As our ancestors have the 5 January 1830 Simon Bolivar passed through these lands, moved through the historic National Road (Current step of the farm New World Hotel in Salento ) and then stayed at the inn "Nueva Granada”, where he spent the night. Likewise, National Road crossed the German scientist Alexander von Humboldt and discovered the existence of the wax palm.

Formerly "Boquía Valley" was originally the town and there was established prison who were sentenced from Bogota and also served to build the stretch between Ibague and Carthage which is known as the National Road. Years later the inhabitants of the village population Boquía decided to move to a place called Barcinales (Current location of Salento) and whose name was due to a native tree that existed at that time, because in the village of Boquía was frequent overflow of the creek and river Boquía Quindio, which caused flooding and damage to homes and crops.

After this transfer and have a number of people, In 1865 Barcinales changes its name to New Salento Villa thanks to an idea from Mr. Ramon Elias Palau, the name of the village pays tribute to the thriving town of Salento in Crete (Greece). That same year the villa is elevated to the status of borough decision by the then President of the United States of Colombia, Manuel Murillo Toro. But later in 1898 and because of the War of a Thousand Days, Salento district loses its category and part of his archive had to be transferred to the districts of Armenia and Finlandia Finally the 11 September 1908, Gen. Rafael Reyes, President erects it back to the borough category by Decree 995 of that year. Also asks districts of Armenia and Finlandia return the files to the new district.

Although the earthquake suffered Salento 25 January 1999 with damage of some houses, economic development itself was overrun by tourists, volunteers and visitors from all regions and of all nationalities who came to Quindio to provide help in tragedy, drew its time to enjoy the tourism offered by the municipality at the time.

Today Salento becomes with the help of public and private sector in a major cultural and tourist center where both tourists and its residents are proud of its beautiful scenery and a story that takes place in much of the history of the region .

source: http://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salento_%28Quind%C3%ADo%29