Salento offers views of the town and the Valle de Cócora, as well as natural and cultural sites in the surrounding area. Coffee growing, birdwatching and horseback riding are also among the experiences described. When planning your trip, it is worth taking a closer look at the different features of the viewpoints and the distinct focus of each activity.
Viewpoints with Different Sights
From Mirador Alto de la Cruz, you can see the Valle de Cócora; it also offers panoramic views of Salento. Ecoparque El Mirador likewise provides views of the Valle de Cócora, as well as the mountains of the Cordillera Central and the course of the Río Quindío. Both viewpoints share a view of the valley, but differ in what else they offer: Mirador Alto de la Cruz also looks out over Salento, while Ecoparque adds mountain and river scenery. If you are choosing between the two perspectives, consider which of these sights you would most like to focus on.
Nature and the Surroundings of the Valle de Cócora
The Acaime and Estrella de Agua nature reserves are located near the Valle de Cócora. The area is also home to a cloud forest and Cerro Morrogacho. An Indigenous cemetery is also located near the valley. Thus, this description includes other named natural and cultural sites in addition to the viewpoints. Those interested in the landscape will find several distinct points of interest here: protected areas, a forest, a Cerro and the valley itself. The cemetery adds a site of Indigenous significance to this selection.
Boquía and the La Explanación Bridge
Boquía is a small village with traditional houses along the route to Salento. The La Explanación Bridge, a centuries-old structure, is located near Boquía. In the past, the train from Buenaventura to Bogotá crossed the bridge. Boquía therefore brings together two different aspects: the character of a small village and the historic railway connection recalled by La Explanación. For those choosing cultural points of interest, this place offers a different focus from the viewpoints and natural sites around the Valle de Cócora.
Coffee, Horseback Riding and Birdwatching
The Cabalgata Cascada de Boquerón Salento horseback ride starts in Salento. Its route passes a coffee-growing area and continues to the Río Boquerón; the horses cross the river several times. Both coffee growing and river crossings are therefore part of the route described.
In the municipality of Salento, the El Ocaso Salento coffee tour includes visits to coffee plantations, coffee picking, sowing and transplanting seedlings. Advance reservations are required for the tour; check current availability before your visit. Another way to focus on nature is birdwatching: there are several opportunities for it in the Valle de Cócora during ecological hikes. The three activities have different focuses—a horseback route with river crossings, an introduction to various stages of coffee growing, or birdwatching during a hike.
Choose Your Hotel Search Based on Your Interests
When searching for hotels in Salento, you can first consider which themes you would like to shape your stay: views of the town, natural features around the Valle de Cócora, the history of the bridge near Boquía, or an activity involving coffee or birdwatching. If the coffee tour is part of your plans, remember that advance reservations are required and check availability before your visit.
Discover more destinations: Puerto Alejandria, Calarcá, Filandia, Quimbaya, Buenavista, La Tebaida, Montenegro, Circasia.
See the broader travel overview: Quindío.
