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7 Best Things to do in Salento Colombia: (2026 Guide + Safety Tips)

Salento is a small town tucked into Colombia’s coffee region, and there are so many things to do in Salento for travelers. Its colourful streets, lively plazas, and surrounding hills make it a perfect base for exploring the area. This Salento travel guide will help you explore the best Salento Colombia activities such as the Cocora Valley, home to the world’s tallest palm trees.

Read my Cocora Valley Guide!

A traveler standing in Cocora Valley with towering wax palm trees in the background in Salento, Colombia. One of the best things to do in Salento. Colombia Travel Guide

Salento

7 Best Things to do in Salento Colombia: (2026 Guide + Safety Tips)

Generally, Salento is one of the safest destinations in Colombia. It is a laid back rural town where you can feel comfortable walking around with your phone out or exploring alone. Just follow the following tips:

Financial Planning: Many restaurants/tours/shops in Salento do not take card and local ATMs are notoriously unreliable. To be safe, I would suggest withdrawing cash in a larger city such as Bogota before you arrive.

Environment & Terrain: The trails in the Cocora Valley can become incredibly muddy and slippery after it rains. Make sure you wear professional waterproof hiking boots or rent rubber boots locally.

Altitude Awareness: Salento sits at approximately 1,900 metres, but parts of the Cocora Valley hike exceed 2,700 metres. Ensure you stay hydrated and take the climb slowly to avoid altitude sickness.

Night Navigation: While the town is safe after dark, there are very few pavements or streetlights once you leave the central square. If your accommodation is outside the town centre, make sure to use your phone torch or take a flashlight if you have one.

To get there, you can take a bus from the main terminal in Bogota toward Armenia or Pereira. From either of those cities, you will catch a smaller local bus to Salento. You will arrive at the bus station located just outside of town. Salento is tiny, and I personally walked to my accommodation from the station. If you do not want to walk with your bags, there are plenty of local Willis jeeps or taxis available to drop you off.

If you are wondering where to stay in Salento for the first time, the good news is that the town is very small. You can stay almost anywhere and be within walking distance of the sights. I recommend staying within a five minute walk of the main square if possible. This keeps you close to the best restaurants, shops, and the transport for the Cocora Valley.

Generally, Salento is one of the safest destinations in Colombia. It is a laid back rural town where you can feel comfortable walking around with your phone out or exploring alone. Just follow the following tips:

Financial Planning: Many restaurants/tours/shops in Salento do not take card and local ATMs are notoriously unreliable. To be safe, I would suggest withdrawing cash in a larger city such as Bogota before you arrive.

Environment & Terrain: The trails in the Cocora Valley can become incredibly muddy and slippery after it rains. Make sure you wear professional waterproof hiking boots or rent rubber boots locally.

Altitude Awareness: Salento sits at approximately 1,900 metres, but parts of the Cocora Valley hike exceed 2,700 metres. Ensure you stay hydrated and take the climb slowly to avoid altitude sickness.

Night Navigation: While the town is safe after dark, there are very few pavements or streetlights once you leave the central square. If your accommodation is outside the town centre, make sure to use your phone torch or take a flashlight if you have one.

To get there, you can take a bus from the main terminal in Bogota toward Armenia or Pereira. From either of those cities, you will catch a smaller local bus to Salento. You will arrive at the bus station located just outside of town. Salento is tiny, and I personally walked to my accommodation from the station. If you do not want to walk with your bags, there are plenty of local Willis jeeps or taxis available to drop you off.

If you are wondering where to stay in Salento for the first time, the good news is that the town is very small. You can stay almost anywhere and be within walking distance of the sights. I recommend staying within a five minute walk of the main square if possible. This keeps you close to the best restaurants, shops, and the transport for the Cocora Valley.

Things to Do in Salento: 7 Best Activities & Travel Guide

Tall wax palm trees in Cocora Valley in Salento, Colombia.
Colourful colonial houses in Salento town, Colombia

1. Visit the Worlds Tallest Palm Trees

The Cocora Valley (Valle del Cocora) is one of Colombia’s most unforgettable destinations, a place you really should not miss when visiting the country. This magical valley is filled with wax palms, the tallest palm trees in the world (reaching up to 60 meters), and found almost nowhere else but this region.

For adventurers, there is a scenic 12 km (7.5 mi) loop trail that takes around 5-6 hours to hike. The route begins in a cloud forest, takes you through lakes and over bridges, and rewards you with epic views of the wax palms at the end.

If hiking is not your thing, do not stress, you can catch one of the traditional “Willy” jeeps from Salento and ride straight into the heart of the valley, skipping most of the climb. Visiting Cocora Valley is truly one of the top things to do in Salento.

If you want all my best insider tips (where to eat, when to go, how to get around), read my full Cocora Valley hiking guide! Or alternately you can learn more about the Cocora Valley on their official website!

Pro Tip: Catch the very first Willy Jeep from the plaza at 06:30am. You will have the palms to yourself for photos before the midday mist and the tour buses arrive.

Cocora Valley in Colombia with towering wax palm trees surrounded by lush green mountains
Traveler standing on a hill in Cocora Valley with wax palms in the background

2. Sunset Views from Mirador de Salento

Head up to Mirador de Salento for the best sunset spot in town. It is a quick but steep climb (about 200 steps) and the top gives you a full view over Salento. Do not stop at the top section that you will come out too, follow the small path to the side for a second viewpoint overlooking the mountains toward Cocora Valley. Go early so you have time to enjoy both sides before it gets dark. Watching the sunset here is another must experience activity and is defo one of the top things to do in Salento.

View from a different angle at the Mirador viewpoint in Salento, Colombia, showing the colorful town rooftops and surrounding rolling coffee hills
Panoramic view from the Mirador viewpoint in Salento, Colombia, overlooking colorful rooftops and the surrounding coffee region.

3. Play Tejo in Salento

I was sceptical when everyone told me Tejo was a must do (I am not usually someone who enjoys things involving explosions), but it ended up being one of the best nights out I had in Colombia. Tejo is a traditional Colombian sport and the rules are simple, but the game is not as easy as you think. All you need to do is throw a small metal disc toward a board that has tiny paper triangles on it filled with gun powder and those triangles explode when you hit them. It sounds chaotic, but it is mostly just hilarious, competitive, and way harder than it looks.

Add a cold beer and some friends, and it becomes a surprisingly fun (and cheap) way to spend an evening. Playing Tejo is one of the most fun Salento Colombia activities.

People playing Tejo, a traditional Colombian game, in Salento, Colombia

4. Calle Real & Plaza de Bolivar

Head to Plaza de Bolívar for the liveliest atmosphere in Salento. Here you’ll find the Jeep Willys that take you to Cocora Valley, along with plenty of shops, restaurants, and bars. It is one of the most colourful spots in town and always buzzing with life. If you are visiting over the weekend, do not miss the market, it is a great way to spend your day.

Also Just a few streets away, you’ll come across Calle Real, one of Salento’s most iconic streets. It is the perfect place for those bright, colourful photos you have probably seen all over Instagram and TikTok.

Exploring Calle Real and Plaza de Bolívar is another top thing to do in Salento, especially if you love photography and local culture.

Colourful colonial buildings lining Calle Real in Salento, Colombia
Colorful streets and things to do in Salento Colombia

5. Horseback Riding in Cocora Valley

Horseback riding in Salento is a bucket-list experience. We chose a tour near the town that took us through forests, across a lake (yes, it was a little scary, but one of the best things I have ever done), and even stopped at a coffee farm where we got a full tour and learned how coffee is made. If you are short on time, tours that combine horseback riding and a coffee farm visit are perfect, as they pack two experiences into one day.

There are so many horseback riding options in Salento that you are spoilt for choice. You could do a ride through Cocora Valley for a guided Cocora Valley horseback riding experience, skipping the hike but still seeing the best views. Whatever tour you pick, make sure to check that the horses are well cared for and the company is ethical, your adventure should be unforgettable for all the right reasons.

Horseback riding through the scenic Cocora Valley near Salento, Colombia
Horseback riding across a lake to a coffee farm near Salento, Colombia

6. Santa Rita la Cascada (Waterfall)

For a quick nature escape from Salento, head to Santa Rita la Cascada. Just a few kilometers out of town, this waterfall is perfect for a refreshing swim. The hike to reach it is easy and scenic, passing farmland, rivers, and farm animals and there’s also a longer trail if you want to explore more. A small entrance fee of around 10,000 COP is required, as it is on private land.

A visit to Santa Rita la Cascada is another fun Salento Colombia activity, perfect for nature lovers and a peaceful escape from the town.

7. Visit a Coffee Farm

Salento sits in the heart of Colombia’s coffee region, making it the ideal spot for a coffee farm tour. Visit a local farm and see the journey from bean to cup, learning how coffee is grown, processed, and why it is such an important part of Colombian culture.

Many tours also include tastings of different coffees, and some even let you enjoy a picnic under the iconic wax palms of Valle de Cocora, an experience that’s as scenic as it is delicious. I recommend Finca El Ocaso or Don Elías for authentic farm-to-cup experience.

Visiting a coffee farm is one of the best things to do in Salento, and a coffee farm tour in Salento provides an immersive experience for coffee lovers and first-time visitors alike.

Coffee plants and workers at a coffee farm near Salento, Colombia
Coffee tasting at a farm near Salento, Colombia with Valle de Cocora in the background

Going to Cocora Valley?

If you are planning to visit Cocora Valley while in Salento, do not miss my guide on the things to know before your visit. Click here to read my top 8 tips to know before you visit.

Cocora Valley Guide

What is Next?

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Days

Ultimate 3 Week Travel Itinerary

3 weeks is the “sweet spot” for Colombia. This perfect Colombia travel guide breaks down your daily stops, transport tips, and hidden gems to help you navigate the country like a pro. Grab the full itinerary and start packing, your ultimate South American adventure starts here.

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Where to next?

I am constantly discovering new hidden gems and sharing the magic of the world in real time. If you would like to follow my journey through 44 countries and beyond, join me on social media. Whether you are looking for daily travel inspiration or honest travel advice for your next big adventure, I would love to have you as part of the Where Katie Goes community. Let us explore the world together.

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