Colombia - The Rough Guide to South America on a Budget - page 542

SALENTO
In the heart of coffee country, the
adorable village of SALENTO is one of the
region's earliest settlements, and its slow
development means the original lifestyle
and buildings of the paisa journeymen
who settled here in 1842 have barely
been altered since. Rural workers clad in
cowboy hats and ruanas (Colombian
ponchos) are a common sight. The
colourful, wonderfully photogenic
one-storey homes of thick adobe and
clay-tile roofs that surround the plaza
are as authentic as it gets.

5

the peaks of snow-clad volcanoes in
Parque Nacional Natural Los Nevados
(see p.543).

ARRIVAL AND INFORMATION
By bus Buses arrive and depart from Salento's main plaza.
Willy Jeeps (daily at 6.10am, 7.30am, 9.30am, 11.30am;
20min) run to Cócora. They return when full at around 3
or 4pm.
Destinations Armenia (every 20min from 6am-9pm;
1hr); Pereira (3 daily at 7.50am, 2.50pm & 5.50pm, more
frequent on weekends; 50min). Going to/from Pereira,
you can also take an Armenia-bound bus to the Las Flores
junction and then catch one of the frequent buses from
Armenia to Salento or Pereira.
Tourist information The English-speaking staff at
Tralala and Plantation House (see below) are particularly
knowledgeable about the area.
Bank The ATM on the main square often runs out of
money, so it's best to arrive with cash.

WHAT TO SEE AND DO
Salento is a popular destination for weary
backpackers who linger here to soak up
the town's unpretentious charms and
hike in the spectacular Valle de Cócora
or to use the town as a base to explore
the rest of the Zona Cafetera. Salento is
also the second most popular weekend
destination in the country for
Colombians, and on Saturdays and
Sundays the main plaza hosts a food and
handicrafts fair . Salento's annual fiesta
falls in the first week of January, when
the town kicks up its heels for a week
of horse processions, mock bullfighting
and folk dancing.
From the top of Calle Real, steps
lead to Alto de la Cruz , a hilltop
mirador offering unbeatable vistas of
the Valle de Cócora and, on a clear day,

ACCOMMODATION
Book ahead if you plan to visit during the annual fiesta at
the start of January.
Hostal Ciudad de Segorbe C 5 No. 4-06 T 6 759
3794, W hostalciudaddesegorbe.com. Stylish rooms offer
stunning views of the Valle de Cócora and balconies
overlook the spacious flower-filled central courtyard,
which is a great place to unwind with a book. There's also
a Spanish bar with a good selec tion of wine and the
owners are ju st wonderful. Dorms COP$22,000 , doubles
COP$65,000
Plantation House C 7 No. 1-04 T 316 285 2603,
W theplantationhousesalento.com. An old colonial house
set on a picturesque coffee plantation, this British/

Alto de la Cruz

CALLE 2 CALLE 2

SALENTO

EATING & DRINKING
Alegra
Brunch
Donde Mi Apa
La Eliania
El Rincón de Lucy

CALLE 3 CALLE 3

1
4
3
5
2

CALLE 4 CALLE 4

N

Super
Cocora

Bus
Station CALLE 5 CALLE 5

PLAZA

Bank

Jeep Terminal

CALLE 6 TA

Police

ACCOMMODATION
Hostal Ciudad de
Segorbe
Plantation House
La Serrana
Hostal Tralala

CALLE 7

CALLE 7

1
3
4
2

0 100

metres

(1.5km) & Finca El Ocaso (4km)