Colombia: Coffee region - Salento

Our first few days in Colombia was spent in a small village in the heart of the coffee district, Salento. 

This little town is tucked away in between the dense Colombian mountains, and surrounded by a myriad fincas (coffee farms). Such a beautiful setting. We stayed at La Serana Hostal, one of our favourites yet! Its situated about 2km out of town in between the farms and fincas. We had booked a tented room, aka...glamping! 

The tent is pitched overlooking the fincas and valley below so it literally feels like you are waking up in the bush with all the birds chirping away. Another plus point was that every evening at the hostal they lit a big fire outside, something our African hearts have missed tremendously! So every night after dinner everyone at the hostel gathers and socializes around the fire. 

It has been amazing to meet so many people during our travels...people from every corner of the world. Alaska, Israel, Italy, Brazil, Romania, Ireland, Mexico, to name but a few. You get to learn so much about them, their countries and their cultures. 

We spent one night around the fire chatting to three Brits, talking about the whole Brexit escapade and how incredibly disappointed, ashamed and literally heart broken they were when it happen, how it will affect their future and if there is hope?...which there always is.

Salento, itself is a bustling little town, lots of little shops selling coffee and crafts. All the wooden door & window frames are painted bright colours, giving the town a vibrant festive feel. The local taxis of the town are ex-military jeeps - 'Willy Jeeps' - also all in bright colours. 

Willy Jeeps

There are lots of little restaurants, but our favourite was Brunch, owned by a friendly American guy, we literally ate there three times! The best burgers, burritos, and peanut butter brownies...very delicious! 

As Colombia is the 3rd largest coffee producer in the world (after Brazil and Vietnam) you come with high expectations to drink the best of the best coffee..But as it is, all the fine first grade coffee beans get exported and you mostly end up drinking, together with the locals, the more bitter second grade coffee... None the less, every now and then you do get spoiled with some good old coffee. 

We wanted to learn more about the coffee farming and went on a coffee tour at one of the fincas down the road from our hostel. We learned about the planting, the pruning, harvesting, sorting, drying , exporting, roasting and then making and enjoying good cup of café! With both of us coming from the western cape wine country, it was so interesting to see a similar yet completely different environment that these people operate in...

The Valle de Cocora is one of the most popular hiking trails around Salento with willy jeeps leavig every hour from the town centre. It's about a 5 hour hike that takes you through and up the beautiful valley, covered in Columbia's famous and truly impressive giant wax palm trees, the tallest palm trees in the world. These trees, that can grow up to 60m tall, are indigenous only to the Cocora valley and thus a must see if you are in the area! 

Walking along the muddy trail with bright green hills rolling endlessly into the distant horizon, and these massively tall palm trees piercing the bright blue skies, you couldn't help but feel like you're walking in Jurassic Park or some place where things live that are just way bigger than us humans! 

Albertus said it's definitely where John Williams must have been walking when he came up with the movie's famous background music, because it was constantly playing in his head as we gazed upon the amazing grandeur of the place!

Mowgli de Cocora

The hike wasn't that intense, with just one sturdy climb but the insane views of the palm groves from the top will quickly sway your attention! It was a great outing and one we'd definitely recommend if you're traveling through Columbia's coffee region, plus it's a free hike which you don't get much of these days!

Salento as a whole was just such a cool place, the rural way of life and the beautiful surroundings definitely played right into our hearts and we definitely felt like we could stay much longer, but unfortunately there's never enough time, yes even on a 6 month trip, and there is still so much to see in this beautiful country! 

Next we travel to the second biggest Colombian city, capital of the Paisa province and a place with a very colorful history to say the least...I'm talking of course about Medellin...

Que pasa Salento?!