Traveler Information in Salento

Traveler information

Time in Salento 01:43
Coin Colombia Peso $
Time in Salento 01:43
Coin Colombia Peso $
Shabbat times
Parsha Yitro
(14-15/02/2025)
Shabbat begins
17:58
Shabbat ends
18:47

Tours and Recommendations from Chabad House Salento

Cocora Valley

General Information:
A 25-minute drive from Salento will take you to the incredible and boundless nature of Cocora Valley, home to the tallest trees in the world. There are two ways to explore the valley – by foot or horseback.

Hiking: A circular walking trail of about 12 km, taking around 3.5 to 5 hours. The trail includes all the viewpoints and scenery of Cocora Valley. There is also a shorter 1 hour and 20 minutes route that goes through two amazing and photogenic viewpoints.

Horse Riding: Ride on horseback to the famous Palm Viewpoint. Upon arrival, there’s a short 5-minute climb to the viewpoint. From there, continue with the horses to the upper and central Cocora viewpoint—a further 8-minute climb on foot—to reach breathtaking views of the world’s tallest wax palm trees. At the end of the ride, there are several photogenic spots to visit.

It’s recommended to avoid visiting on Sundays and holidays. Kosher Tip: There is a guava stand with 100% natural and tasty juice for 10 pesos per cup.

How to Get There:
Take a jeep from the central square to Cocora Valley. Keep your tickets. Round-trip jeep costs 10,000 pesos.

Prices:
Entrance to the reserve: 20,000 pesos per person. Horse ride: 140,000 pesos for two hours per person. Discount available through Chabad House for pre-registration.

Type of Tour: Hiking
Tour Duration: Half-day Difficulty
Level: Easy
Recommended Time: Morning

Hot Springs – Santa Rosa

General Information:
Santa Rosa is a small town near the larger city of Pereira. In Santa Rosa, there is a beautiful place with hot waters under a large waterfall, close to a flowing stream. The place is known as “Hot Springs,” but it is actually a series of heated pools with a spectacular view of the waterfall.

How to Get There:
Form a group of about 10 people and go with organized transportation. The drive takes about two hours each way.

Prices:
Round trip transportation plus entrance to the site – approximately 120,000 pesos.

Type of Tour: Water
Tour Duration: Half-day
Difficulty Level: Easy
Recommended Time: Evening

Hot Springs – San Vicente

General Information:
A magical place in the heart of the Colombian Andes and the beautiful coffee region. The water comes from deep within the earth, reaching high temperatures. The site features several pools with natural thermal waters from the hot springs. The upper area has large pools, and the lower area reaches a steep path through vegetation with many small pools.

There is also a spa, massages, and sulfur mud treatments available. If you want to stay overnight, there is a highly recommended hotel with VIP rooms that have a hot spring running through them.

Recommended to bring:
Warm clothes (the area is cold), a non-cotton swimsuit (for maximum absorption of minerals).

How to Get There:
By taxi or cumbersome public transportation.

Prices:
Taxi (11 seats) to the location: 430,000 pesos. Entrance ticket via website: 40,000–75,000 pesos.

Type of Tour: Water
Tour Duration: Half-day/Night
Difficulty Level: Easy
Recommended Time: Evening

Horseback Riding

General Information:
Horseback riding in Salento and its surroundings is a unique experience that can only be had here. Ride through endless green fields, gallop on empty trails, visit beautiful viewpoints, flowing streams, and enjoy a perfect atmosphere. There are several options for horseback riding tours:

Coffee Farm Tour (4.5 hours): Ride from Chabad House along the coffee route, arrive at a coffee farm, and take a two-hour tour. From there, continue downhill to the Quindío River and return to Chabad House.
Waterfall and Valley View Tour (1 hour 40 minutes): This tour includes a waterfall and a viewpoint overlooking the coffee valley. All tours include beautiful views of Salento and the surrounding area, waterfalls, streams, and lovely places.

How to Get There:
Arrive at Chabad House.

Prices:
70 pesos per person for the short tour.
140 pesos per person for the long tour.

Type of Tour: Horseback Riding
Tour Duration: Half-day
Difficulty Level: Easy
Recommended Time: All day

Chabad House Flagship Tour

General Information:
Join the flagship tour of Chabad House Salento: At 4:45 am at Chabad House, wake up and start the day with a hot cup of coffee or tea. At 5 am sharp, ride the ATV (buggy).

First Stop – Sunrise Viewpoint: Watch the sunrise over the Manizales volcanoes. Enjoy real Turkish coffee and chocolate cakes to the sound of a guitar while watching the sunrise.
Second Stop – Carbón Valley Viewpoint: Pause to take in the view and take pictures from this high vantage point.
Third Stop – Farm Breakfast & Horse Ride: Enjoy a luxurious Israeli breakfast at the farm and then set out on a two-hour horseback ride to an impressive viewpoint.
Fourth and Last Stop – Cool Waterfall and Pool: Take a dip and refresh yourself in the water.
The tour ends at around 11 am, returning to Chabad House.

How to Get There:
Arrive at Chabad House.

Prices:
300 pesos per person.

Type of Tour: ATV
Tour Duration: Full-day
Difficulty Level: Easy to Medium
Recommended Time: Early Morning

Bike Tour

General Information:
An amazing extreme bike tour in the Carbón Valley! A 6-8 hour downhill adventure on a double-track trail of 32 km, through the jungle with breathtaking views of the mountains, volcanoes, and the coffee valley. Includes a tasty and indulgent Israeli sandwich breakfast with tropical fruits from the coffee valley.

Itinerary:

07:00: Arrive at Chabad House, have a cup of coffee or tea to wake up.
07:20: Board the jeep and get fitted with riding gear.
Drive up the Carbón Valley—a stunning hour and a half journey.
Ride downhill for 10 km to a scenic waterfall spot for breakfast with sandwiches, fruits, and drinks.
Take the jeep to the long, extreme 22 km bike trail back to Salento.
Return to Chabad House to relax with a beer and falafel.
Includes: Insurance, professional guide accompaniment, 4×4 support, professional bikes, protective gear, and helmets.

How to Get There: Arrive at Chabad House.

Prices:
250 pesos per person.

Type of Tour: Cycling
Tour Duration: Half-day
Difficulty Level: Moderate
Recommended Time: Morning

ATV Tours

General Information:
In Salento, there is a wide variety of ATV tours. There are several types of tours:

River Quindío Viewpoint Tour: A 1 hour 40 minute tour with beautiful views of the river.
Coffee Farm & Valley View Tour: A 4-hour tour combining a coffee farm, a viewpoint of the coffee valley, and nature.
Extended Mountain Range Tour in Carbón Valley: A powerful 5-6 hour tour across the mountains of Carbón Valley, including waterfalls and views of the Manizales volcanoes.

How to Get There:
Arrive at Chabad House.

Prices:
River Tour: 170,000 pesos per person. Coffee Farm Tour: 270,000 pesos per person. Carbón Valley Tour: 450,000 pesos per person. Minimum of 4 people required per tour.

Type of Tour: ATV
Tour Duration: Half-day
Difficulty Level: Easy
Recommended Time: Morning

Coffee Farm Tour

General Information:
Salento is surrounded by a wide variety of coffee farms. During the coffee tour, you can experience the entire preparation process—from learning about the coffee fruit, harvesting the beans, grinding, and finally tasting the coffee. We recommend the OXO Farm, which can be arranged through Chabad House. The last tour is at 4:00 PM.

There is also a VIP tour, highly recommended for coffee enthusiasts, which includes, in addition to the regular tour, an exploration of all roasting methods, aromas, and flavors.

How to Get There:
Take a jeep from the central square to the coffee farm. Keep your tickets for the return journey.

Prices:
Round-trip jeep: 10,000 pesos per person.
Regular tour: 30,000–40,000 pesos per person.
VIP coffee tour: 80,000–90,000 pesos per person.

Type of Tour: Walking
Tour Duration: Half-day
Difficulty Level: Easy
Recommended Time: Morning/Afternoon

Cacao Farm Tour

General Information:
The cacao tour is one of the most recommended tours in the Salento area. The cacao farm is located in the beautiful nature of Montenegro, about a 50-minute drive away. During the tour, you learn about the fascinating cacao fruit with an English-speaking guide—from harvesting the fruit, through the fermentation process, to the final product of making chocolate. At the end, enjoy hot chocolate and taste the chocolate while taking in the green landscape of the Montenegro mountains.

The tour lasts approximately 4 hours from start to finish.

How to Get There:
Shuttle that departs and returns from Chabad House.

Prices:
100 pesos per person (minimum of 4 people).

Type of Tour: Walking
Tour Duration: Half-day
Difficulty Level: Easy
Recommended Time: Morning

Cocora Falls

General Information:
A walking trail to two waterfalls within a lush, shaded, and tranquil jungle—one of the most beautiful in the area. The larger waterfall is 100 meters high, while the smaller one is 80 meters. There is a cool wooden deck for stunning photos. It is recommended to bring a swimsuit, towel, and mosquito repellent spray.

How to Get There:
Start from the central square—take a jeep to a dirt road leading to the reserve. There is a 30-minute hike and then a split in the trail: Turn right for the larger waterfall and left for the smaller one. Keep your jeep tickets for the return journey.

Prices:
Round trip jeep: 10 pesos. Entrance to the reserve: 20 pesos (includes walking sticks).

Type of Tour: Walking
Tour Duration: Half-day
Difficulty Level: Easy
Recommended Time: Morning

Santa Rita – The Five Waterfalls

General Information:
A circular hike of 2 to 3.5 hours in Santa Rita. Along the route, you will reach five breathtaking waterfalls. The trail has many cool wooden bridges over the waterfalls, and the area is lush with flowers and butterflies. The trail is easy, mostly flat, and recommended for a day trip. It is recommended to bring a swimsuit, camera, food, and mosquito repellent spray.

How to Get There:
Take a jeep from the square to Finca Santa Rita—a 15-minute drive. Another option is a local bus, which drops you about a 15-minute walk from the trail entrance.

Prices:
Jeep from the square: 35 pesos. Local bus: 5 pesos. Entrance to the trail: 10 pesos (includes a cup of coffee).

Type of Tour: Walking
Tour Duration: Half-day
Difficulty Level: Moderate
Recommended Time: Morning

Amusement Park – Parque del Café

General Information:
The largest amusement park in Colombia, located within the lush green nature of Montenegro. A great opportunity for park enthusiasts. The park is about an hour away from Salento. Tickets can be purchased at the entrance. A discounted ticket is available if purchased the day before through the official website.

How to Get There:
By public transportation or private taxi.

Prices:
Entrance ticket: approximately 85,000 pesos per person. Taxi cost: between 200,000-250,000 pesos.

Type of Tour: Walking
Tour Duration: Full-day
Difficulty Level: Easy
Recommended Time: Morning

Animal Circus – Panaca

General Information:
A huge complex that includes a circus and a zoo, all set within a beautiful, expansive nature reserve. A great experience for animal lovers. Located about an hour’s drive from Salento. The site features four large circuses and a wide variety of animals that can be fed and petted. It is recommended to check the website in advance for show options. There is also the possibility to rent a horse with an attached carriage.

How to Get There:
Round-trip taxi.

Prices:
Entrance fee: 90,000 pesos per person. Horse with carriage: 100,000 pesos.

Type of Tour:
Walking Tour Duration: Full-day
Difficulty Level: Easy
Recommended Time: Morning

Butterfly Farm

General Information:
A beautiful butterfly farm about an hour’s drive from here, highly recommended for butterfly enthusiasts and photographers. When it’s cold and rainy, the butterflies tend to hide, so it’s best to visit early to catch them during the sunny hours.

How to Get There:
Accessible by public transportation, but a taxi is recommended.

Prices:
Entrance fee: 65 pesos per person.

Type of Tour: Walking
Tour Duration: Half-day
Difficulty Level: Easy
Recommended Time: Morning

Viewpoint – Mirador

General Information:
In Salento, there is a viewpoint that overlooks the entire town. It’s a cool spot to sit. If you take a left after the stairs and go down, you’ll reach another viewpoint overlooking the valley.

How to Get There:
From the central square, head straight towards the pedestrian street. Walk to the end of the street, go up the stairs, and you’ll reach the viewpoint.

Prices:
Free entry.

Type of Tour: Walking
Tour Duration: Short
Difficulty Level: Easy
Recommended Time: Sunset

Kayaking Tour

General Information:
Kayaking tour on the Quindío River, especially recommended during the rainy seasons. Book through WhatsApp at +573128879376.

How to Get There:
Arranged through the company.

Prices:
90 pesos per person, including food.

Raft Building and River Ride

General Information:
An adventurous tour involving building a raft and sailing on the Quindío River. Build your raft, sail with it, and reach a large pool in the river where you can jump into the water. A fun experience, ideal for a large group.

How to Get There:
Arranged through the company.

Prices:
90 pesos per person for a group of 10 people. Includes lunch.

Shabbat in Salento

There is no Eruv in the city Salento