Off we go for a day full of colours! From Salento we'll drive to the beautiful Filandia, no less colourful and just as well known in the coffee region of Colombia!
How to go from Salento to Filandia?
From Salento , the most convenient option is to take a famous Jeep Willis from the village square. These vehicles operate all day long, providing transport between Salento, the Cocora Valley, Filandia , Pereira, Armenia… The Salento-Filandia trip takes about fifty minutes and costs 10,000 COP per person (approximately €3).
Otherwise, you will need to take two buses (the bus station is at the bottom of Salento 's main street ). The first bus (towards Pereira or Armenia) will drop you off at the Tres Cruces bus stop on the side of the road. From there, you will need to take another bus to Filandia (6,000 COP).
What to see in Filandia?
What to see in Filandia - The viewpoint of Filandia
Large wooden tower which allows to have a beautiful point of view (8 COP) on the village and its surroundings. But I had been warned that it was not that spectacular… so I preferred to spend more time in the village than upstairs.
What to see in Filandia - Stroll through the alleys of Filandia
What did I like best about Filandia ? Walking around to admire the beautiful colorful facades, to observe the Colombians, to feel the atmosphere of the village.
What to see in Filandia - Handicrafts
On the road that goes to the viewpoint, you can discover the houses of the craftsmen, see them working and buy souvenirs directly there. They work in particular the guadua which is a very strong and resistant species of bamboo.
What to see in Filandia - Visit a basketry museum
Filandia is known for its traditional basketry, an activity linked to the coffee harvest. The museum-gallery located on Calle 6, Carr 5, is open to the public (free admission).
Follow my journey by discovering our route to Medellin in the following article: