What we now regard as the town of Salento used to be in another location and have a different name. On January 5, 1830, Simón Bolívar passed through the original town called Barcinales, on his “Camino Nacional,” which took him from Cartago to Ibague. A dozen years later, the town moved to its current location, higher in the mountain at 1,800 meters, and was renamed “Villa de Nuevo Salento.” In time, just Salento stuck. Salento was officially declared its own municipality much later, in 1908.

Despite its relative newness, Salento is still considered the “Father of Quindío,” and you will fully understand this term upon visiting this beautifully scenic town. With just 10,000 residents, infinite natural beauty, architectural uniformity and quaintness, as well as a general adherence to and appreciation for tradition and culture, it is no wonder Colombians and foreigners fall in love with this place. The colorful two-story buildings along Carrera 6 from the main plaza to the stairs of the Mirador have been excellently preserved. Aside from the occasional car or motorcycle passing through and the fact that nearly every building along this street has been converted into a restaurant or artisan store, not much has changed here. The surrounding countryside rolls along in green folds 360 degrees around, and the men wear their country gear playing cards or billiards at the local bar.

This is the best place to explore nature at its finest, whether it’s by horseback along the the Quindío River, by foot along dozens of mountain paths, or by jeep to the gorgeous Cocora Valley. Don’t forget to snap a photo of the national tree, the Palma de Cera, which is a very tall and thin palm tree native to this area of the country. And, of course, your trip to Salento is not complete without “trucha con patacón” (trout with a very thing and very large plantain pancake).