How to Spend 2 Days in Salento, Colombia

Salento is a cute, colorful town located west of Bogota. It’s known for being the gateway to Cocora Valley – Home of the world’s tallest palm trees. I recommend spending 2 days in Salento, Colombia so you have time to wander the town and explore the valley.

In a Rush? Pin this 2-Day Salento Guide for Later!

Where to Stay in for 2 Days in Salento

We stayed at Panorama Salento by DOT Boutique during our 2 days in Salento. The hotel is super cute; however, we experienced a couple of problems while staying there. First, we spent about 20 minutes trying to pay for our room before the receptionist contacted her manager who let her know that the wifi was out. Then, we had no hot water in our room. The receptionist said it was due to the storm but there was no storm the next day and we had the same problem. Fortunately, the receptionist our second night was able to get it working by going underneath our bungalow. But, it went in and out as we were showering. And not like a hot then not so hot, but a hot to freezing cold.

I’m not sure if this is an issue exclusive to Panorama or if all the accommodations in Salento have this issue, but it’s something to be aware of. Also, the rooms aren’t well sealed so you may have some insect activity in your room as well.

More Salento Hotels

2 Days in Salento – Places to Eat

Brunch de Salento

Cl. 6 #3-49, Salento, Quindío, Colombia

If you’re looking for some more american-style food, Brunch de Salento is the place to go. They have burgers, nachos, breakfast burritos, and a bunch of other options. I got their bacon cheeseburger which was massive and tasty.

Makao

Cl. 4 #5-59, Salento, Quindío, Colombia

For our second night in Salento, we planned on eating at Cumana Bistro Food but they stopped letting people in 1.5 hours before closing. So, we ended up at Makao. I got the chicken pesto pasta which was pretty good for what it was. The portions are also huge!

Rural Cocina Artesanal

Cl. 2 #4-23, Salento, Quindío, Colombia

Rural serves burgers and loaded fries. They have lots of options with different toppings and they also serve arepa burgers which are burgers served with arepas instead of buns. I went with their shredded beef fries as I had the Brunch de Salento burger the night before, but I definitely would have went for one of the arepa burgers if I hadn’t/

Concreto Café

Carrera 6 calle 2 esquina calle real, Salento, Quindío, Colombia

There are a bunch of different cafes in Salento, but this place is super aesthetic so of course it drew me in. I’m not a big sweet coffee drinker but their frappes are really good!

Other places to eat in Salento:

Quindu Restaurante
Cumana Bistro Food

Unfortunately, we didn’t get to eat at either of these places while we were in Salento, but the reviews sounded really good. So, if you have the chance check them out

2 Days in Salento – Things to Do

Hike Cocora Valley

The main thing to do in Salento is to visit Cocora Valley – Home of the world’s tallest palm trees. In the main square, you’ll find the Willy Jeeps which will take you to the valley for 8,000 COP (~$2 USD) round trip. They’ll pack you into the jeep and also have a few people hang off the back. We wanted to do this on our way back to Salento, but some other people did too so we missed out!

Anyways, from where the jeep drops you off you’ll have about a 15/20 minute walk to the entrance of the valley. There you’ll pay your entrance fee (6,000 COP ~ $1.30 USD). The jeep ride and entrance fee are cash only, so plan accordingly.

We took the short hike to visit Miradors 1 and 2 and it took us about 2 hours to complete with breaks and photo stops.

Salento Coffee Tour

Another popular thing to do in Salento is to take a coffee tour. We did ours with Don Eduardo and learned a lot about the coffee growing and roasting processes. If you love coffee, I highly recommend doing a tour!

Go Shopping Along Calle Real

The entire town of Salento is very colorful, but Calle Real is completely lined with colorful buildings and doors. This is also where you’ll find lots of souvenir shops and boutiques. Just note that many of them only take cash. We were trying to reserve our cash, so we made sure to ask, “Tarjeta?”(card?) before browsing a shop.

Climb up Mirador de Salento

If you’re looking for a spot to watch the sunset or just want a nice view, climb up to the Mirador de Salento. The series of staircases will take you up to a viewpoint where you can see the entire town of Salento. Don’t be like us and do this the same day you visit Cocora Valley.

Other Things to Do with 2 Days in Salento

FAQ

Best Time to Visit Salento?

The Best time to visit Salento is during the dry seasons which are December-February and July-September. But just know, even though it’s the dry season, you’ll probably still experience some rain. We visited in February and it POURED for a couple of hours in the afternoon during our coffee tour.

What is Salento Colombia Known For?

Like I mentioned above, Salento is known for being the gateway to Cocora Valley. There’s also plenty of coffee farms in the area.

Is Salento Colombia worth visiting?

If you want to visit Cocora Valley or experience the Colombian coffee region, then yes I would say Salento is worth visiting! If neither of those things interest you, then your time might be better spent elsewhere.