Bike tour in the coffee triangle

Travel guide Coffee Triangle, Travel Stories

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The story behind the scenes

A bike tour in the coffee triangle, the famous coffee region of Colombia, is the perfect way to get to know the beautiful countryside and friendly people. Read our behind-the-scenes story here, where we tell you all about “bike crazy” entrepreneur Ivan.

We cycled through the village of Bella, drove past haciendas, stopped at a small waterfall, bought delicious Macademia nuts topped with arequipe, and on the way back we enjoyed a malt beer and ice cold Coke on a terrace.

Meeting in Bogotá
We met Ivan at the Anato in Bogotá, the most important fair for the tourism sector in Colombia. Ivan was there on behalf of RBC bicycle tours, located in Calarcá in the coffee triangle, not too far from Salento. We visited the tourism fair for inspiration, before spending a week traveling in the coffee region.

Because of his energetic appearance, Ivan quickly caught our eye and we started talking. When we mentioned that we were going to visit the coffee triangle after the fair, there was a complete click. We agreed to get in touch as soon as we got to Calarcá and meet up for a bike tour. Ivan’s family’s finca -where the bike tours start- is close to the hotel we had booked, so that worked out perfectly.

Family finca
When it was time for the tour, Ivan came to pick us up at the hotel and took us to his parents’ finca. There he gave us a brief tour. We were introduced to several animals, including the pig George (who, according to Ivan, thinks he is a dog -).

Coffee plantation
On the property there is a small coffee plantation and there are fruit trees. Ivan’s father used to have a large coffee plantation, but due to the coffee crisis and low payments for the beans, the plantation has thinned out considerably. Fruit trees such as oranges and lemon trees have now been planted. The modest harvest of coffee beans is for home consumption and what is left, is sold to local restaurants.

Customized tour
At the plantation we were warmly welcomed with coffee, brewed with Agua Panela (sugar water). Then it was time to choose the bikes and adjust the saddle. The tour could start! For these two island girls who don’t own a bike but do everything by car, it took some time before we were comfortable in the saddle.


    We thought that the regular tour of 4 hours was a bit much, so Ivan put together a shortened tour especially for us. We cycled through the village of Bella, drove past haciendas, stopped at a small waterfall, bought delicious Macademia nuts topped with arequipe (caramel) and on the way back enjoyed a malt beer and ice cold coke on a terrace.

    Man with a mission
    During the bike tour, we got to know Ivan as a man with a mission. Not only is he the owner and guide of RBC (Ruta Bicicleta Colombia), he is also the manager of the 8 bike routes in the Calarcá area. He is hugely committed to conservation and passionate cyclist; cycling is his lifestyle.

    Award winning entrepreneur
    In 2018, Ivan received an award from Fondo Emprender for best entrepreneur. With this cash prize, he was able to invest in new bikes and setting up a reception, to welcome cyclists. We found this very special, keeping in mind that Ivan studied to be an engineer in Bogotá. Instead of pursuing a career in the big city, he chose to follow his passion. He went to live in the countryside and was able to raise his small children in the middle of nature.

    Cultural trip
    A bicycle tour with Ivan and his team is also a cultural trip, with lots of interesting insider information. There are frequent stops to explain the coffee process, the history of the village of Calarcá, conservation and the many species of birds in this area.

    Passion
    After the bike tour, we had lunch together at our hotel. This was a good moment to cool down a bit and chat some more. As so often in Colombia, we were impressed by the passion of this entrepreneur!

    Written by Jeanette
    Travel date March 2019

    #ColombiaMyWay Tips (updated September 2025)

    If you want to know more about Ivan’s tours, take a look at his facebook page: Bike tour Colombia (Ruta Bicicleta Colombia). Ivan also offers bike tours from Salento, such as this cultural coffee/cycle tour.

    Check out our travel guide Coffee Triangle for more information on this region.

      We do not accept direct payments from touroperators or hotels for our reviews and we pay for our own stay and tours. Every recommendation is based solely on our own experiences and honest opinions. However, some of our links are affiliate links, which means we earn a small commission if you book through them. This commission comes at no extra cost to you and helps us maintain our website.

      Jeanette and Shelly

      Writers and Travelers, Colombia My Way

      Saved by an angel in Santa Rosa de Cabal

      Travel guide Coffee Triangle, Travel Stories

      Home 9 Category: Travel guide Coffee Triangle ( Page 4 )

      Medical care in Colombia, our own story

      When we arrived at the hotel, there was an ambulance with flashing lights in front of the gate. These were my angeles! When I asked -quite upset- if the flashing lights could be turned off, that was out of the question for them.

      During my stay in the coffee triangle, I caught a bad cold. Nothing alarming in itself, but with the acute bronchitis from a previous vacation still in the back of my mind, I became a bit nervous. From our hotel hotel in Calarcá we would go to the hot springs in Santa Rosa de Cabal we heard so much about and then I would travel alone to the hotel Termales del Ruiz, near los Nevados National Park. This park is about 3500 meters above sea level and the hotel I had booked was in the middle of nowhere. Not really a place to get sick!

      Angeles al Llamado
      While I was still thinking what to do, my Colombian travel companion started Googling fanatically. She found Angeles al Llamado on Facebook, a medical team that does house calls from Pereira. Pereira is not far from Santa Rosa de Cabal, where we would be going that morning. She arranged that the Angeles would go to our hotel in Santa Rosa de Cabal for a consultation.

      After giving us our expected arrival time and address, we were able to have a breakfast, check out of the hotel and travel to Santa Rosa de Cabal. When we arrived at the hotel, there was an ambulance with flashing lights in front of the gate!

      ¿Qué paso?
      The hotel employee had already run outside to see what was going on. These were my angeles! When I asked the ambulance personnel -quite embarrassed- if the flashing lights could be turned off, that was out of the question for them. The flashing lights only went out after they arrived at the reception of the hotel, standard procedure!

      Spanish questionnaire
      After settling in at the hotel reception, the doctor and nurse fired some questions at me. Normally I can get by with Spanish pretty well, but now I was very happy that my Colombian travel companion was able to explain exactly what was wrong with me.

      Check, check, doublecheck
      After getting through the questionnaire, my blood pressure was taken and my lungs and throat checked. The lungs were clean, blood pressure fine and no bronchitis, oef!

      I did have a beginning throat infection and was given an injection for this. (In my buttock, which is quite normal in Colombia -:)). Furthermore, a prescription was prescribed for antibiotics, cough syrup and extra vitamins.

      To Los Nevados National Park or not?
      At first, the medical team was not happy about my planned trip to Los Nevados National Park. After I promised not to do any long hikes, they agreed to the trip on one condition: I had to rest well in Santa Rosa de Cabal for the next few days and dress well for the cold. After a warm goodbye, my angeles got back into the ambulance (without flashing lights…).

      Medicine delivery service
      The employee of the hotel was kind enough to order the medicines by phone from the drugstore and they came to deliver them(domicilio). What a perfect service!

      Price tag
      What did this service cost?
      -Consult including injection: COP295,000/$75
      -Medicines including delivery service: COP85,500/$23
      Angeles al Llamado even mailed me an invoice, which I could use to file a claim with my insurance company.

      Los Nevados, here I come!
      All in all, this consultation was not cheap, but for me it was priceless. Because I recovered quickly, I was able to continue traveling in the coffee triangle without any problems. I had been looking forward to it for so long and it turned out to be a great trip.

      And all of that thanks to the lovely people of Angeles al llamado!

      Written by Jeanette
      Travel date: March 2019, updated September 2025

      For more information, visit:
      Angeles al Llamado on Facebook

      Check out our travel guide Coffee Triangle for more info on this region and this article on the medical care in Colombia.

      Here you can find more info about the hotsprings in Santa Rosa de Cabal and the trip we made to National Park los Nevados and hotel Termales del Ruiz, the only hotel near the entrance of the park. 

       

      We do not accept direct payments from touroperators or hotels for our reviews and we pay for our own stay and tours. Every recommendation is based solely on our own experiences and honest opinions. However, some of our links are affiliate links, which means we earn a small commission if you book through them. This commission comes at no extra cost to you and helps us maintain our website.

      Jeanette and Shelly

      Writers and Travelers, Colombia My Way