I continue my journey to Salento, a traditional coffee village which has developed into a well-known tourist destination. Once I arrive, I am greeted by hip coffee houses, souvenir shops, and large crowds of people.
Before I explore town, however, I decide to escape into nature. But not by myself. I find a little horse ranch not far from the village that offers horseback tours through the nearby rivers.
I had a lot of fun even though it rained a little. This turned out to be a consistent pattern in Salento: sunny mornings and rainy afternoons.
Thus, I decide to start early the next morning, partially to beat the crowds and partially to have more sun. I take a jeep to nearby Cocora valley, where one can hike amongst the wax palms traditional for this region. The views are absolutely spectacular.
So beautiful! I enjoyed hiking so much that I ended up going much further than anticipated. Of course that meant I was still out there in the afternoon and I got totally rained on. Everything was completely soaked.
After the hike I enjoyed a traditional meal, a so-called Patacón. This is one of my favorite foods so far in Colombia.
In Salento I first stayed in an OK but overpriced Hostel. Fortunately, I found an absolutely amazing Cabin near Salento to which I moved after two days. It is nestled in the coffee hills and I had it all to myself. I enjoyed the beautiful views in the morning.
