Best of Salento

Top itineraries and travel advice in and around Salento
Fringed by forested peaks, the valley town of Salento is one of the loveliest destinations in Colombia’s Unesco-listed coffee triangle. The settlement was founded in 1850 and original bahareque architecture, with brightly painted balconies and doors, lines the main street (Carrera 6). Salento makes an excellent base for day trips to nearby coffee fincas, traditional villages, and nature reserves.  

Half- or full-day hikes take you into the Cocora Valley, which is best known for its misty montane forest and its unusual wax palms — the largest palm in the world and a symbol of Colombia. Some of them stretch up to 200 feet high (60 meters). You can also explore the valley on horseback or spend the day sipping Colombian coffee at fincas near Salento and Filandia. 
Plan your trip to Colombia
Chat with a local specialist who can help organize your trip.
Learn all about Colombia's famous coffee and chocolate
Map of Discover Colombia's Coffee Region - 6 Days
Discover Colombia's Coffee Region - 6 Days

Learn all about Colombian coffee and enjoy some of the most exclusive coffee in the world on this six-day tour. You can look forward to many coffee tastings and visits to local Colombian coffee farms where you will interact with local farmers and coffee experts from around the country.

Kids explore the colorful streets of Cartagena
Family Holiday in Colombia: Bogotá, Zona Cafetera & Cartegena - 9 Days

Create lifelong memories on this 9-day family-friendly tour around Colombia. Starting in Bogotá, discover the city by bike and ride the cable car to Monserrate, then, fly to the Zona Cafetera to hike the Cocora Valley and discover the region's quaint villages. End on the Caribbean coast, where you'll tour the colorful streets of Cartagena, learn to fish with the locals, and relax on the white sand beaches of Barú Island. 

Hiking through the Los Nevados
Map of Los Nevados Trek - 3 Days
Los Nevados Trek - 3 Days

Enjoy the beautiful coffee region of Colombia with a 3-day hike through a forest of local palms. With 3 snowy peaks that rise higher than 4,800 meters above sea level, Los Nevados National Park extends over 58,300 hectares (more than 143,000 acres, or about as big as the city of Chicago) in the central Cordillera of the Colombian Andes. This region has an extraordinary ecosystem of flora and fauna because of the high elevation. Perpetual snow provides water here, which is essential to the preservation of life. This trek is great for adventurers looking to enjoy the great outdoors.

Green coffee beans ripening on the vine
Map of Colombian Coffee & Colonial Towns: Bogotá & Zona Cafetera - 6 Days
Colombian Coffee & Colonial Towns: Bogotá & Zona Cafetera - 6 Days

This trip starts in the capital, where you'll discover colorful neighborhoods and museums on a walking tour, along with famous restaurants and nightlife. Then, fly into the heart of the Zona Cafetera and spend the night at a working coffee farm. Visit nearby Salento, a colonial town that wears its exuberance on its sleeve. While here, hike the unspoiled green mountains of the Cocora Valley, dotted with towering wax palms.

Discover the diversity of Columbia and its cultures
Map of Colombia from Urban to Nature: Bogotà, Salento, Medellín & Cartagena - 15 Days
Colombia from Urban to Nature: Bogotà, Salento, Medellín & Cartagena - 15 Days

With its vibrant cities, Spanish roots, Caribbean cuisine, and Indigenous cultures, Colombia is a country with many facets to discover. On this 15-day tour by air, car, and bicycle, you'll bargain with locals at Paloquemao Market in Bogotà, take a bamboo raft down the Río La Vieja, and see Medellín's urban transformation. End your trip dancing salsa and vallenato steps in Cartagena and sailing away to the pristine Rosario Islands.

Experience lesser-visited Colombian gems like Popayán on this 10-day luxury tour
Map of Colombia's Road Less Traveled in Luxury - 10 Days
Colombia's Road Less Traveled in Luxury - 10 Days

There's no better country to travel off the beaten path in luxury and style than Colombia. This 10-day journey takes you into the highlands to the Spanish colonial town of Villa de Leyva, then continues south for more history and refined gastronomy in the "White City" of Popayán. The adventure ends in the verdant Antioquia region with visits to colorful coffee towns and touring the revitalized streets of Medellín.

Shades of blue of the Caribbean sea
Map of Highlights of Colombia: Cities, Caribbean Coast, & Tayrona National Park - 15 Days
Highlights of Colombia: Cities, Caribbean Coast, & Tayrona National Park - 15 Days

Perfect for first-timers, this classic Colombian itinerary starts in the cosmopolitan capital of Bogotá and then travels north to the Caribbean Sea. Along the route, you'll visit the rolling green hills and colorful colonial houses of the coffee region. Once you reach the coast, you'll spend a few days exploring Tayrona National Park before heading to the romantic inner-walled city of Cartagena and jetting off to the San Bernardo Islands.

From the colonial architecture to the stunning mountain views, this itinerary showcases Columbia's more colorful side.
Map of Colombian Andes to the Caribbean: 10-Day Itinerary
Colombian Andes to the Caribbean: 10-Day Itinerary

This 10-day excursion is perfect for an adventurous visitor seeking full immersion into Colombia's landscape and culture. Travel between colorful cities and tropical island retreats, mountain biking some parts in between. Along the way you'll discover colorful art, high peaks, soaring palm trees and delectable coffee. Cap your journey with salsa lessons in romantic Cartagena.

Salento's quaint neighborhoods
Map of Colombian Andes to the Caribbean Coast: Bogotá, Salento, Medellín, Tayrona & Cartagena - 16 Days
Colombian Andes to the Caribbean Coast: Bogotá, Salento, Medellín, Tayrona & Cartagena - 16 Days

Journey from the Andes to the Caribbean coastline on this spectacular 16-day trip through Colombia. Start in Bogotá for an introduction to its culture and cuisine, then jet off to the "Coffee Triangle" to see towering wax palms, tour a coffee farm, and float down the Río La Vieja on a bamboo raft. It's on to Medellín to tour its notorious favelas and see its inspiring urban regeneration, then over to the Caribbean coast to hike in Tayrona National Park before ending in the "Magic City" of Cartagena.

See the wind-swept páramo  landscapes of Chingaza National Park
Map of Active Exploration of Colombia's Natural & Cultural Highlights - 16 Days
Active Exploration of Colombia's Natural & Cultural Highlights - 16 Days

This 16-day active adventure through Colombia gets you up close to the country's stunning natural landscapes and thrilling outdoor activities. This journey through Bogotá, Salento, Manizales, Jardín, and Medellín is filled with hikes, outdoor day trips, whitewater rafting, horseback riding, and more. Explore the vibrant capital city, trek through the coffee region's picturesque hills, and uncover awe-inspiring encounters with nature.

Sunset over the Amazon
Map of Explore Colombia's Amazon, Andes, and Caribbean Coast - 12 Days
Explore Colombia's Amazon, Andes, and Caribbean Coast - 12 Days

This 12-day adventure will take you through the best of Colombia. You'll travel from Bogotá to the Amazon, the rolling hills of the Zona Cafetera (coffee region), the beaches of Tayrona National Park, and the colonial fortress city of Cartagena. The most exciting part of your trip? A visit to the little-known region of Guaviare, with its mixture of jungle, indigenous communities, red rivers, and ancient rock art that dates back 20,000 years.

Trekking in Los Nevados National Park
Map of Medellín & Los Nevados Trek - 7 Days
Medellín & Los Nevados Trek - 7 Days

Enjoy the natural beauty of Colombia on this 7-day itinerary which takes you through the mountains and valleys of Colombia's famous coffee region. You'll undertake a multi-day trek in the Andes, relax in the peaceful city of Manizales, and then finish with some urban culture and great museums in the city of Medellin.

Explore Cartagena
Map of Colombian Beat: Coffee, Food & Beaches - 13 Days
Colombian Beat: Coffee, Food & Beaches - 13 Days

Colombia's island landscapes and vibrant cities are on the itinerary for this 13-day tour traveling by air, car, boat, and bicycle. Start in Bogotá to learn about history in museums and taste dozens of Caribbean fruits in markets. Sip the best Colombian coffee in Salento and explore Medellín's revitalized neighborhoods. Relax on Tayrona National Park's beaches and on islands off Cartagena's coast, returning to the port city to learn dance moves to take home.

Medellín, the City of Eternal Spring
Map of Colorful Colombia: Cities, Mountains & Beaches - 15 Days
Colorful Colombia: Cities, Mountains & Beaches - 15 Days

Can't decide whether to explore the beaches and islands of the Caribbean coast, get into the groove of cities like Bogotá, Medellín, and Cartegena, or take in the wonder of the Andes mountains? Over 15 days, you can do it all on this far-reaching tour. You'll get a whirlwind overview of one of South America's most diverse and alluring countries, with plenty of awe-inspiring daily activities along the way. Private guides and easy transfers by car and plane will help make your adventure hassle-free.

Discover the Cocora Valley on a hike
Map of Colombia's Best Cities & Coffee Region - 10 Days
Colombia's Best Cities & Coffee Region - 10 Days

Check off three memorable cities on this whirlwind 10-day tour, starting with Bogotá's Spanish colonial sites and buzzing nightlife. You'll then fly to the heart of Colombia's Zona Cafetera for an overnight at a coffee farm, where you'll hike the green mountains of Cocora Valley, dotted with towering palm trees. From here, head to Medellín—a city with outdoor art and spring-like weather—before ending on the Caribbean coast, where you'll explore the romantic streets of Cartagena's Old Town.

Cabo de San Juan, PNN Tayrona, Colombia
Map of Zona Cafetera and the Caribbean Coast - 8 Days
Zona Cafetera and the Caribbean Coast - 8 Days

Begin your adventure in Colombia's Zona Cafetera coffee region, a UNESCO World Heritage Site where the Cocorá Valley and its towering wax palms await. Then make your way to the Caribbean coast and the beaches of Parque Nacional Tayrona and learn about the Kogi people, who have lived in harmony with their environment for four centuries.

Medellín & the Los Nevados Trek - 8 Days
Map of Colombia Outdoor Adventure: Medellín & Los Nevados Trek - 8 Days
Colombia Outdoor Adventure: Medellín & Los Nevados Trek - 8 Days

This active Colombian adventure includes three days of trekking in the snowy mountains of Los Nevados National Park, which sprawls across 143,000 acres of the Colombian Andes. Enjoy hiking through a unique high-elevation ecosystem, where rare species of flora and fauna thrive. You will also have time to explore the charming colonial town of Salento, the coffee region hub of Manizales, and the revitalized city of Medellín—the best of both worlds.

Tatacoa Desert
Map of Colombia Panorama: Deserts, Mountains & Cities - 15 Days
Colombia Panorama: Deserts, Mountains & Cities - 15 Days

This insightful adventure through Colombia will give you an in-depth look at the country's fascinating culture, flavor-packed food, and diverse landscapes. Go stargazing in the Tatacoa Desert, taste your way around historic Popayán, dance the salsa in Cali, and take a horseback ride around archaeological treasures in San Agustín. See how once-gritty Medellín has undergone a super-cool transformation and explore the pretty heritage towns and lush mountains of the Coffee Triangle.

Stay two nights in Salento and explore the Cocora Valley
Map of Best of Colombia's Cities, Coffee Country & Caribbean Coast - 16 Days
Best of Colombia's Cities, Coffee Country & Caribbean Coast - 16 Days

This fun and fast-paced 16-day journey squeezes the best out of Colombia's diverse landscapes and vibrant cities. Begin in the capital, Bogotá, with its historical charm and top-notch museums. Then explore the cobblestone streets of Villa de Leyva and Barichara before heading to the gorgeous coffee region for hiking and horseback riding. Finish the adventure in revitalized Medellín, followed by romantic Cartagena, where you'll bike, taste rum, and boat to a Caribbean island.

A view of the mountains from Bogota's La Candelaria district.
Map of Colombian Highlands & the Los Nevados Trek - 9 Days
Colombian Highlands & the Los Nevados Trek - 9 Days

This active South American adventure spotlights trekking in the high, snowy mountains of Los Nevados National Park. A good portion of this 9-day journey will take place in the rugged outdoors before you head towards the charming colonial town of Villa de Leyva in the Colombian Highlands. Start and finish the trip with time to explore the cosmopolitan capital of Bogotá for colorful street art, museums, dining, and nightlife.

 Medellín & Los Nevados
Map of Explore Colombia: Medellín & Los Nevados - 9 Days
Explore Colombia: Medellín & Los Nevados - 9 Days

The core of this adventure includes three days of trekking in the high, snowy mountains of Los Nevados National Park. With ancient ancestral pathways, your journey passes through an extraordinary ecosystem with rare species of flora and fauna that rely on the snow for preservation. You will land in the up-and-coming city of Medellín, along with taking a day trip to a coffee farm to close out your Colombian exploration.

Valle de Cocora, Colombia
Map of Colombia Nature and Culture Tour - 10 Days
Colombia Nature and Culture Tour - 10 Days

This all-encompassing itinerary combines Colombia's popular attractions with some roads less traveled. You'll begin your journey in the "city of the eternal spring," Medellín, and visit El Peñon de Guatape, a landmark granite rock jutting hundreds of feet out of the ground. If you're a caffeine lover, get ready to visit Colombia's mountainous Coffee Region. You'll embark from this area and hike, mountain bike, and birdwatch through the adjacent sub-Andean forests. Next it's off to the indigenous archeological site of Tierradentro, with its ancient underground burial chambers. Learn about the civilization who built them, then end your stay in the southern colonial town of Popayán.

colombia
Map of Ancient and Modern Cultures in Colombia - 11 Days
Ancient and Modern Cultures in Colombia - 11 Days

This all-encompassing itinerary combines Colombia's popular attractions with some roads less traveled. You'll begin your journey on the Caribbean coast. This leg will take you to Tayrona National Park, and the colonial fortress of Cartagena. Then fly to Medellín, and visit El Peñon de Guatape before heading to Colombia's mountainous Coffee Region. Here you'll hike, mountain bike, and birdwatch through sub-Andean forests. Next, it's off to the archeological site of Tierradentro, with its ancient underground burial chambers before ending your stay in the colonial town of Popayán.

See megalithic sculptures at San Agustín, Colombia
Map of Culture & Archaeology of Colombia - 14 Days
Culture & Archaeology of Colombia - 14 Days

Over two weeks, see the highlights of Colombia's central and southern regions, from revitalized Medellín to the sultry salsa clubs of Cali. But this adventure isn't all about the cities—you'll also enjoy coffee tours in the famous Zona Cafetera, explore historic colonial towns, and visit ancient archaeological sites. A real treat is traveling to the otherworldly Tatacoa Desert, one of Colombia's many natural wonders.

A man looks out over Bogotá from Cerro Monserrate
Map of Discover Colombia's Great Cities - 14 Days
Discover Colombia's Great Cities - 14 Days

From the buzzing nightlife of Bogotá to the colorful "comunas" of Medellín and the romance of Spanish colonial Cartagena, this two-week journey hits Colombia's urban highlights—with some outdoor adventures along the way. Start with Bogotá city tours followed by hikes amid towering palms in the Coffee Triangle. Then, enjoy revitalized Medellín before wrapping up in Cartagena and lazing on Caribbean beaches.

Valle de Cocora, Colombia
Map of Ancient and Modern Cultures in Colombia - 12 Days
Ancient and Modern Cultures in Colombia - 12 Days

With this itinerary, you'll see the best of Colombia in 12 days. Begin on the Caribbean coast with a visit to Tayrona National Park, where you'll snorkel and hike to your heart's content. From there, hop a flight to the Coffee Region for mountain biking, birdwatching in sub-Andean forests, and a tour of a working coffee farm. End your journey in colonial Popayán and Tierradentro, an archeological site famous for its underground burial chambers.

Sky and trees reflected in the Amazon River
Map of Colombia Andes, Amazon & Caribbean - 14-Day Itinerary
Colombia Andes, Amazon & Caribbean - 14-Day Itinerary

This tour takes you off the beaten path and truly epitomizes the diversity that runs through Colombia and its people. Colombia's mountains, jungles, Caribbean beaches, Spanish colonial architecture, rural and indigenous cultures combine to offer a quite unforgettable tour in one of the world's great (and yet uncharted) destinations.

Parque Nacional Natural Tayrona
Map of Colombia Summit to the Sea Adventure - 14 Days
Colombia Summit to the Sea Adventure - 14 Days

This action-packed itinerary hits the highlights near two of Colombia's most exciting cities. Start off in Medellín before driving to the "coffee triangle," where you'll stay on a ranch in the Andes. From here, embark on a three-day hike through some of the last surviving snowcapped peaks in the tropics before rafting in two of Colombia's major rivers. Next, you'll head north to the Caribbean coast for white sand beaches, sailing, and a chance to scuba dive in one of the few coral reefs in Colombia. Finish off with time to explore the cobbled alleys of Cartagena's Old Town.

Iconic skinny wax palms in Colombia's coffee region.
Map of Colombia Adventure: Zona Cafetera to the Caribbean Coast - 15 Days
Colombia Adventure: Zona Cafetera to the Caribbean Coast - 15 Days

Your journey starts in the heart of Colombia's Coffee Region, where you'll overnight on a working coffee farm. From there, head to the reborn metropolis of Medellín, a city whose reputation as a global hotspot is enhanced by its rising culinary and art scene. Then, it's time for a bit of nature as you embark on a rafting trip down the Río Verde and end your adventure on the Caribbean coast where you'll explore Cartagena and nearby islands.

Parque Nacional Natural Tayrona
Map of Colombia Adventure: Zona Cafetera, Tayrona Park, & Caribbean Coast - 15 Days
Colombia Adventure: Zona Cafetera, Tayrona Park, & Caribbean Coast - 15 Days

Depending on personal preference, some folks like rugged activity on their vacation while others prefer relaxing on white-sand beaches fronting crystalline waters. Others opt for the museums and nightlife found in more cosmopolitan destinations. We wonder why not enjoy it all? That's just what this itinerary offers: city life, culture, the great outdoors and plenty of time to relax.

San Agustin Sculpture
Map of Authentic Colombia: Cities, Archaeology, & Coffee Country  - 16 Days
Authentic Colombia: Cities, Archaeology, & Coffee Country - 16 Days

During this 16-day tour through Colombia, you’ll visit some of the best-known–and some lesser-known–parts of the country. The trip takes you from the capital, Bogotá, to the Archaeological Region in the southwest. You’ll also head into the coffee-growing region to tour a farm and say in a hacienda. Then, you’ll fly over deep valleys and high Andean mountain peaks to arrive at vibrant Cartagena, one of the most beautiful and fascinating cities in South America.

Torre del Reloj Cartagena
Map of Essential Colombia:  Bogotá, Cartagena, & Coffee Country - 9 Days
Essential Colombia: Bogotá, Cartagena, & Coffee Country - 9 Days

During this eight-day trip to Colombia, plan to visit some of the best-known parts of the country. First, stroll the capital city of Bogotá before heading to the small, colorful town of Villa de Leyva. Then, visit a coffee farm in Armenia and learn all about the crop. The journey ends with a tour of the historic shipping port of Cartagena, where you can enjoy excellent food and vibrant nightlife.

Start your journey in Cartagena, "Pearl of the Caribbean"
Explore Colombia: the Caribbean Coast & Zona Cafetera - 12 Days

This laid-back 12-day itinerary takes you through the highlights of Colombia's Caribbean coast, then detours south to explore the heart of the country's lush coffee-growing region. Stroll Cartagena's historic Old Town, swim in the turquoise waters of the Rosario Islands, and discover the pristine beaches of Tayrona National Park. Fly south into the Zona Cafetera for two days visiting coffee farms and hiking amongst giant palms in the Valle de Cocora, then return to Cartagena to end your journey with more culture and cuisine in the "Pearl of the Caribbean."