If you are short on time, day tours from Pereira hit Salento, Filandia, and Valle de Cocora.

From the main terminal in Pereira, there are regular buses, around 8 per day (1 hr.; COP$6,500), and buses every half hour from Armenia (1 hr.; COP$4,000). There are 3 direct buses a day from Medellín (7 hr.; COP$45,000).

Known locally as “Willys,” iconic, restored World War II jeeps depart from Salento’s central plaza at 7:30am, 9:30am, and 11:30am, for the 20-minute ride to the hamlet of Cocora, the Valle de Cocora, and Parque Nacional Natural Los Nevados; COP$6,500. Jeeps return at 12:30pm, 2pm and 5pm; there are a lot more jeeps on the weekend. Chances are that you can hire your own jeep and driver for about COP$26,000 (one-way).

There is a bank with an ATM on the main plaza (it can run out of money on the weekend).