15 Best Things to Do in Nong Khiaw, Laos (2024)
April 28, 2024
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Salento is an absolute charmer located in the coffee region’s heart of Colombia. it’s a popular destination both with foreign and international tourists because of its proximity to the otherworldly Cocora Valley. After a few days of sipping coffee at the local coffee farms, hiking rolling hills, and visiting hidden waterfalls it’s time for your next stop on your itinerary. A logical choice is the city of Medellin, known for its notorious past of drug violence but a hub of social transformation today. In this post, I’ll tell you everything you need to know about how to get from Salento to Medellin!
The Calle Real in Salento, Colombia
Salento is a small charming town located in the Quindio region of Colombia. It is known for its rolling fields full of coffee farms and UNESCO even recognizes the area for its unique coffee culture.
There are many things to do in Salento like hiking the Cocora Valley, paying a visit to the Santa Rita Waterfall, going on a coffee tour around Salento, and learning about the environment at Kasaguadua Natural Reserve.
After I spent two weeks in this lovely region, it was time to continue my journey. There are other cute places in Colombia’s coffee region like Filandia, Pijao, and Buenavista but, if you are short on time, Medellin is the next logical stop on your itinerary.
View of Medellin from comuna 13
Medellin is the second-largest city of Colombia and a must-do while you are traveling through Colombia. This city was the most dangerous place in the world in the early 1990s due to drug-related violence. But today, Medellin is safe to visit!
Medellin is an innovative city that has reinvented itself to become one of the most vibrant and tourist-friendly cities in South America. One of the highlights of visiting Medellin is going on a tour of Comuna 13, which stands as a symbol of Medellin’s social innovation and urban development.
Furthermore, Medellin boasts some other great attractions like Plaza Botero, The Medellin Botanical Garden, and Parque Explora. There are also some excellent vegan restaurants in Medellin offering plant-based takes on local classics like Bandeja Paisa.
The best places to stay in Medellin are El Poblado and Laureles. If you have a more luxurious and upscale travel style you will probably be very happy staying in El Poblado but, if you are a conscious traveler like me, looking for a more authentic and local vibe, Laureles will be for you!
Plaza Botero, Medellin
One thing is certain: traveling from Salento to Medellin offers some of the most scenic landscapes in the whole country. If you choose to travel overland know that the road is known for being winding and narrow as it traverses the mountains of the Andes.
Traffic jams occur regularly and road works are also very common, adding considerable travel time to your trip. While the distance between Salento and Medellin is only 280 kilometers, it can take between 6 to 8 hours to reach Medellin from Salento by road.
Note that there is no railway system in Colombia. The transport options to get from Salento to Medellin are by plane, bus, car, or motorbike. I’ll get into the details deeper in the next sections!
The most eco-friendly and economical way to get from Salento to Medellin is by bus. The bus station of Salento is tiny, yet it is served by four direct buses from Salento to Medellin a day. They are operated by Flota Accidental and are in decent shape.
At the time of my visit (Jan 2024) direct buses were leaving Salento for Medellin at 8 A.M., 9:30 A.M., 1:30 P.M., and 8 P.M. Tickets were sold for 78.000 COP at the bus station but are also available to buy online at Busbud.
Another option to reach Medellin from Salento by bus is to take a bus first to Armenia or Pereira and change to a Medellin-bound bus there.
You will arrive in Medellin at the southern Bus Terminal right next to Enrique Olaya Herrera Airport. If you are staying in El Poblado, this is only 2,5 kilometers away from the Southern Bus Terminal and can be reached on foot or by taxi/uber.
If you are staying in Laureles or La Candelaria, you can opt to take the metro but it might be more convenient to take an Uber or taxi too because the metro network doesn’t cover most parts of Laureles.
The local bus is also an option but it’s not that easy to figure out schedules and it will take about an hour to get to the center of Laureles while it will only take 20 minutes by Uber or Taxi.
If you like to explore at your own pace, renting a car to explore Colombia might be the best option for you. Car hire can be cheap if you travel in low season but prices can peak between the end of November and march and around holidays like Easter.
Decorations in Comuna 13 in Medellin
While a car will give you the freedom to explore on your own terms, know that traffic can be a bitch in Colombia and it doesn’t guarantee that you will reach Medellin sooner than by taking the bus.
However, it will allow you to make stops on the way and the road from Salento to Medellin is particularly interesting for photographers. It takes you high up in the Andean mountains with spectacular vistas over the rugged landscape full of sharp peaks and deep valleys.
Cars in Colombia can be rented easily in big cities via Discover Cars.
Salento doesn’t have its own airport but Armenia and Pereira, two of the larger cities in the coffee triangle, do have airports. You can easily reach these airports by bus or taxi from Salento.
Of course, flying for such a short distance is not a very environmentally friendly option and, if you calculate the time you need to get to the airport, wait at the airport, and actually fly, it doesn’t save much time either.
But here goes on how to get from Salento to Medellin by plane.
To reach either Armenia or Pereira, you will need to take a bus or a taxi first out of Salento. Buses leave for Pereira every hour while the buses to Armenia tend to leave a bit more frequently (Jan 2024).
You can purchase your tickets at the bus station in Salento. There is no option to buy these online. It’s important to note that bus travel in the area can be really slow. While these trips generally take about 45 minutes it can take much longer due to traffic, road works or people that need to get on or off the bus. Leave early!
From the bus station in Armenia or Pereira, you need to take a taxi to the airport.
Alternatively, you can book a private transfer from your accommodation in Salento to either the airport of Armenia or Pereira. If you want to take a flight because you want to save time, I highly suggest doing this, otherwise, flying from Salento to Medellin will take hours.
You can book a private transfer through your accommodation and it will cost somewhere between 25$ and 35$.
The flights from Armenia and Pereira take about 45 minutes to reach Medellin and are operated by Avianca and Latam Airlines.
While there is an airport (Enrique Olaya Herrera Airport) right in the center of Medellin, these flights, unfortunately, land at the international airport called José Maria Cordova in Rionegro about 20 kilometers (12 miles) to the east of Medellin.
There are various options to choose from to get from Medellin’s International Airport to the center of the city. The most convenient way is to take a taxi outside the main terminal for 75.000 COP (or an Uber, Didi or Cabify, which will be cheaper).
Otherwise, you can take a bus to the city center but it will be a slow journey and you will need to find another bus or take the metro to get to your accommodation. In my opinion, this would be too much hassle.
If you are up for an adventure then you can choose to drive from Salento to Medellin by motorbike. The best way to do this is to go on a round trip through the country, starting in Bogota.
Motorbikes can be rented at local rental shops in Bogota like Motoraid in Chaperino or you can book a motorbike online through Bikesbooking. As far as I know, there are no options to pick up the motorbike in one city and drop it off in another city.
Here are the websites I use when I travel to Colombia:
Booking.com: For the best guesthouses, homestays, or small hotels
Hostelworld: To find the best hostels located in the cities
Homestay: For a unique immersive homestay experience in the big cities or the countryside
Busbud and Redbus: The best transport websites for long-distance buses in Colombia. Note that 12Go also works in Colombia but the tickets they will buy for you are open-seat tickets and don’t guarantee a seat on the bus you book online.
Uber: Uber is a convenient and cheap ride-hailing app that can be used in the bigger cities of Colombia. Other apps are Cabify or Didi.
Skyscanner: For affordable flights to Bogota and intercity flights in the country.
Viator and Get Your Guide: book all kinds of activities from the Ciudad Perdida trek to a guided private tour of Comuna 13 in Medellin.
Citizens of many countries, including the United States, Canada, the European Union, Australia, and New Zealand, do not require a visa for short tourist stays (typically up to 90 days). However, this can vary, so it’s always best to check iVisa for the specific requirements for your nationality.
If you’re looking for travel insurance, the one with the best benefits online is undoubtedly Heymondo! It’s very easy to ask for a quote on the website and, if you book with this link you’ll get 5% off!
Access mobile data immediately when entering the country with a Colombian E-sim or a Latamlink E-sim when traveling through multiple countries. If you are already in Colombia, the best local prepaid sim card is Claro.
Minorista Market, La Candelaria, Medellin
If you like to stay in a hip and trendy neighborhood with Western-style restaurants, stylish shopping areas, and fine hotels, pick El Poblado.
On the contrary, if you love local neighborhoods that have a bit of character and where you find local eateries, cheap bakeries, and great coliving accommodations, choose Laureles.
Here are a few places to stay in both El Poblado and Laureles. Staying in La Candelaria is also an option but it’s not always safe there at night.
A big iguana in the Botanical Garden of Medellin
There you go! I hope this transport guide about how to get from Salento to Medellin was useful to you. Let me know in the comments below if you have any questions or drop me a message through my contact page.
Also, don’t forget to check out my resources page with my favorite booking platforms and tips to start planning your trip. Additionally, have a look at my favorite travel gear if you want to pack more consciously!
ENJOY!
Disclaimer: This post may include affiliate links. If you click on them, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.
Hi! I am Annelies and this is Travelers & Dreamers, a blog about conscious travel which means traveling in a more mindful way, with a positive impact on the world and yourself!
On this website, I cover different topics like slow travel, plant-based food guides, responsible travel, sustainable packing, eco-travel, and more!
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