Have you been wondering where you can find the world’s tallest palm trees? Look no further! Cocora Valley is home to 900 wax palm trees, delicious coffee, and a game that involves blowing up gunpowder. I was surprised by the vast choice of adventurous things there are to do in Salento, Colombia. The three days I spent there flew by and I could have easily devoted more time to enjoying the emerald green jungle surrounding the small town.
Here is where I have proven yet again playing Tejo that throwing is not my strong suit, seen wild horses running past a restaurant at night, and enjoyed hot chocolate with cheese. Trying to figure out what to do, eat, where to stay, and what Tejo is? Read on to find out.
Post Contents
WHAT TO DO
Hike The Valle De Cocora.
The main tourist attraction and most travellers reason to visit Salento is Cocora Valley. The Valle de Cocora can be explored by foot or on horseback. The 5 – 6-hour hike takes you through a thick cloud forest past 900 palm trees taller than you can imagine.
If you follow the path to your left then you will reach the famous viewpoint with the up to 60-metre tall palm trees relatively early on. Don’t miss it! We didn’t realise at the wooden fence with the mirador sign that this was the best spot for pictures. When looking down the grass hill it seemed like there wasn’t much to discover. Instead, we continued walking uphill into the cloud forest.
After a couple of hours of hiking, you will come across a side trail to the Acaime Colibri Finca. Follow the signs to see hummingbirds in many sizes and colours fly around the Finca. The entrance fee of COP 5,000 includes a drink which is your chance to try the famous hot chocolate with cheese. Sounds disgusting? Try it, the taste is surprisingly pleasant. Simply leave the cheese in the hot chocolate to melt.
The hike back will take you along moody paths to wooden bridges and logs over small water streams. Once you have passed the second checkpoint you will not be allowed to return. This is when we realised that we missed the main viewpoint but couldn’t return.
There is an entrance fee of COP 3,000. Bring enough water, rainwear, and lunch with you if you want to save some money.
How To Get There.
The Valle De Cocora can be reached by jeep. Tickets can be bought in advance or on the day at the wooden ticket booth on the main square where the jeeps are parked. The jeeps leave as early as 6.10 am, 7.30 am, 9.30 am and 11.30 am. Although late risers can take a jeep at 2 pm which I would advise against. The drive takes around 20 – 30 minutes. The cost for a single jeep ride is COP 3,800. The jeeps return to the town centre every half an hour. Speak to the drivers once you are back at the start of the trail to secure a spot for the next ride.
La Carbonera Wax Palm Forest.
Would you rather stay off the beaten trek and visit a wax palm forest twice the size of the Valle de Cocora? Then take a day trip hiking or mountain biking La Carbonera. This day trip takes you through beautiful country scenes of millions of palm trees and includes a visit to a Colibri reserve. The entrance fee is COP 2,000. I never did this tour so I am unsure how much it costs to get there but I suspect the price to be similar to Cocora Valley.
Join A Coffee Tour.
Are you like me and cannot live without a morning coffee? Then take a 20-minute jeep, bike, or horseback ride to one of the coffee farms in the Kasaguadua Natural Reserve. There are several farms that can be visited. The closest coffee farm to the town centre is Las Acacia followed by El Ocaso, and Finca de Don Elias. Coffee Farms Tours take 1 hour and can be taken all day from 9 am to 4 pm. If you cycle I suggest heading to Santa Rita waterfall afterwards.
Las Acacia Coffee Farm.
We chose to visit Las Acacia Coffee Farm. During the one-hour tour, we walked through the coffee field, learned about the processes and machineries, hand-picked ripe coffee beans, ground coffee beans, and sampled some of the tasty coffee overlooking the endless, green jungle. The tour only costs COP 10,000 and the jeep rides were COP 2,000 one-way.
Santa Rita Waterfall.
The Santa Rita Cascada can be reached by foot, bike or on horseback. Cycling to the waterfall from the coffee farms takes approximately one-hour, and around 30-minutes from the town centre. The approximately two-hour hike leads you through the beautiful green scenery to two crystal clear waterfalls, a cave, and a natural pool to swim in. There is an entrance fee of COP 5,000.
Play Colombia’s Traditional Throwing Game Tejo.
There are two places where you can play Tejo in Salento, Beta Town and Los Amigos. We went to the more traditional venue, Los Amigos. They have a bar and a large hall to play Tejo in. The smell of gunpowder and the constant sound of explosions makes you feel like you are in a Wild West film. Try not to miss the targets and throw a rock through the wall. Did I mention that I’m not good in throwing?
Walk Around Town.
Salento is a small town, but it is pretty, nonetheless. Head to the Calle Real for colourful doors and windows. There are many leather shops, bars, and restaurants to explore. For views over Salento walk up the colourful tiled stairs to the Alto de la Cruz Mirador.
WHERE TO EAT
There are plenty of places for a cheap menu del día, but if you want to skip rice and platanos for a change then there are many restaurants catering for tourists in town.
Brunch Diner.
I was somewhat sceptical having been sold this place by a local on the bus, but Brunch Diner is the best food joint in town. Their pineapple burger still makes my mouth water. Everything on the menu I have tried, and that’s more than I’d like to admit, was divine. Sit near the walls, you can draw on them! Calle 6 No. 3-49 Salento Quindio
Trattoria Urrea Salento.
I had been craving pizza as per usual. The pastas here are nice too. If you sit by the window you might see some horses gallop past the window. Calle 7 Carrera 7 Frente al hospital de, Salento, Quindío
WHERE TO STAY
Viajero Hostel.
This hostel has a big outdoor area for socialising and enjoying breakfast with a beautiful view over the peaceful nature. There was free yoga in the mornings which is a rare find. If you book any other locations directly with their reception you should be able to receive a discount.
Walker’s Hostel.
Another social hostel that can be booked out at times is Walker’s Hostel. This hostel has a shared kitchen if you would like to save some extra money. They have a second location called the Corner House Hostel, but it wasn’t comparable.
WHAT TO PACK
The weather can change quickly from hot and sunny to cold and rainy. Be prepared with mosquito spray, shorts, but also rain jackets and layering pieces.
WHERE TO NEXT
Are you wondering where to go after Salento? Head to Colombia’s capital, Bogota for street art and food tours. Would you rather dance the night away? Then head to Medellin or Cali for some salsa. To get to any of these cities you have to take a bus 45-minute bus to Armenia Bus Terminal for COP 4,000 and change there. The bus to Armenia can be taken every 20-minutes from Salento Bus Terminal or flagged down from outside Viajero Hostel. The last bus leaves around 10 pm.
Did I do a good job of sharing my love for Salento? Also, did I mention that I love Tejo? Still no clue what it is? Tejo is a traditional Colombian throwing game with the aim of hitting small targets containing gunpowder. The more targets explode the more points you score.
Now go ahead and explore! Try not to lose your towel.
