03 Jan A Travel Guide to Salento Colombia for Solo Travelers (and everyone else!)
The sleepy town known as Salento is the tourist hub of the Coffee Axis (Eje Cafetero) in Colombia and, in my opinion one of the best destinations in the country for solo travelers. Here you can enjoy local food and culture, choose an adventurous tour or slow down at a coffee shop. For the solo traveler, it’s a place you’ll feel safe, meet plenty of people, and can also do many activities alone if needed.
A solo traveler myself, I visited Salento on my own and found it to be one of my favorite getaways while living in Colombia. Getting there alone was straightforward to navigate and I met plenty of other travelers even despite the dip in tourism due to COVID. I truly think this should be a must-stop for every Colombian itinerary.
So without further ado, here’s my guide to visiting Salento for the solo travelers (and everyone else):
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THINGS TO DO IN SALENTO
First, let me start by solidifying your interest in visiting this Colombian town by sharing all the beautiful experiences and things to do in Salento:
1. Hike Valle de Cocora
Probably one of the initial destinations that drew you to visiting Salento is Valle de Cocora or Cocora Valley. The lush valley of towering palm trees is more amazing in person and an absolute must-visit. It can be experienced by meandering on your own through the valley or by tackling the full trek up the hills, through the forest, over suspension bridges and finally through the picturesque valley.
An adventurous soul myself, I highly recommend doing the full-day trek. It’s about 15 km and takes about 6 hours (so not a walk in the park) but it is beyond worth it. You’ll experience stunning views, get up close with Colombia’s nature and feel really proud after completing the loop.
To start the trek, you can either go on your own, or hire a guide. If you book through your hostel or in town you can expect to pay around 80,000 COP ≈$20 USD (2021 price). If you prefer to have everything booked beforehand, you can also reserve this hike on GetYourGuide.
Personally, I found the guide helpful and because the weather was SO bad when I visited, the trail in the forest was difficult to navigate, so to be honest I think I would have gotten lost otherwise. Plus, having a guide is perfect if you’re a solo traveler so you’re not alone in the forest.
However, if you meet hiking buddies and want to take on the trail on your own, it is possible. Just make sure to go counter clockwise, start around 9 AM, bring plenty of water and be prepared for mud and rain.
Getting there:
If you hire a guide, they’ll meet up with you and take care of getting you to Valle de Cocora.
However, if you go on your own, you’ll need to go to the town’s main square where they’ll be jeeps and ask which are going to Valle de Cocora. There should be a jeep leaving every hour starting at 6 AM (if not sooner, they leave whenever a jeep is full). The trip to the valley costs 5,000 COP ≈$1.50 USD and takes about 30 minutes.
Pro tip: try to find a jeep with an open top so you can stand up and take in the wonderful view along the way!
Entrance fee:
Once you’re there, there is an entrance fee for the valley and then the hike. Fees tend to change but in total you should pay around 10,000 COP ≈ $3 USD. If you hire a guide, this will all be included.
2. Tour a coffee finca
Another must-do activity in Salento is visiting a coffee farm. There are many 1-2 hour options at various farms, but for the coffee lovers I recommend diving deep into the local coffee process by signing up for the 3 hour tour at El Ocaso.
This was one of the best tours I’ve ever done through my travels so far. It was fascinating to learn about something I enjoy every day and I had so much fun with the people in my group and our wonderful tour guide. I can’t recommend it enough!
During our time we were guided through the entire process of coffee from the planting of the seed to the final roasting. Then came the tasting, which not only involved trying various coffees, but also learning about the different tastes and smells humans experience and which to look for in a good coffee. The entire 3 hours were interactive and it’s a great tour for solo travelers.
You can book a tour with El Ocaso on their website, through GetYourGuide or talk to your accommodation who will have a WhatsApp number. The premium 3 hour coffee tour I described is 70,000 COP ≈ $17 USD (2021 price) and is offered in both English and Spanish.
3. Horseback riding
In a lot of popular destinations, to be honest horseback riding feels to me like a tourist trap and it’s an activity I usually skip out on. But in Salento, I felt it was 100% worth it and one of the best ways to experience the landscape. Plus, it’s so much fun! I hadn’t ridden a horse in years so the thrill was going to be there regardless. But then we trekked through the forest and across rushing rivers, so it really felt like I was in my own movie!
This is a great activity to do as a solo traveler, as well. I went alone, but met several people in my group and we had a blast together.
I recommend booking a horseback riding tour with Cabalgatas San Pablo online or via Whatsapp at +57 312 206 6673. They were so great and seemed to treat their horses really well. I talked to a man in my group who had been horseback riding for years, and said every time he visits Salento he goes there – so highly recommended!
There are a few different tours/routes you can book. Originally I intended to take the one to Santa Rita waterfall but there was a landslide so I did the Rio Navarco y Boqueron route which went down through the valley and across rivers. It was adventurous and involved some beautiful views.
4. Wander through Salento’s colorful streets
Grab your camera and stroll through the little town. You’ll find a ton of cafes, souvenir shops, and more than a few picture opportunities. As always, my favorite thing to do when exploring a town is try some street food and Salento has more than a few places to grab a pastry or an empanada. The most popular street to explore is Calle Real, however I also recommend taking some of the few side streets that may just be on your way.
5. Hike to El Mirador
At the end of Calle Real you’ll find a staircase to Mirador Alto de La Cruz and farther up to Mirador de Salento. You’ll be able to enjoy a view above the city and of the valley below.
6. Visit Santa Rita waterfall
Although I had every intention to visit Santa Rita waterfall via horseback riding, we were unable to because of the weather. However, if you’re lucky and have extra time then Santa Rita waterfall is said to be beautiful and worth a trip off the beaten path.
You can visit a few ways, via bus and then hiking, horseback riding, or even biking. Before going, I would check with your hostel – they can tell you how best to make it happen and if the weather is ok to go.
7. Eat Trout
Trucha (trout in English) is the local dish of Salento and a meal you NEED to eat. Honestly, my mouth is watering thinking of the fish and the sauces they smother it in served with fried, crispy plantains…
Almost every local restaurant will have trucha on their menu, so I’m not sure you can go wrong. However, the places I really enjoyed were Parrilla y Vinos Juan Esteban and a food stall Carpa la Mona.
How to Get to Salento
Salento can be reached by bus or by a combination of flying and taking a bus.
From Medellin:
You can take a bus directly to Salento from Terminal del Sur in Medellin via Flota Occidental. There are typically 4 scheduled times a day but double check schedules. Tickets are 70,000 COP ≈ $17 USD and can be easily purchased on BusBud or at the Flota Occidental desk in Terminal del Sur. The bus ride takes about 7 hours depending on traffic.
From Medellin, you can also fly to Armenia or Peirera and then take a shorter bus to Salento.
From Bogota:
There is not a direct bus to Salento from Bogota, instead you’ll take a bus to Armenia (around 7 hours and 70-80,000 COP ≈ $18 USD) and then take a connecting bus from Armenia to Salento. You can book these buses on BusBud, usually with the companies Expreso Palmira and Bolivariano.
You can also fly from Bogota to Armenia or Pereira and then take a short bus to Salento.
From Cali:
There are no direct buses from Cali to Salento, instead you’ll take a bus from Cali to Armenia via Bolivariano or Expreso Palmira. You can search options here on BusBud. It should take about 4 hours and cost about 35-45,000 COP ≈ $8-11 USD.
From Armenia:
You can take a taxi from Armenia to Salento or a bus from the Armenia Transportation Terminal. Buses leave every hour if not more frequently and are around 5,000 COP ≈ $2 USD.
From Pereira:
You can take a taxi from Pereira to Salento or a bus from the Transportation Terminal Pereira. Buses leave every hour and are around 5,000 COP ≈ $2 USD.
A note about taking a bus to Salento:
Buses especially coming from Bogota and Medellin can be long. While your ticket may say 7 hours (which is the average time), it could be much longer. My bus to and from Medellin ended up being 9 hours due to construction and long stops. During the majority of that time I did not have service so I recommend having a book to read, downloading some tv shows on your phone, and bringing snacks, water, and Dramamine (there are some curvy roads).
In terms of safety, I felt very safe on these buses and ran into no issues taking them alone. I still recommend keeping your valuables on your though, rather than storing underneath the bus.
The other thing to note in terms of safety as a solo traveler for these buses is being conscious of arrival time when choosing a departure time. I do not recommend taking any night bus for this reason. While the buses to or from Bogota and Medellin are long, they’re not long enough for a full overnight bus unless you leave very late. Otherwise, leaving at 9 PM results in arriving at your destination at 3 AM which is inadvisable and super inconvenient. Instead, I suggest taking a morning bus. Although it’s a pain because it takes up your whole day, to me it’s better than arriving somewhere extremely late at night alone.
I took the 1:30 PM bus from Medellin and arrived around 10:30 PM in Salento. I met friends to walk to the hostel with and thankfully Salento is safe. However, I wouldn’t recommend leaving later than that.
Getting around salento
Salento is small so walking everywhere within the town should not be a problem. However, it is hilly so if you’re walking to your hostel with a large backpack then expect to take your time and stop for some breaks.
Otherwise, the way to get around to main areas like the coffee farms or Valle de Cocora is via the red jeeps in town which are typically 5,000 COP ≈ $1.50 USD a ride.
You can also talk to your hostel about booking a private taxi somewhere. They’re not super common but it is possible. The morning I needed to get to the bus station I really didn’t feel like heaving my backpacks across town, so I talked to the hostel front desk and got a private ride for 4,000 COP ≈ $1 USD to the terminal.
If taking a bus to Armenia, Peirera, or Medellin, head to the Salento Bus Terminal.
WHERE TO STAY in Salento
Hostels
If you’re a solo traveler like me on a budget or someone who likes to meet a lot of people, I recommend staying at a hostel in Salento. The two most popular are Viajero and Coffee Tree Boutique.
Viajero Hostel:
Viajero has a reputation of its own in Colombia and is wildly popular for backpackers. It’s great to meet people, this particular location has an incredible view, offers salsa lessons and yoga. The one thing I will say is that if you stay in a dorm room, know they’re nothing fancy. Not bad per say, but just a very basic bunk bed (not the fancier capsules you’ll find in the Medellin or Santa Marta Viajeros).
→ Check availability for Viajero here on Hostelworld or Booking.com
Coffee Tree Boutique Hostel:
This highly rated hostel in Salento has all the cozy, cabin vibes you need in the sleepy town. The farm house has large common areas to hang out and beautiful views.
→ Check availability here on Hostelworld or Booking.com
Hotels
Salento has many affordable and beautiful hotels to ensure a relaxing stay surrounded by nature. Below are some of my recommendations.
Hotel El Mirador del Cocora:
Out of everywhere to stay in Salento, this hotel may be the best. Here you’ll have panoramic views of the lush green valleys and mountains which can be enjoyed from the patio or even your room. If you choose the Suite with a mountain view, you’ll even have your own spa hot tub to soak in.
→ Check availability for Hotel El Mirador del Cocora here
Casa Salento:
For a comfortable and affordable stay, try they homey Casa Salento. Rooms start at just $30 a night and guests highly rate it for a delicious breakfast, welcoming staff, and good cleanliness.
→ Check availability for Casa Salento here
WHERE TO EAT in Salento
Since we’re on the subject, let’s get into food.
Like I mentioned, for eating trout I recommend Parrilla y Vinos Juan Esteban and a food stall Carpa la Mona.
For an incredible breakfast and good wifi for the digital nomads, I recommend Brunch de Salento.
For those looking for an instagram-worthy cafe try Coco Bowl.
If you need a quick coffee to go before a tour, head to Andariego Coffee To Go.
And for more local dishes try El Rincon de Luci.
How Long should you visit Salento
For the slow travelers and digital nomads, you may like Salento enough to stay awhile. However, for those passing through and on a timeline, I suggest at least 3 nights and 2 full days. This way you have one day for Valle de Cocora and one day for the coffee farm and horseback riding. Ideally, if you don’t want to feel rushed then 3 days is even better.
MORE ON SOLO TRAVEL IN SALENTO:
As I’ve mentioned, Salento is a perfect Colombian destination for solo travelers.
If you’re looking to meet people, three great ways are on the bus, at a hostel, and in group tours. On the bus from Medellin there were a ton of backpackers, and I met a friend, grabbed their number and we hung out for a few days. Hostels as always are also great to meet others, especially at breakfast, during free activities, and in common areas. Lastly, if you don’t meet anyone just go on a group tour alone – each one I went on had some great people participating to hang out with afterwards.
In terms of safety, Salento is known to be a very safe town. Usually I try to avoid walking alone at night altogether, but (while I still don’t recommend wandering around) I felt okay to walk alone to a nearby convenience store and back from restaurants past dark in Salento.
Lastly, don’t forget to book your travel insurance so yourself, your belongings and your bookings are covered in the case of any incidents (that are unfortunately not so uncommon while traveling).
My go-to for all coverage is World Nomads because it’s designed for backpackers and covers everything I do. However, if you’re looking for a a more affordable option to cover travel medical emergencies I suggest SafetyWing.
And that’s it – enjoy your Colombian getaway to the coffee countryside of Salento. Check out some of the additional resources below ad related blog posts for more Colombia travel tips!
More Resources for Your Trip to Colombia
Planning your own trip? Here’s some resources I used to book and coordinate my itinerary through Colombia along with some recommendations:
Hostels
If you’re a budget traveler or looking for an easy way to meet others, Hostelworld is the best place to search. Below are some of my recommendations, click to search for availability!
- Medellin: Hostel Rango Boutique OR Los Patios
- Cartagena: Life is Good Hostel
- Santa Marta: Viajero
- Minca: Mundo Nuevo Eco Lodge OR Masaya Casas Viejas
- Salento: Coffee Tree Boutique
- Bogota: Cranky Croc Hostel
- Cali: Viajero Hostel & Salsa School
- Palomino: Casa Chapolin
Hotels
Booking.com is the way to go when search for hotels in Colombia because they typically offer free cancellation with plenty of affordable to more luxurious stays.
Flights
Flights to Colombia from the U.S. are typically the most affordable in South America to Bogota, Medellin, Cartagena, or Cali. Domestic flights within Colombia also tend to be pretty affordable especially if traveling light. To find the best deal & prices I recommend using Skyscanner.
BUSES
The easiest way to search for and book buses in Colombia is with BusBud where you can easily compare options and use a platform in English. Check it out here.
Insurance
Travel insurance is a must for every trip, especially when coming to a destination like Colombia where you may be doing adventurous activities, taking a lot of buses, and theft is a higher risk. Make sure you’re covered! My go to is always WorldNomads which has a generous coverage and is made for backpackers. You can search for coverage here. However if you’re looking for only travel medical emergency insurance, Safety Wing is a good option too.
Tours & Experiences
There’s a lot of free thing to do in Colombia or experiences you can do on your own. I always recommend checking blog posts for inspiration. If you’re interested in tours though like a boat tour of Rosario Islands, a day trip to Guatape from Medellin, or a trek to the Lost City then I suggest checking on GetYourGuide & Viator.
Know Before You Go
Check out my Colombia Destination Page here for information on visas, health requirements, currency, outlets, and more.
More Resources for Your Trip to Colombia
Planning your own trip? Here’s some resources I used to book and coordinate my itinerary through Colombia along with some recommendations:
Hostels
If you’re a budget traveler or looking for an easy way to meet others, Hostelworld is the best place to search. Below are some of my recommendations, click to search for availability!
- Medellin: Hostel Rango Boutique OR Los Patios
- Cartagena: Life is Good Hostel
- Santa Marta: Viajero
- Minca: Mundo Nuevo Eco Lodge OR Masaya Casas Viejas
- Salento: Coffee Tree Boutique
- Bogota: Cranky Croc Hostel
- Cali: Viajero Hostel & Salsa School
- Palomino: Casa Chapolin
Hotels
Booking.com is the way to go when search for hotels in Colombia because they typically offer free cancellation with plenty of affordable to more luxurious stays.
Flights
Flights to Colombia from the U.S. are typically the most affordable in South America to Bogota, Medellin, Cartagena, or Cali. Domestic flights within Colombia also tend to be pretty affordable especially if traveling light. To find the best deal & prices I recommend using Skyscanner.
BUSES
The easiest way to search for and book buses in Colombia is with BusBud where you can easily compare options and use a platform in English. Check it out here.
Insurance
Travel insurance is a must for every trip, especially when coming to a destination like Colombia where you may be doing adventurous activities, taking a lot of buses, and theft is a higher risk. Make sure your health, bookings, luggage, and belongings are covered. My go to is always WorldNomads which has a generous coverage and is made for backpackers. You can search for coverage here. However if you’re looking for a cheaper option for travel medical emergency insurance, I suggest Safety Wing.
Tours & Experiences
There’s a lot of free thing to do in Colombia or experiences you can do on your own. I always recommend checking blog posts for inspiration. If you’re interested in tours though like a boat tour of Rosario Islands, a day trip to Guatape from Medellin, or a trek to the Lost City then I suggest checking on GetYourGuide & Viator.
Know Before You Go
Check out my Colombia Destination Page here for information on visas, health requirements, currency, outlets, and more.
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Christopher Berge
Posted at 23:52h, 18 OctoberHello Caroline,
Your website has been very helpful to assist a female friend of mine to travel independently in Colombia for a meet-up in Salento. Your writing, pictures, advice and website layout are all very professionally and handsomely done.
Keep it up. I will use some of your recommendations for booking my trip late October 2022.