Salento is the coffee region most visitors see, and the reason is that it fits in one small town: the valley, the farms, the plaza, the jeeps.
The short verdict#
| You want | Worth it? |
|---|---|
| The Cocora Valley and the wax palms | Yes, the best walk in the region |
| A coffee farm you can walk to | Yes |
| A pretty town with a plaza and restaurants | Yes |
| A quiet, undiscovered coffee town | No, go to Filandia or Jardín |
| A city | No, that is Medellín |
What makes it worth it#
The Cocora Valley: a loop of a few hours through cloud forest and up to the wax palms, 60 metres tall, standing on green hills in the mist. Jeeps leave the plaza in the morning. The coffee farms, several within a walk of town, where you pick, process, roast and drink. The town: painted balconies, the viewpoint at the top of the Calle Real, tejo in the bars, trout with patacón for dinner. The Willys jeeps, the region's transport. The Colombia itinerary has where it fits, the best coffee cities the wider region.
What makes it not worth it#
It is busy: weekends and December to January bring Colombian holidaymakers, and the Calle Real is a tourist street. It rains most afternoons. It is cool, around 1,900 metres, and the evenings need a jacket. Filandia, half an hour away, is the same without the crowd; Jardín, in Antioquia, the same with fewer foreigners.
How to get there and how long#
Flights to Pereira or Armenia, then an hour by road; or five to seven hours by bus from Medellín. Two or three days.
When#
December to February and July to August are driest; it rains in afternoons all year, so hike in the morning.
With a Colombian#
Roavi has no Local Friends listed in Salento; the Colombians who answer on the Community board are mostly in Medellín, Cali and Bogotá, and many know the coffee region. The Colombia travel forum.
A Salento question? Ask Colombians who know the coffee region.
Post on Roavi CommunityFrequently Asked Questions
Is Salento worth visiting?
Yes, for the Cocora Valley, the coffee farms and the town; it is the coffee region stop on most Colombia itineraries. Two or three days. Filandia and Jardín are the quieter alternatives if the crowds put you off.How many days in Salento?
Two or three: one for the Cocora Valley hike, one for a coffee farm and the town, a third for Filandia or a rest. A day trip from Pereira or Armenia is possible but rushed.How far is Salento from Medellín?
About five to seven hours by bus via Pereira, or a flight to Pereira or Armenia and an hour by road. From Bogotá, a flight to one of those airports is the sensible way.Is Salento safe?
Yes, a small tourist town with ordinary care. The Cocora hike needs proper shoes, water and an early start before the afternoon rain.