Refugio Puente de la Explanacion — Hotel in Quindío

The best accommodation in Colombia!

The best accommodation in Colombia!

The beauty of Salento lies not in the small and charming pueblo itself, but in the beautiful natural paradise that surrounds it. Refugio Puente de la Explanacion is located in the heart of all of this beauty, around 5km before reaching Salento.

As soon as I arrived to the Finca, I knew it was going to be perfect.

The place is literally bursting with nature; a calm river, gorgeous plants, luscious grasses, and rolling mountains. I received the warmest ever welcome from Ed after walking the countryside lane, dripping wet from the storm, and exhausted after a long day of travel.

What followed over the next few days was a family-like embrace from all members of staff, a full and peaceful immersion in nature, a comfortable and alpine-vibe bedroom, more than welcome hot showers and the heartiest of breakfasts (the best I’ve ever had).

This place is more than accommodation, it’s a shared dream of Ed and his wife that is being effortlessly pieced together.

Here’s some tips that may be useful if you’re considering staying:

Save the location of the Finca on Google Maps, so that you know when to get off the bus, if coming from Pereira or Medellín Head into town and stock up on food either from the supermarket, or take-out from one of the many great restaurants, so that you can rest at the Finca in the evenings The bus into town is only 1000COP and takes less than 15 minutes Keep some spare days, I promise you’ll want to stay longer than planned..

I’ve returned to Medellín now feeling replenished, recharged and overwhelmingly grateful. Thank you Ed, Leidy and the entire team at El Refugio for an incredible stay that I’ll...

If you’re looking to escape to nature from the hustle and bustle of the cities, this is the place to go. After being in Cartagena and Medellín for the being portion of my trip, I needed this. Getting here from the airport is a bit of an adventure; nab a shuttle to the Armenia bus terminal, then it’s a short 30min ride from there towards Salento. The entrance to Refugio is down a natural road off the paved one, the walk is serene with the nearby river babbling nearby. Upon arriving I was greeted by Yukon, Achilles, and Apollo the grounds’ dogs. All bark, no bite, and very friendly after the initial inspection. Then greeted by Luigi, the manager, also welcoming. I was shown the grounds after being checked in and it is beyond beautiful. There is a common area with a long table where breakfast and dinner (24,000COP) are served. The meals made by the house are absolutely delicious, a great way to bookend the days. This is really the only place on the grounds that has wifi, which isn’t bad at all, considering you’re in the middle of a nature preserve. The rooms have a little cell service depending on your carrier. The river heard walking in runs nearby, which you can jump in if cold water is your thing, and the sound makes for a beautiful night’s rest in any of the accommodations. There is a bath house with 2 toilets and a shower, even with 2 other families here we never ran into crowding! There are a few restaurants a 10min walk down the hill, and Salento is a short 15min bus ride away (running about every...

If you’re reading this review, you’re probably wondering if you should stay here. Pull the trigger and book it! Although this property is a little bit outside of Salento, you can easily get a cheap Uber (or a ride from Luigi). I can’t say enough great things about this wonderful paradise. This isn’t a hotel, nor a hostel; it felt like an old world style inn: a range of accommodations, delicious home cooked family meals (no menus), wine and beer, and a charismatic innkeeper named Ed. We loved hanging with Ed! Wish we could have stayed longer in this abundant riverside garden of Eden. I hope I get to come back! I stayed in a lodge room and it was clean and comfortable with AC, great hot water, and a hammock outside. The wifi was good enough in the reception area to work remote. There is free filtered drinking water. A note: they claim no stinging bugs are present, but during rainy season I definitely...