We didn’t get to spend long enough in Colombia, and we will surely return one day. We loved the people, the beautiful architecture, the sea and the mountains, and the incredible food. We began our trip to Colombia in Bogotá, visiting the family of one of our friends. We had a very limited time in Colombia so we hopped on a flight to Salento. If you have more time and flexibility in your travels, driving this route would also be an option, and you can bus between many different cities in Colombia. We flew into Pereira airport, which was about 30km outside of Salento, and then took taxis to get from the airport to the town.
We had come to Salento to hike the Cocora Valley, but quickly realized that the town itself had a lot to offer as well. Salento was so lively and lovely! We realized that this was our type of scene as soon as we arrived. We were so excited by the colonial architecture and rainbow colored buildings, the people out and about, the vast fields of greenery surrounding the town. It was truly gorgeous everywhere we looked. We visited between the Christmas & New Years holidays, so the town was buzzing with tourists and locals alike.
Our first stop was to check into our hostel, “Coffee Tree Boutique Hostel”, and we couldn’t have picked a more excellent place. The common areas were so nicely done and relaxing to hang out in, the shared bathrooms were clean, our room was comfortable, and the biggest bonus was 2 big, old dogs living on and roaming the property day and night. The hostel was perfectly located for walking right into town, making it quick & easy to see and do everything that we needed to do during our time there.
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After checking into our hostel, we were all excited to get into the town and be a part of the scene, which of course meant finding the best food. We all sat down at a picnic style table in the square in the center of town and ordered trout because that was the local suggestion. The fish was delicious, and we had it a few more times before our trip came to an end. We really enjoyed having our meal and a beer while we people-watched on the square. Kids were riding on toy horses on wheels, little cars, and other interesting mobile contraptions, while adults pushed and watched. It was kind of like a Salento version of carnival rides. The whole atmosphere was very jovial and entertaining.
The next day we were getting up bright and early for the Valle De Cocora Hike. If you are coming to Salento, you are likely planning to do this hike as well, so here are some logistics.
First, you must walk to the Jeep lined street early in the morning. This is an experience in itself. There are several “Willys” Jeeps, and you just walk up and hop on any that isn’t full yet. You pay a couple of dollars for the ride there and back. Once they fill up, they drive you to the start of the hike. On the way home, you meet them at the same place they drop you off and take you back to the town. They even let you stand up and hang off the back if you are feeling adventurous and they want to fit more people. We had a blast riding back on the back of the Jeep taking in the scenery.
Once the Jeeps drop you off, you can choose the direction you want to hike. The trail is a loop, so it technically doesn’t matter which way you go and makes for easy navigation. We were hiking with a group and we started by walking through the wax palms. They were what we came to see, after all, and looked so inviting upon arrival reaching high into the sky. Had we started the hike going the other direction, it would have led through farmland first. If we were not traveling with friends, I think we would have done the hike both ways, just to see the incredible views from both perspectives (and because I’m a little nuts). The hike was a good one, but not immensely challenging. It took a few hours, had some inclines and some steep descents. There are a number of suspension bridges throughout the hike as well, which are fun to cross over. One of the best parts is the amazing view in the middle of the hike. We sat for quite a while and admired the view of the wax palms and the green, rolling hills all around. Our group had varying fitness levels and everyone made out just fine. The nice part about doing the loop the direction we did, was that we ended up at a little airstream selling beers just before the end. It was the perfect way to finish the hike and the adventure.
In case you didn’t get enough of hiking the valley, you could also make the trek up the steep stairs leading out of one of the main streets of Salento, and up to the mirador overlooking the town. It was a quick trip up and had excellent views from the top. When we went up, there were a few people selling snacks and souvenirs. I have read other reviews saying there was nothing up there, so it might be a good idea to ask around before going up. We were there pre-covid, some reviews I’ve seen were post covid. But if you just want the view, its worth the climb up to check it out!
Before leaving Salento, there was one more thing we’d all been dying to try in Colombia, a game called “Tejo”. Tejo might seem a bit like what corn hole or baggo is like in America. You are essentially tossing an object at a target on a board across the room from you. However, with Tejo, they really turn it up a notch. You are throwing a steel disc at a board covered in explosives! Small paper pouches filled with gunpowder cover the board, and when you hit them to score points, you also get a nice bang! The directions were written on a board in the front of the room, and the vibe felt like a bowling alley, with different groups all playing games in lanes beside one another. The idea is to grab a few beers, have fun with friends, and make a few explosions! We had a literal blast trying this out.
