| Salento & Valle de Cocora |
An increasingly popular region of Colombia for tourists is the spectacular Valle de Cocorra and little gem of a town Salento. It is most known for
the impossibly tall wax palm trees, the national tree of Colombia. The park is located a short jeep ride from the small town of Salento which is in
turn less than an hours ride from Armenia and Pereira or a six hour journey from Medellin.
the impossibly tall wax palm trees, the national tree of Colombia. The park is located a short jeep ride from the small town of Salento which is in
turn less than an hours ride from Armenia and Pereira or a six hour journey from Medellin.
from Pereira: there are only three buses a day during the week to Salento. On weekends there are a lot more. It could be a good idea to get a
bus to Armenia and wait at the cross-roads for a bus to Salento. Bus times during the day from Pereira to Salento are 06:20, 13:20, 16:20. Cost
from Pereira to Salento is 4,700 pesos
from Armenia: there are buses every fifteen minutes or so from Armenia to Salento and vice versa. The cost is 2.500 pesos
from Medellin: no direct buses. You must get to Pereira or Armenia and transfer
bus to Armenia and wait at the cross-roads for a bus to Salento. Bus times during the day from Pereira to Salento are 06:20, 13:20, 16:20. Cost
from Pereira to Salento is 4,700 pesos
from Armenia: there are buses every fifteen minutes or so from Armenia to Salento and vice versa. The cost is 2.500 pesos
from Medellin: no direct buses. You must get to Pereira or Armenia and transfer
A British fella, Tim, has opened a hostal in the town and along with his wife, Cristina is a great source of info on the surrounding area. His hostal
is called Plantation House and is pretty easy to find... just ask around. When entering the town on the bus get off at the fire station (bombero)
and walk from there, its only a few minutes. The friendly locals will help you if you get lost.
There are other options for places to stay but they are generally more expensive and you won't get the friendly attention you will from Tim and
his family nor the great information he can provide about the surrounding area.
On my last visit, 20th August 07, which was with my parents, we stayed at a small hotel on the main tourist road at a cost of 75,000 pesos per
night for two people. These hotels fill up on weekends and during holidays but otherwise are quite empty.
is called Plantation House and is pretty easy to find... just ask around. When entering the town on the bus get off at the fire station (bombero)
and walk from there, its only a few minutes. The friendly locals will help you if you get lost.
There are other options for places to stay but they are generally more expensive and you won't get the friendly attention you will from Tim and
his family nor the great information he can provide about the surrounding area.
On my last visit, 20th August 07, which was with my parents, we stayed at a small hotel on the main tourist road at a cost of 75,000 pesos per
night for two people. These hotels fill up on weekends and during holidays but otherwise are quite empty.
Restaurante Rincon de Lucy, Cr 6 #402
There are a few nice restaurants around. The specialty is trout and they sell it by the bucket-load.
This local restaurant two blocks from the main plaza is very good and very cheap. For 5.000 pesos you get a soup to start with, trout, rice and
veggies and a postre and drink to boot. Great deal.
El Fin de la Afan, two blocks further down from the plaza on Cr6
For a little more (between 12.000 and 17.000 pesos) you can get a beautiful trout meal. I personally recommend the trout with prawn and
mushroom sauce. It comes with a salad and patacon (fried cooking banana). Absolutely delicious. To go with your trout try a natural lemonade
juice which is only 1,000 pesos extra.
Alternatively eat up in the Valle Cocora where there are several options from budget to more expensive in very scenic surroundings. More
alternatively get a piece of string and a hook and find a stream and catch your own meal.
There are a few nice restaurants around. The specialty is trout and they sell it by the bucket-load.
This local restaurant two blocks from the main plaza is very good and very cheap. For 5.000 pesos you get a soup to start with, trout, rice and
veggies and a postre and drink to boot. Great deal.
El Fin de la Afan, two blocks further down from the plaza on Cr6
For a little more (between 12.000 and 17.000 pesos) you can get a beautiful trout meal. I personally recommend the trout with prawn and
mushroom sauce. It comes with a salad and patacon (fried cooking banana). Absolutely delicious. To go with your trout try a natural lemonade
juice which is only 1,000 pesos extra.
Alternatively eat up in the Valle Cocora where there are several options from budget to more expensive in very scenic surroundings. More
alternatively get a piece of string and a hook and find a stream and catch your own meal.
| Plantation House Hostel, Salento |
The small town of Salento is nice in itself and if one arrives during
Colombian vacations it will be very busy indeed. The plaza is a great
place to sit and have a beer. It is also the departure point for jeep willys
up to the valle de cocora. There is a big artesanas industry in Salento.
The bamboo lamps are in particular a good buy. Anything made of
bamboo actually.
The valley is half an hours ride from Salento town. From the Valle de
Cocora you can do walks ranging for a few hours up to several days and
the snow-line. There is also a trout hatchery and there are a few
restaurants serving various styles of the local delicacy.
Colombian vacations it will be very busy indeed. The plaza is a great
place to sit and have a beer. It is also the departure point for jeep willys
up to the valle de cocora. There is a big artesanas industry in Salento.
The bamboo lamps are in particular a good buy. Anything made of
bamboo actually.
The valley is half an hours ride from Salento town. From the Valle de
Cocora you can do walks ranging for a few hours up to several days and
the snow-line. There is also a trout hatchery and there are a few
restaurants serving various styles of the local delicacy.
Getting there and away and around (to Valle Cocora)
Where to Stay
Where to Eat
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