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Photo Essay: The Streets of Salento

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During my trip through Colombia's coffee region, it was recommended to me by several fellow travelers that I visit Salento, a well-preserved pueblo which serves as the jumping off point for day trips to the Valle de Cocora.

In Salento, as with most pueblos, daily life unfolds in the main square every day and night.

Sueno de Fresas
Sueno de Fresas ("I dream of strawberries") serves up fruity desserts in the main square, next to the church.
Share jeeps
Small share jeeps are the main mode of public transportation to/from Valle de Cocora.
Horse hood ornament
A horse hood ornament on one of the jeeps reflects the traditional, rural culture in Salento.
Salento restaurant
A brightly painted Salento restaurant.
Trucha in coconut milk
Trucha, a local fish, served with tomatoes and onions in a coconut milk sauce. A large fried plantain and a cold Pilsen beer accompanied my main dish.
Backpackers arrive in Salento
Backpackers arrive in Salento, and go searching for their night's accommodation.
Salento
Salento is widely considered to be one of the best preserved pueblos in Colombia. As a result of its central location in the coffee region, it has become a popular tourist destination.
Orange paint
The colorful building facades reminded me of Guatape, the first pueblo I visited a few hours outside Medellin.
Salento at sundown
Horses remain a popular way to get around in the Colombian countryside.
Sunset in Salento
The sun casts a warm orange glow over Salento's main church and plaza as another day comes to a close.

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Dave is the Founder and Editor in Chief of Go Backpacking. For more of his adventures, follow him on Instagram or Twitter.

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Comments

  1. WanderingTrader says

    These are awesome pics man this reminds me of cuba… how far is this from Medellin?

    • Dave says

      Thanks! Might be about 7-8 hours straight south by bus. It’s worth a visit if you’ve got the time. Guatape is only 2 to 2.5 hours by bus outside Medellin, and I thought was just as pretty.

  2. Akafix says

    Very nice article and pictures; short and to the point. I like it. I also think that the right translation of Sueno de fresas is actually Strawberry Dream (sueno is also the noun).
    Was the trucha good? Looks interesting.

    • Dave says

      Yes, the trucha was good. The restaurant where I ordered it had at least 10 different preparations on the menu.

  3. Andrew says

    I had no idea there were still people who wore ponchos or actually used horses as a primary means of transportation, that’s crazy (and cool).

    • Dave says

      Hey Andrew, even around some parts of Envigado and Itagui (and probably Medellin), you’ll see donkeys pulling carts down the street. In Sabeneta, a town south of Medellin, guys will ride their horses to the bars on the weekends. Old school Colombian culture!

  6. Annie Anywhere says

    Great photo! I like the colors! It seems to be a very calm place looking at how many people are on the streets. Am I right?

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