Calle Real
Colourful balconies.
Bernard Gagnon — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Bernard Gagnon — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Bernard Gagnon — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Bernard Gagnon — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Sebasmrodriguez — CC BY-SA 3.0
The heart of Salento, one of the oldest and loveliest towns of Colombia's coffee region: a main street lined with traditional mud-and-timber houses whose doors, balconies and windows are painted in bright red, blue, green and yellow. The houses along it have become craft shops, cafés serving the region's famous coffee, and stores selling hats, textiles and woodwork. At its end a long stairway climbs to the «Mirador», with views over the colourful town and the green valley and mountains toward Cocora. Salento is the gateway to the Cocora Valley, with old jeeps leaving from the main square, and small coffee farms nearby offer tours on growing and roasting coffee, some within a short walk of town. The town is very crowded with local visitors at weekends; weekdays are calmer. It is mild by day and cold at night, with frequent afternoon rain.
Colourful balconies.
Town and valley.
In the cafés.
Calle Real, from the main square to the lookout stairs, central Salento
Yes: small farms around town offer one- to two-hour tours on growing and roasting coffee, some within a short walk.