“It has been said, most people die at age 25 and don’t get buried until they are age 65. Make an effort to life your life to the fullest.”- Les Brown
You can’t visit Colombia without experiencing the Coffee tourism options there. If you are visiting Medellin Colombia, the Coffee Belt is just a short few hours away. The country produces the most arabica beans anywhere and currently has the third highest coffee production in the world after Vietnam and Brazil.
Most of the coffee is exported, but a growing demand inside the country and an increase in domestic coffee tourism has led to more coffee shops and plantation tours being offered throughout the region. Make sure you try the local varieties of coffee everywhere you go in Columbia.
Colombia’s Coffee Triangle
Focus on Colombia’s Coffee Triangle. The region has three departments, Quindio, Risaralda, and Caldas. The reason this area is optimal for coffee growing is a warm and rainy climate with rich soil.This area produces the majority of Colombia’s coffee. In between these three areas you will find small towns worth visiting where life is slower. You will find a coffee theme park (Parque del cafe) as well! It has amusement rides, the coffee theme everywhere, a coffee museum and gondola views overlooking coffee plantations. It is located in Quindio and is 50,000 COP for seven attractions that you choose.
If you are looking to really dive into the coffee growing culture, there is a six hour Wakecup Tour in the town of Pijao. It may be Columbia’s best coffee tour. You start out at a traditional farm, you will taste the local foods and then be taken to visit different local families who have shown that living off coffee is possible by turning their farms into sustainable ventures. Another stop is El Patio, where they show you all about the healing plants that we use in our daily lives. This experience is for people looking for something more than the explanation “from the seed to the cup”. You will meet the people of Pijao who buy the coffee, sell the coffee and then transport the coffee for distribution to the world to enjoy. It includes a Columbian lunch and coffee. 200,000 COP per person.
Salento
Salento is a good spot for coffee tours and is one of the oldest towns in the coffee growing region. The town is filled with amazing scenery, stunning history, and incredible people, aking it an essential destination for your slow travel vacations. Finca El Ocaso Salento Coffee Farm offers one of the better experiences for learning about how the entire coffee process works. They have a 1 ½ hour tour for 25000 COP. www.fincaelocasosaliento.com
There is another option but a smaller coffee farm. Las Acacias does a one hour tour.
You can go hiking among beautiful scenery and large wax palm trees in the Valle de Cocora which are among the highlights in Salento. You can take the longer loop for five to six hours or the shorter loop if time is limited. If you are a fan of outdoor travel, you should definitely read our Montana outdoor travel and adventure guide. Top off your day on the main strip in town, Calle Real. It is so colorful with cafes and local restaurants. It is probably your best spot for souvenirs of your visit to the area.
Taste The Difference
When you travel to Colombia, you need to align your expectations with the coffee you will be trying. Many tourists visit Colombia expecting every cup of coffee they try will be incredible and the best they ever had. Unfortunately, this is simply not true. In many cases, the coffee that is commonly bought, sold, and consumed within Colombia’s borders is commonly known as ‘secondhand coffee.’ Secondhand coffee means that the coffee was brewed with beans deemed to be subpar, or in some cases, even infected. Local Colombians brew and drink coffee out of these beans instead of throwing them out. This way, they can still save their most coveted coffee beans for exporting. In order to try that world-famous Colombian coffee, be sure to schedule a tour that allows you to sample the difference on local farms. These tours empower you to boost your coffee knowledge and understanding.
Getting Around Colombia’s Coffee Belt
Before you book your tickets, you should familiarize yourself with how to get to and around Colombia’s Coffee Belt. Many tourists make the trip to the Coffee Triangle Region via public bus or van. These public transportation options depart frequently throughout the day in route to Pereira, which is right in the heart of the region. From Medellin, this trip often takes anywhere from four to five hours. If you are traveling from Bogota, the bus ride is a long trek, often taking upwards of nine hours. If you do not have the patience do sit on these forms of transportation, consider booking a private car. Private car trips to the Coffee Belt often take anywhere from six to eight hours. However, the estimated time is largely impacted by traffic, road conditions, and visibility.
Lodging Options In The Coffee Region
When organizing your trip to Colombia’s Coffee Belt, you will likely need to find somewhere to stay. Fortunately, the Coffee region is full of great accommodation options. Some of the most common lodging options include small hostels and small, boutique hotels nearby local cities. However, for a more authentic option, consider staying in beautiful haciendas on Colombian coffee plantations. These haciendas are cozy, authentic, and often immersed with coffee plants. Before booking your trip, be sure to consider lodging options in Colombia’s Coffee Region.
Non-Coffee Tourist Attractions
When you visit Colombia’s Coffee Region, you should additionally familiarize yourself with some other types of tourist attractions. While Colombia’s most delicious and famous export does generate a ton of tourism for the area, there are dozens of additional sites to see on your visit. Before you leave the Coffee Belt, make sure you additionally see jaw-dropping hot springs at Santa Rosa de Cabal and climb he mountains in Los Nevados National Park. At the same time, consider going birding in some of Colombia’s most famous reserves, some of which include Montezuma, Rio Blanco, and Otun Quimbaya. After birding, you can even schedule a hot air balloon ride over these regions. If you have ever been hot air ballooning in Albuquerque New Mexico, you certainly know what a thrill it can be.
What To Pack & Wear
Before traveling to Colombia, you need to consider what articles of clothing you will pack and wear. Traveling to any South American destination, many tourists expect it to be extremely hot the entire time. However, this is certainly not the case in Colombia’s Coffee Belt. The entire Coffee Region tends to become extremely chilly, especially around nighttime. In the day, the weather can be incredibly unpredictable. Even when it feels cold in the early morning, the sun can quickly come out and even leave you with sunburn. To remain comfortable during your visit, be sure to layer your clothes whenever possible. At the same time, you should always wear sunscreen, and pack either a rain poncho or umbrella to effectively defend against inclement weather conditions. By packing comfortably, you can effectively avoid the most common travel mishaps during your Colombia Coffee experience.
When To Visit The Colombia Coffee Triangle
The Colombia Coffee Triangle Region is an incredible tourist destination year-round. However, there are certain times of the year where the year is especially characterized by authentic music, dance, and folklore. If you are looking for a great time to visit, consider going during one Colombia’s many festivals. For example, you can visit the Festivities of La Cosecha in Pereira, the Fiestas del Progresso in Dosquebrados, as well as the Festival of the Araucarias, which is held in Santa Rosa de Cabal. Other popular attractions include the Carnival of the Devil, which is held every two years in Riosucio. Surely, there are plenty of exciting times to visit the Colombia Coffee Triangle.
Before visiting Colombia’s Coffee Region, there are several key considerations to familiarize yourself with. You need to consider tours of amazing historic towns like Salento. Then, you need to align your expectations with the coffee you will be trying. Prior to visiting, you should additionally familiarize yourself with how to get to and around Colombia’s Coffee Belt. At the same time, you will likely need to find somewhere to stay. Moreover, consider the additional tourist attractions available when you travel to the Triangle Region. Furthermore, you need to plan on what articles of clothing you will pack and wear. If you want to learn more about new cultures on your next vacation, be sure to read our guide on the top Native American travel destinations to learn heritage in the U.S. Consider the points mentioned above to learn about the ultimate visitors guide for Colombia’s Coffee Triangle Region.
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