If you are traveling around Colombia then you are probably going to want to visit Salento. Super popular for tourists, Salento serves as a base to visit the Cocora Valley – famous for having the largest palm trees in the world. In this post, we will go over how to get to Salento from Medellin and Bogota, by bus and by plane.
Use the table of contents below to find which is relevant to you!
Useful links for your trip 👇
How to Get to Salento
By Plane from Bogota or Medellin
There is no airport in Salento, but there is one in both Pereira and Armenia. Both of these cities are about 45 minutes to Salento by bus. Once you land at either of these airports, you will need to take a taxi to the bus station, and then catch the bus to Salento.
We flew from Medellin to Pereira on LATAM and the flight was $35 per person. Once we landed at Pereira, we walked out of the airport and easily got a taxi to the bus station. The fare was 20,000 COP total which we split between four people, making it 5,000 COP per person.
➡️ Read: Top 9 Things to Do in Medellin
Once we got to the bus station, we asked someone where the counter was for Salento, and were able to get on a bus very quickly. We paid 7,000 COP per person to get from the bus station in Pereira to Salento.
Once you get to Salento, you will get dropped off at the bus station which is at the very corner of the town. Although Salento is very small, the streets are very steep and the roads aren’t perfect. It’s also very hot in the middle of the day. Be prepared for a 10-15 minute walk up hills to where you are staying.
If you want to go by taxi directly from the airport to Salento, it is definitely possible. The fare should be about 140,000 COP ($36).
➡️ Read: Ultimate 2 Week Colombia Itinerary
By Bus from Bogota
If you are coming from Bogota, you are going to want to take the bus to Armenia from the Southern Bus Terminal in Bogota (Terminal de Autobus Sur). Make sure you don’t go to the Northern Terminal.
The bus ride is going to be about 6-8 hours through the mountains, but could easily take longer due to road closures. A lot of travelers complain about getting sick on this ride, so be prepared.
Right now the bus is $15 on Busbud, which is what I usually use to book my bus tickets in Colombia. You can buy the ticket at the station, but there is a chance it will be sold out when you get there, and you will have to wait for the next one. If you want to book at the station, I would recommend showing up an hour before the bus leaves to make sure you get a seat.
Another thing to note is that the last bus leaves from Armenia to Salento at 8:30 PM, so if you get into Armenia after 8:30 you will either have to spend the night in Armenia, or take a private taxi to Salento.
The bus from Armenia to Salento should be about 4,000 COP.
👉 Book your bus from Bogota to Salento here. 🚌
By Bus from Medellin
There is a direct bus from Medellin to Salento, so you do not need to travel to Armenia first. The bus is operated by Flota Occidental and will cost approximately 150,000 COP. ($38) This is literally the exact price as the flight from Medellin to Salento with LATAM.
The bus to Salento from Medellin leaves at 9 AM, 11:30 AM, 2 PM, and 10 PM. Most travelers will elect to take the night bus so they can save on accommodation for the night.
The bus to Salento from Medellin is a smaller minibus and is by no means luxury like the one from Bogota to Armenia. Be prepared to be crammed in there for a long time.
👉 Book your bus from Medellin to Salento here. 🚌
Our Recommendation
We recommend you fly to Pereira if you are coming from Medellin. At $35, it’s basically the exact price of the bus, and you won’t have to deal with a bus for 8 hours winding through the Andes Mountains.
If coming from Bogota, we recommend you fly as well. Fights are similarly priced and will save you a ton of time and headache!
💡 TIP: No matter how you choose to get to Salento, we recommend you head to Hostal La Cata Carola for lunch on your first day in town. For 17,000 COP you get a delicious lunch with a soup, drink, and main course. Highly recommend!
Where to Stay in Salento
👉 Hostel: Coffee Tree Boutique Hostel
Far enough away from town to avoid the noisy streets at night, but close enough to get to the center in a few minutes. Great views of the city and cheap breakfast. Dorms and private rooms. The highest-rated hostel in town, and a highlight from Colombia for many backpackers.
👉 Budget Hotel: Casa Pachamama
We paid $30 a night for a private room with a balcony. The room was very nice, and I would highly recommend this place if you’re looking for good value.
👉 Luxury Hotel: Hotel Kawa Mountain Retreat
For $180 a night you get a beautiful cabin in the mountains with a pool and wonderful food. And an amazing view.
🏨 View all your hotel options in Salento here!
Summary – How to Get to Salento
The bus ride through the mountains to Salento can be rough … and long. We recommend you fly to save yourself the hassle, plus it’s almost the same cost as the bus!
Regardless, Salento is definitely worth a visit! The Cocora Valley is absolutely stunning. See our Top 8 Things to Do in Salento. Another place we would HIGHLY recommend you visit in this region is Jardin. Jardin is about a 2 hour bus ride from Medellin and is easily our favorite place that we visited in Colombia. Checkout our 11 Best Things to Do in Jardin for some inspiration! Also, make sure to checkout our favorite places in the North – Minca, Tayrona, and Palomino!
We hope you found this guide useful. Enjoy your trip.
