Valle de Cocora
Hike into the Valle de Cocora, one of the most striking landscapes in Colombia. Jeeps leave from the Plaza in Salento early in the morning. Be there around 8AM as they will leave as soon as they fill up. About COP 3000 per person. Take food and water. The Jeep takes you to the hamlet of Cocora about 40 minutes. From there you start on the trail through grassland, towering wax palms, crisscrossing a creek into a cloud forest. You can also rent horses, for COP 10,000 per hour per person, plus COP 10,000 per hour for a guide. After about 2 1/2 hours of fairly easy hiking you will get to a ranger post Acaime they want a small donation for admission where you can have a cup of hot chocolate or tea and watch lots of hummingbirds. From here you can either go back to Cocora or do the entire loop over La Montana. To do the loop, backtrack from Acaime for about 1 km, then turn right up the hill to the ranger station at La Montana. This trail is fairly strenuous as it goes straight up for 1.8 km to 2860m. The view from the Mountain House is spectacular. From there it's an easy 1 1/2 hour 5.1 km downhill walk along a wide dirt road with fabulous vistas and lots of giant wax palms back to Cocora where your Jeep will take you back to Salento.
Mirador
Visit the Mirador - the lookout point. It´s supposed to be one of the best views in Colombia. Ask in Plantation House for the location of a house with an even better view
pig racing
If you really want something different try pig racing at Panaca.
Butterfly house
Further afield - Butterfly house in Calarca or the Guadua Bamboo research Centre or even the very touristy National Coffee Park.
Salento´s fiesta
Is typically the first week of january. salento transforms from a sleepy little village to party central.
Valle de Cocora. Here grows Colombia's national symbol, the 60 meters high wax palms palma de cera. The landscape is surreal !
Eat Trucha
Trucha is a fish abundant in the region. you can find a plate of trucha with rice and other sides for cop 10,000 to 20,000, depending on the restaurant and the manner of cooking. restaurants around the main plaza or "centro" typically offer trucha. you can also go to a fish farm and buy or catch your own. however, this may become more expensive.
Organic Coffee Fincas
Visit one of the many Organic Coffee Fincas that are in the area.
CicloSalento
Decent mountain bikes are available for hire here, from 8,000 COP for an hour to 35,000 COP for a full day. There are a whole range of trails around the area, providing something for everyone from relative beginners to those who want something a bit more technical. Some of the trails afford some spectacular views across the area and the coffee plantations.
Play Tejo
Drinking, throwing metal weights and gun-powder !!!