Some places stay with you long after you leave them, and Salento was one of those places for me.
Tucked within Colombia’s coffee region, Salento felt vibrant, peaceful, and full of life all at once. The colourful streets, local shops, mountain views, and quiet energy of the town made every part of the experience feel memorable. Everywhere you looked, there was colour woven into the everyday moments.
A big part of our trip was spent outdoors, surrounded by nature. One of the most unforgettable experiences was visiting Cocora Valley and horseback riding through the mountains beneath the towering wax palm trees. Seeing them in person felt unreal. The landscape was so lush and open, and everything around us felt still in the best way.
We also visited both coffee and chocolate fields during our time in Salento, which ended up being one of the most interesting parts of the trip. At a local coffee farm run out of a gentleman’s home, we learned so much about the process behind making coffee. He walked us through the science behind it all, from mass and volume to temperature changes, and explained how you cannot change the original flavour profile of the bean itself. We even got to roast coffee ourselves, which made the experience feel so personal and hands on. Being able to walk through the fields in his own backyard and learn directly from someone so passionate about his craft was something I’ll always remember.
Mountain biking through La Cabonera was easily my favourite activity of the trip. Riding through the greenery and mountain views felt both peaceful and exciting at the same time. I only fell once, which honestly felt like a success.
What I loved most about Salento was how alive everything felt. The town was full of character, with colourful buildings, local restaurants, music, and people gathered throughout the streets. Yet just outside the town, you could quickly find yourself surrounded by quiet landscapes and endless views.
Looking back at these photos now, I’m reminded again of how quickly time passes. While I was there, the days felt full and endless, but being back home, it almost feels hard to believe it all happened so fast. That’s one of the reasons photography means so much to me. Photos allow us to return to places and moments that would otherwise begin to blur with time.
Salento was adventurous, grounding, colourful, and unforgettable all at once. Qué experiencia tan hermosa.
Scroll below for some of my favourite moments from Colombia.
