Guide to visiting the Colombia´s coffee region
Colombia is not only famous for being one of the most biodiverse countries in the world. One of Colombia’s most distinctive traits is its multicultural richness. And one big emblematic part of this is its coffee culture.
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Colombia holds a great reputation for its coffee beans. Its tasty world-beating coffee has gained an honorific place around the world. This is why it has become a must that once you are in Colombia, you have to do two things for certain. First, it’s simple, you must take a sip of our delicious one-of-a-kind coffee (we are sure one single sip won’t be enough).
The second one takes a lot more planning and executing. But we are sure that you won’t regret doing it (at all). It consists of visiting Colombia’s coffee region. This way you will get the best and fullest experience that surrounds coffee in our country. And, in the process, you will learn everything there is to know about it. Sounds exciting, doesn’t it? Well, if you’re captivated by this idea, this is your lucky day, because here you will find the guide you were needing. Let’s hop onto our guide to visiting Colombia’s coffee region.
What is Colombia’s Coffee Region and Why Visiting It?
Colombia’s coffee region is one of the country’s most popular places. This area is highly visited by locals and tourists. With Colombia being one of the largest exporters of coffee in the world, it is not a surprise that there is a whole region dedicated to coffee-making.
This region’s name is Colombian Coffee Triangle. Other names are Coffee Zone or Coffee Belt. It’s composed by three Colombian departments: Quindío, Risaralda, and Caldas. These departments’ capitals are Armenia, Pereira, and Manizales, respectively.
Vast mountains, hills and generous valleys cover these beautiful departments. Traveling through their prosperous lands means seeing countless coffee plantations and spectacular landscapes. You can visit some of them, along with natural parks and botanical gardens. And there are lots of houses with floral balconies, a perfect spot from where you can gaze at the colorful town.
How to Get to Colombia’s Coffee Region
It’s really easy to travel around the Coffee Region. To get there, you can take a flight either to Manizales, Pereira or Armenia. These three capital cities of the Coffee Triangle have regional airports. They all have regular scheduled flights with accessible prices from the biggest cities. If you are a fan of ground transportation, you can also take a bus ride from the major cities like Bogotá, Cali and Medellín. This way you won’t miss some breath-taking landscapes around the road!
Once you’re there, moving from town to town is quite simple too. All three departments are very small and the distances between them are short too. So, we recommend you make sure you visit all and go to their most iconic places.
Where to Go in Colombia’s Coffee Region
Explore Coffee Farms
Get an authentic experience learning about the coffee you taste. In the coffee farms, you can take some guided tours to learn about the process. From beans to that tasty cup of coffee in your hands. You will become an expert on the matter.
You can also try your hand at picking coffee cherries during the harvest season. This is usually between April and June and from September to December.
Travel to Salento (Quindío)
Salento is a magical and picturesque coffee town in Quindío’s department. It’s famous for its colonial architecture and stunning mountain surroundings.
This beautiful town is full of artisan shops, colorful houses and a lot of coffee farms. This makes this place quite popular among travelers: locals and foreigners. Colombians love this town for its chilling atmosphere. So, it’s usual they take it as a getaway plan for the weekend.
For this reason, we recommend you to go to Salento during the week when it is less busy. Consider this, especially if you want to go to Cocora Valley, Salento’s pride.
Hike around Cocora Valley
Explore beauty in Cocora Valley by falling for its amazing towering wax palms. These are the world’s tallest palms (almost 60 meters) and have become Colombia’s Patric symbols. Taking a hike through this valley is the perfect way for contemplating this breathtaking natural wonder.
Visit Filandia (Quindío)
Filandia is another charming town in Quindío. It’s recognized for its colorful colonial streets, its savory local cuisine, and beautiful landscapes. This town is a bit similar to Salento, but what makes it special is its more tranquil atmosphere. Compared to some of the busier towns, Filandia is more laid-back. If you feel tired of crowds, this is an amazing alternative.
One thing you can’t miss? Filandia’s viewpoint Mirador Colina Iluminada.
Visit the Parque del Café (the Coffee Park)
El Parque del Café, located in the Quindío department, is one of the country’s most popular theme parks. This place offers a unique blend of entertainment and educational experiences for kids and adults. And there is something for those who love learning more and more about Colombia’s culture too. This park also provides experiences around coffee culture and about one of Colombia’s most favorite narratives. Our varied collection of myths and legends.
Go to Termales de Santa Rosa (Risaralda)
Los Termales de Santa Rosa is a famous thermal hot springs complex in Risaralda. It’s renowned for its natural, soothing thermal waters and natural pools. With different water temperatures, this place offers the perfect relaxing experience.
Surrounded by nice green landscapes, Los Termales is also famous for its spa services and saunas. It is a great place to unwind and enjoy some necessary self-indulgent relaxation.
These are some of the delightful (and tasty) experiences you can have in Colombia’s Coffee Region. We hope you can get to do all of them (if you have the energy to do so). If you don’t, a cup of coffee always comes in handy.