Coffee Triangle tours and activities

Spending the night in a hacienda on a coffee plantation is, in our opinion, one of the nicest ways to get acquainted with the coffee triangle. Wake up quietly in the morning with the “fresh brew” of the house. Then take a walk around the grounds or join a tour of the plantation. Before you leave, score some freshly roasted coffee beans for home. We stayed at the cozy hotel Hacienda Combia and especially loved the jacuzzi and the terrace overlooking the coffee plantation. There are many other great options for an overnight stay at a hacienda in the coffee triangle. Check here for tips on hotels in the coffee triangle

In the Valle de Cocora you will find the tallest palm trees in the world, up to 60 meters high. From the village square of Salento, get into a Willy Jeep, which will take you to the entrance of the park in 20 minutes. You can choose the 2-hour or 5-hour hike. If you go early in the morning, you’ll be ahead of the crowds. Especially on weekends, it can get crowded. You are also more likely to spot birds, such as the mighty condor, in the morning.

If you prefer to go on a tour to the Valle de Cocora, you can take this hike tour book.

The Willy jeep is the main means of transportation in the coffee triangle. Besides transporting coffee beans and fruit, among other things, it also carries passengers. In villages like Salento and Filandia, the jeeps stand side by side in the square. The Willy’s leave when they are full! If you don’t want to wait for this, you can also take a more expensive private ride with the Willy Jeep.

Also fun: a ride on a Chiva; a bus painted in cheerful colors, often used for rides in remote areas. Look here for more info on transportation in the Coffee Triangle.

Steak with chimichurri and a glass of aguapanela (lemonade made from cane sugar), fresh trucha (salmon trout), steak with coffee sauce and fruit shakes from the juiciest fruits. The coffee triangle will also surprise you on the culinary front. With popular restaurants such as Helena Adentro and Tuk Tuk, the Filandia is also considered the gastronomic hotspot of the Colombian coffee region. Check here for the best restaurants, bars and coffee shops or read Coffee Triangle Culinary for more info on the best food and drink and food culture in the coffee region.

A coffee festival is a fun way to learn about coffee culture, such as the Fiesta Internacional del café in Calarcá in June and the Fiestas Cuyabras de Armenia in October. Highlight of these festivals is the Desfile del Yipao, the parade of Willy jeeps.

Do you like to travel to the still unknown places? Then you can hike, for example, to Termales de la Cabaña in Murillo, Tolima. Your hike will be rewarded with a natural bath in a beautiful setting in the Páramo landscape. Other off the beaten track tips: * Do a car tour in Los Nevados National Park and spend the night afterwards at the only hotel near the park: Hotel Termales del Ruiz. * Stay overnight in Filandia instead of the tourist town of Salento. * B evisit the Valle de la Samaria, the “alternative “(and much less crowded) Valle de Cocora, an hour’s drive from the traditional village of Salamina.

There are many fun things to do with children. For example, in the department of Quindío there are several theme parks, such as Panaca and Parque los Arrieros, around the theme of ” life on the farm.” Parque del Café in Montenegro has an amusement park with roller coasters and other activities for the kids. (Closed Monday and Tuesday) There are several hotels within walking distance of the park. Also fun: a (quiet) boat ride on the river on a bamboo raft(balsaje por el Rio la Vieja). Pereira is home to Bioparque Ukumari, a spacious, zoo that includes a bird sanctuary. In addition to animals from Africa, you will also find animals from the region, such as the Andes.