Last updated on .
Salento is without a doubt the most touristy and most visited town in the Eje Cafetero, the coffee growing region of Colombia. It’s located in the department of Quindío.
Salento is visited by international and Colombian tourists alike, especially on weekends. The town is part of the UNESCO World Heritage listed Coffee Cultural Landscape of Colombia. It’s also the gateway to the nearby Cocora Valley (Valle de Cocora).
History of Salento
Salento was originally the site of Barcinales, a penal colony for political prisoners. Their families settled down in Boquía while the prisoners were given a plot of land in the region after completing their sentences. Boquía was officially established as a town on January 5, 1842. Around 1854, the Quindío River flooded and destroyed the town. The survivors moved to the modern site of Salento and retained the name Boquía. In 1865, it was renamed in honor of Salento, Italy, while the name Boquía was returned to the original settlement. The town is now an important stop for tourists from all over the world, many in search of coffee.
Plaza in Salento
The main plaza in Salento is surrounded by more colorful colonial buildings, many used as restaurants and hotels. The center of the plaza has a space filled with tall palm trees and busts of important people, including a statue of liberator Simón Bolívar (1783-1830).
On weekends in the past, the plaza came to life. The end of the plaza to the right of the church had several craft booths. On the end directly in front of the church were fast food stands. Finally, on the end in front of the supermarket were many restaurants serving Salento’s signature dishes, trout and patacones. These food stands gradually started to disappear. By April 2023, the plaza was completely empty except for some kiddie rides. I’m not sure if the stands will ever return.
Our Lady of Mount Carmel
The church, Our Lady of Mount Carmel (Nuestra Señora del Carmen), sits at one end of the plaza. It doesn’t have the high vaulted ceiling like many churches in the area, but rather a beautiful flat wooden ceiling. The stained glass windows are also nice.
Calle Real
Salento is popular for its authentic colonial architecture. It can be seen all around town, but the most scenic part is Calle Real. It’s lined with colonial buildings with brightly colored balconies. The road leads from the plaza all the way to a lookout point on a hill above the town.
Along the road, there are all kinds of shops selling traditional and modern crafts and souvenirs, cafés, restaurants, and more. There’s even a small alley with craft stores and coffee shops. It’s forbidden in many of the stores to take photos, so be careful with your camera.
Alto de la Cruz
At the very end of Calle Real is Alto de la Cruz. At the top of the 250 steps, you can get panoramic views of Salento and the surrounding green mountains.
Also at the top you’ll find vendors selling all kinds of snacks and drinks, from obleas and empanadas to guarapo and canelazo.
Mirador de Salento
A path from Alto de la Cruz leads to the Mirador de Salento. At the end of the path you’ll find a roofed wooden structure with lots of vendors selling souvenirs and snacks.
While Alto de la Cruz has the best views of the town itself, Mirador de Salento offers incredible vistas of the Cocora Valley. You won’t spot any of the famous wax palms, but the scenery is amazing.
Around Salento
Exploring outside of the plaza and Calle Real is worth it. The other parts of town are much quieter although they can still get crowded. There’s bridge and a nearby road with a great view of town.
Venture even further out of town and you’ll find plenty of fincas (plantations) in the surrounding areas that offer coffee tours or accommodation as well. Ask your hotel or the tourist booth in the plaza for more info. We’ve visited Finca El Ocaso and Luger Coffee Tour, which are right across from each other about an hour walk from town.
