. If you spend a night inside the Tatacoa Desert, you can opt to walk. However, we recommend renting a bike or tuk-tuk + guide to move around much faster. You can rent bikes in Villavieja or with your accommodation or book a biking tour online.

How much time you need

I recommend spending at least one night in the Tatacoa Desert. It’s quite hard to reach, so not suitable for a day-trip. You need one full day from morning to evening to enjoy all the things to do in Tatacoa. Two nights would be ideal so you can split your journey over two days and also relax a little bit.