After two days in Salento, the next stop for me was Jardin, another one of Colombia’s picturesque small towns.
There is no direct route between the two towns and the majority of blogs I read online covered the journey from Jardin to Salento. This post will cover the various travel routes and options for those going from Salento to Jardin, like me! I hope it helps!
As I mentioned above, there is no direct bus to Jardin from Salento. This means that you’ll need to make at least one or two changes. Your two main route options for getting to Jardin are via Rio Sucio or Medellin.
Via Rio Sucio
Let’s start with the Rio Sucio route which, thanks to a new bus route introduced this year (2019), has made the journey easier and requires only one change. Before, there were at least two changes!
There is a daily bus from Salento to Rio Sucio that leaves at 7.50am, costs 30,000COP (£7 approx), and takes around 3/4hrs. Since it’s the only daily direct bus to Rio Sucio, I advise booking your ticket the day before to confirm a seat!
Once in Rio Sucio, you’ll have some waiting around to do as the bus from Rio Sucio to Jardin leaves at 3pm. This leg of the journey costs 20,000COP (£5 approx) and takes around 4hrs. Also, it’s a bumpy windy road, you’re getting off the beaten track on this journey!
I’ve heard the views are stunning! You’ll likely arrive to Jardin around 7pm, although Colombian bus journeys can always take longer!
Note: If you don’t get the direct bus from Salento to Rio Sucio, you can also get a minivan to Pereira and then a bus to Rio Sucio. Both minivans/buses have frequent departures. You’ll still have to leave early to ensure you make the 3pm bus to Jardin. I recommend getting the direct bus to Rio Sucio and not adding an extra step!
If you’re doing the journey in reverse…from Jardin to Salento
You need to repeat the above route but in reverse and at the following times. From Jardin, take the 8am bus to Rio Sucio. From Rio Sucio take another bus, which leaves between 12-1pm, to Salento. If you miss the direct connection, you can always take a bus to Pereira, they leave every half an hour, and then another from Pereira to Salento (leave every hour).
Alternative route via Medellín in a day
Getting to Jardin via Medellin is also possible in a day. Word of warning, it’s another long journey and probably longer than the Rio Sucio route.
To get to Medellin, you have two options: a direct bus from Salento or go to Armenia and get a bus from there.
Option One – Direct bus Salento to Medellin
The direct bus from Salento is with the company, Flota Occidental. They have several departures a day which cost 54,000COP (£13 approx) and take around 6/7hrs.
To make the last bus from Medellin to Jardin, at 6.45pm with Rapida Ochoa, I suggest taking the 8am or 10am bus from Salento. If you arrive earlier, you could take an earlier bus to Jardin. The bus from Medellin to Jardin costs 27,000COP (£8 approx) and takes around 4hrs. If you take the last bus to Jardin, you’ll be arriving around 11pm at night.
Option Two – Via Armenia to Medellin
The second option is to get a colectivo back to Armenia, and from there a bus to Medellin. Colectivos to Armenia leave every 20 minutes, cost 5200COP (just over £1) and take around an hour.
Then Flota Occidental have buses to Medellin leaving every hour on the half hour for 49,000COP (£12 approx) from 4am until 12.30am. The last two buses 11.30pm and 12.30am cost 52,000COP, a teensy bit more.
Empresa Arauca also run the route. Their buses are marginally cheaper (we’re talking peanuts!), 47,000COP, but less frequent! The journey takes around 7hrs.
If you’re trying to get to Jardin in a day, you’d still need to leave early to make the last connection, at 6.45pm. Personally, I’d go with the direct bus from Salento to Medellin.
Note: You can also get to Medellin via Pereira.
Night bus alternative – Armenia – Medellin – Jardin
There is also a night bus alternative for those not wanting a whole travel day, or with limited time, and would like to make the most of Salento. I fit into both groups here.
I had limited time at this point, with an upcoming flight to Cartagena in the next week and also to Panama two days after that. Plus, I was keen to enjoy a full second day in Salento.
For the night bus route, you need to return to Armenia as the direct bus from Salento to Medellin is not an option (the last bus is at 4pm!). The last colectivos from Salento to Armenia leave between 8/9pm, take around an hour and cost 5200COP (just over £1).
Once at the Armenia bus station, take a bus to Medellin with Flota Occidental or Empresa Arauca. I cover prices and bus frequency in the previous section.
Tip: You can book your bus from Armenia to Medellin at Salento’s bus station.
You’ll arrive to Medellin’s Terminal Sur. From there you can take a bus to Jardin with either Rapida Ochoa at 4.45am and 8.50am or Transportes Suroeste Antioqueño at 5.30am (minivan), 6.50am, 7.30am (minivan).
The journey takes around 4hrs and costs 28,000COP (just under £7). The minivans cost a tiny bit more – 30,000COP (just over £7). There are of course later departures throughout the day! If you’re getting a night bus, I imagine you’re after one of the earlier departures!
Final thoughts
So there you have it – how to get from Jardin to Salento by bus! I hope you’ve found it useful!
In terms of which route to pick, I reckon one will make the most sense depending on how much time you have and where you need to be.
That said, my last piece of advice would be:
- If you’re travelling to Jardin in the day, go for the Rio Sucio route.
- If you want to avoid a whole day travelling, save money on accommodation, and have more time in Salento, go to Armenia for the night bus to Medellin and then morning bus to Jardin.
My whole route through Colombia has been rather convoluted. To best optimise my time, I went with the night bus option to Medellin so I could do the real city walking tour the following morning (highly recommend!), and then got an afternoon bus to Jardin. It worked for me and I was happy the various options gave me the flexibility to choose.
Whatever route you choose, Jardin is definitely worth the effort! I loved it and wish I could’ve stayed longer!
