style="mso-ansi-language:EN" lang="EN">The main route
from Popayán and Cali to Bogotá used to pass through Salento (see below), but
when the route was diverted the town became isolated and did not develop as
rapidly as the rest of the region. For this reason it has retained more of its
traditional colonial architecture than almost any other town in the
eje cafetero, along with a quiet and
relaxed way of life, and as a result the town and nearby Cocora valley are
among the most popular tourist destinations in Colombia.
