Direct Bus From Salento To Medellin

This post has information on the:

1. Direct bus from Salento to Medellin

2. Direct bus from Medellin to Salento

I will dive into the details on the bus from Salento to Medellin, and the bus from Medellin to Salento with Flota Occidental.

Salento is a charming town situated in the north-east of the department of Quindio, Colombia. The town preserved vibrant colonial architecture and has a quiet way about its roads and households. Its beautiful colors and the nearby Cocora Valley are some of the most visited sights in Colombia.

However, I realized with a recent trip that there wasn’t explicit information on buses from Salento to Medellin. Even locals tell me that there isn’t a direct bus that goes from Salento to Medellin.

But this is not the case.

First, let’s map out the location of Salento.

Salento sits at the 90-degree angle of Bogota and Medellin. It is approximately seven hours from both major cities and can be reached by bus, car, or flight.

Direct Bus from Salento to Medellin

For those who wish to get from Salento to Medellin, there is one bus that departs from the Salento Transport Office, which is a couple of blocks away from the main plaza.

The name of this terminal is Terminal – Parada de Buses Salento and the exact location is below:

I spoke with a few locals and it seems that not many are aware of this specific terminal. Some Jeep drivers (Salento’s public transportation), don’t even know the spot!

Tip: If the jeep driver isn’t aware of the location, ask locals at the Salento Town Plaza!

After arriving at the Transport Office, there is a parking lot with a small office on one side, and a snack shop to the other. In here, you can ask the operator for the specific departure times for buses from Salento to Medellin.

I was there in August 2018, and above is the schedule for the Salento to Medellin buses. The only bus that runs directly from Salento to Medellin is with Flota Occidental, which costs COP 47,000 (US 15).

As with the photo, there are 6 buses from Salento to Medellin. These buses all stop in Pereira along the way.

The first one leaves at 08:00 am and the following times are: 10:00 am, 11:00 am, 12:00 pm, 13:30 pm, and 16:00 pm.

Although the Salento-Medellin bus ride is said to take 6 hours, it took me about 9 hours to arrive at Terminal del Sur in Medellin. The traffic on the mountain ways was hideous! Nonetheless, the bus, like most in Colombia, was quite comfortable.

Tip: There is only one rest stop along the way, so pack some snacks!

Direct Bus from Medellin to Salento

As with the journey from Salento to Medellin, the only bus operator that helps with getting from Medellin to Salento is Flota Occidental. These Medellin Salento autobuses leave from the Terminal del Sur in Medellin at 09:00 am, 11:00 am and 13:00pm.

It stops in Pereira along the route and costs COP 47,000 (US 15) for a one-way trip. You can also hop onto the same bus from Pereira to Medellin if you so wish.

The bus will arrive at the Salento Transport Office, it is best to grab a jeep to transport yourself to the hostel. However, a 10-minute walk will bring you into the town center, where most hostels and hotels are located

Tip: Seats may sell out during tourist season, so book beforehand!

From the modern city of Medellin to the natural haven of Tayrona National Park, there are many things to do in Colombia. Some of my favorite experiences were wandering around the beautiful town of Guatape and relaxing amongst the hills of San Gill and Barichara. Anyways, I absolutely adored my time in Salento and getting lost in the Cocora Valley. I  hope you enjoy the town as much as I did!