In addition to being the prime jump-off point for wilderness hiking in the National Park alpine areas, Salento is, well, it's a party town for Colombians from the big cities.
Colombia has 54 festival days, so except for September you have loads of 3 and 4 day weekends.
That means that every weekend is a party weekend.
International tourism is still not common in Colombia because of all the years it was not a safe country. However Colombians are enthusiastic tourists within their own country. Almost every weekend, our friends tell us, you can expect Salento to roll out the party gear up in the plaza. Salento is the Colombian equivalent to Julian or Leavenworth.
Food and craft booths, beer gardens, and salsa dance floors are set up. The people begin arriving Friday and by Saturday night things are rocking. That means wall to wall cars and people in the main plaza. Really there is not a lot of drinking, mostly families walking around and enjoying the cool mountain air, having lunch, and just hanging out together. Pretty sweet - but loud nonetheless.
At the Monte Verde restaurant you could even have lunch and get a tooth filled, because the owner is a dentist with all his very modern dental equipment set up in a back room of the restaurant. Cute.
Up by the plaza an old dance master enthralls a sidewalk crowd with his act, backed by a 4 piece band. A dessert tamale vendor walks the streets with his wares. The Brunch restaurant serves up excellent American comfort food to the backpackers and a few brave Colombian families who want to eat "ethnic" American food.
Festival! 
Yet another interesting aspect of our favorite Colombian town!
