Where to Stay in Salento, Colombia [2024]: 3 Best Areas + Hotels

Trying to decide where to stay in Salento, Colombia? Read on for my full recommendations!

Salento is a beautiful pueblo in the countryside of Colombia, and was one of our very favorite spots that we visited during our two weeks in Colombia. It’s a gorgeous region, from the lush, rolling hills, to the mountains in the distance, to the colorful town and vibrant central square.

If you’re planning a trip here, you might be wondering where to stay in Salento. Thankfully, the area isn’t all that big, so there are only a few things to consider when deciding where to stay in Salento.

Where to Stay in Salento, Colombia: Top 3 Areas

In this article, I’ll break down exactly what you should consider when deciding where to stay in Salento. There are three main regions you could stay on a visit to Salento: in the heart of the city, just outside the city, and in the countryside surrounding the city. All have pros and cons, so let’s get right into the details!

Note: There are not many “high-end, luxury” options in Salento – accommodations generally are in the budget to mid-range when you consider price points and luxury factor (with a few exceptions noted below!).

1. In the Village of Salento

Salento is a charming, colorful town and is the hub of tourism in the area. In Salento, you can visit Plaza de Bolivar and the Iglesia Nuestra Señora del Carmen church. Eat at some of the food stands in the plaza, and – at night – listen to the live music and performances that pop up. When you need transportation, pick up ride in the willy jeeps from the square.

Walk down the famous Calle Real, with it’s colorful doors, windows, and moldings, and do some shopping in the many stores lining the street. Head up to the Mirador Alto de la Cruz or Mirador de Salento.

Play tejo. Wander the streets. Eat at the many local restaurants in town.

In short, Salento offers an array of charms, and one of the best ways to fully enjoy it is to stay right in the heart of town. Luckily, there are several options in the main area of the city.

  • Pros: Close to everything in town, close to the public transit options (the willy jeeps), close to the bus station
  • Cons: The pros are also the cons here – you’re right in the middle of the city, so there will always be a certain amount of hustle and bustle around.

Recommended Hotels + Rentals to Stay in Salento

Salento Pequeño Hotel ($)

✔️This hotel is a cute little bungalow, with spacious rooms, in a quiet part of town.
✔️The quadruple room also offers a private mini-kitchen.
✔️All units have an attached, private balcony overlooking the town, where you can take breakfast.
Rating: 9.2 of 10 – read all review here

Hotel Salento Real Eje Cafetero ($$)

✔️The location at this hotel couldn’t be more central – it’s literally right in the middle of town.
✔️The main lobby is lovely, rooms are clean and a good size, and some rooms have balconies.

Rating: 8.6 of 10 – read all review here

Hotel El Mirador del Cocora ($$)

✔️Located several blocks from the main square and right on the edge of town, this hotel delivers in both exceptional views and close proximity to everything in town.
✔️All the rooms are very nicely designed, but here I think its definitely worth the (small) upgrade to the mountain view rooms!
Rating: 9.1 of 10 – read all review here

Best Vacation Apartment in Salento:

($$) Casa Mila Salento Vacation Rental: This light, bright, and airy apartment in modern and updated and has everything you need for a cozy little stay in Salento, just a couple blocks from Plaza Bolivar. 👉Book Casa Mila here

2. Where to Stay in Salento: On the Outskirts of Town

The areas highlighted in this section are all a 5-10 minute walk into town and are definitely considered on the outskirts of town. This is a great area if you want to be fairly close to all the action, restaurants, sites, and amenities of Salento, but also want to be a bit more in the countryside and enjoy some of the pristine, natural views as well.

  • Pros: Close but not too close – you have a little bit more privacy and are away from the hustle and bustle.
  • Cons: There is a 5-10 minute walk required to get into town, if that bothers you. Some parts of the outskirts have more animals, which can be noisy at times.

Best Hotels and Rentals on the Outskirts of Salento:

Hotel Boutique Palmas de Salento ($)

✔️With clean rooms, great views over the valley, and a couple of hot tubs, this is a great deal for a relaxing hotel in Salento.

Rating: 8.8 of 10 – read all review here

Hotel Terasu Salento ($$)

✔️This hotel has gorgeous, spacious rooms, wooden floors, planked ceiling, really nice bathrooms, and balconies, and pathways throughout the property.
✔️It’s a incredible value in Salento!
Rating: 9.3 of 10 – read all review here

Hotel Kawa Mountain Retreat ($$$)

✔️This boutique hotel is almost more of a mountain treehouse retreat. The grounds and view are absolutely beautiful, rooms are spacious, and you can also get massages here.
✔️The deluxe bungalow is absolutely luxurious!
Rating: 9.4 of 10 – read all review here

Best Vacation Rental on the Outskirts

($$$) Hacienda Corozal Salento Rental Home: This rental home is a great option if you have a group, or if you just want stunning floor to ceiling windows, a private deck, and a hot tub overlooking the valley. 👉Book Hacienda Corozal here

3. Where to Stay in Salento: The Countryside

The coffee triangle countryside of Colombia is absolutely gorgeous and there are beautiful accommodations to stay at outside of town. These accommodations tend to be glamping setups, ecolodges, or other accommodations designed to be an immersive experience . This is a great area to stay in Salento if you really want the chance to relax, unwind, and enjoy nature.

In the countryside, you can hike to waterfalls, see the river, or go horseback riding.

Some countryside accommodations are at working coffee farms or animal farms, and you have the opportunity to participate and/or observe the daily life.

The Cocora Valley is the big attraction in the Salento countryside, and several accommodations are located to specifically to cater to those wishing to visit this stunning valley.

Read More: A Detailed Guide to the Cocora Valley Hike in 2024

Finally, the Kasaguadua Nature Preserve is a jungle preserve with an impressive lodge and an experience focusing on sustainability and seeing the beautiful forest up close.

These accommodations are all between a 10-15 minute drive from Salento. You can drive yourself or get a taxi to/from town.

  • Pros: Quiet surroundings, the chance to stay in some unique accommodations, being immersed in nature. Some of the stays are close to the Cocora Valley, which is convenient, especially if that is your main focus for visiting the region.
  • Cons: Farther from town, requiring a ride or a long walk to reach the village.

Where to Stay in the Countryside of Salento – Best Hotels

Ecohotel Pinohermoso Reserva Natural ($$)

✔️This property is on a working farm – rooms are rustic and cozy, and there are farm animals around (you can milk the cows if you want!).
✔️Standard accommodations are nice, but the one bedroom chalets – the detached cabins with their own private deck and hot tub overlooking the mountains – are the real winners at this location.
Rating: 9.6 of 10 – read all review here

Ecolodge Kasaguadua ($$)

✔️This property is a truly unique experience, as you are staying right in the middle of the cloud-forest!
✔️The lodge is on a nature preserve, where the caretakers’ goal is to maintain balance between development and sustainability.
✔️You get tostay in these cool, geodesic pods and then have use of a communal lodge for relaxing and eating.
✔️This is more than a place to stay, it’s a whole immersive experience.
Rating: 9.8 of 10 – read all review here

Glamping Lumbre ($$$)

✔️This hotel offers glamping tents and absolutely gorgeous glamping cabins – featuring roofs that are half glass and half wooden, wood floors, and private bathrooms – with views over the gardens and mountains.
✔️The location and accommodations are absolutely stunning.
Rating: 9.2 of 10 – read all review here

A Few More Things to Know About Visiting Salento

What Should I Do in Salento?

While I mentioned a lot of Salento activities in the above paragraphs, I have a dedicated article chock full of helpful details about all the best things to do in Salento – including tips for can’t-miss spots, several off the beaten path places to visit, restaurant recommendations, and more!

Read More: 14 Absolute Best Things to Do in Salento, Colombia (A Travel Guide)

How Many Days Do You Need in Salento?

I would plan for 1-2 days for the attractions in town, and then most of another day to hike the Cocora Valley. We did three (almost) full days in Salento, which I thought was a perfect amount of time.

Is Salento Safe?

We felt really safe in Salento, day or night. While I would still exercise sensible caution at night, we did walk around in the dark and felt perfectly fine.

Is Salento, Colombia expensive?

We found Salento to be extremely budget-friendly. We spent around 10-15 USD for a sit down meal and 5-10 USD for a quicker meal for two. Willy rides were around 1-3 USD. The Cocora Valley had a nominal fee, and the coffee farms and Kasaguadua were both about 7 USD per person.

Note: While prices are given here in USD for convenience, Colombia uses the Colombian peso (COP) and you cannot pay in dollars. About 4300 pesos = 1 US dollar. There are several ATM’s around town.

Read More: Our Colombia Travel Budget: What Does a Trip to Colombia Cost?

When Is the Best Time to Visit Salento?

Weatherwise, Salento has very stable (and pretty nice!) temperatures year round. Average highs are steady around 72F/22C, with lows around 55F/13F, year round. Days tend to be overcast, with June-September and December-January having the highest percentage of clear skies.

Salento receives rain year round, with January and February receiving the least amount of rain, followed by July and August. The spring and fall months do tend to have higher amounts of rain and cloud clover. You can look at weather trends in Salento further here.

Tourism does tend to be higher in the winter. And any time during the year, weekends and holidays are much busier than weekdays. We went in July and had great weather and manageable crowds.

Overall, I would say that July and August are the best times to visit (with June/September also being pretty good times), followed by December-February.

Don’t Forget Travel Insurance!

Securing some travel insurance is an important part of prepping for any international trip – you never know when something might happen, and your regular insurance generally won’t cover you overseas. Costs for a medical emergency on vacation can add up extremely fast, so it’s just better to be safe than sorry. (If covid has taught me anything, it’s that you never know what could happen!)  

I like booking insurance at Insure My Trip, as they offer a variety of plans with different coverages to choose from, so you can find the right option for you. Plus, they have great customer support if you need help before, during, or after your trip.

👉Check rates at Insure My Trip here!👈

Final Thoughts on Where to Stay in Salento

Salento is a really special place to visit with a stunning natural beauty and a charming village vibe. I hope you have an amazing time during your time in Salento, Colombia!

Check Out My Other Colombia Articles:

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