The Coffee Triangle: Quindío, Risaralda and Caldas

Home 9 Travel guide to the Colombian coffee triangle 9 The Coffee Triangle: Quindío, Risaralda and Caldas

The famous coffee region of Colombia, also called the Coffee Triangle, Zona Cafetera or Eje Cafetero, consists of the departments: Quindío, Caldas, Risaralda, Tolima and northern Valle de Cauca. The 3 best known departments and cities in terms of tourism are Quindío (Armenia), Caldas (Manizales) and Risaralda (Pereira). These regions make up the Coffee Triangle.

Going to the coffee region for the first time and not sure where to start? Then check out the tips below from our travels to this beautiful region.

Where do you start?

ToColombia Tips

Tip#1
Is the main purpose of your trip to the coffee triangle hiking in Valle de Cocora and visiting coffee plantations? Then stay overnight in the towns of Salento or Filandia in the Quindío region.

Tip#2
Do you prefer (still) unknown coffee villages? Then villages like Pijao and Buenavista in Quindío are recommended, or Salamina in Caldas.

Tip #3
Are you traveling with children? Then there are many fun things to do in the town of Montenegro, such as the Parque del Café. Montenegro is not far from El Eden Airport in the Quindío region.

Tip #4
Want to chill in thermal pools, go bird watching or visit the Los Nevados National Park? Then plan your trip to Pereira in the Risaraldas region or Manizales in the Caldas region.

Tip #5
If you are traveling to the coffee triangle from Jardín and/or Medellín, Manizales is the first major city in the coffee triangle. If you are traveling from Bogotá, Armenia is the first major city in the coffee triangle.

To get an idea of what you can do where, we have listed the departments with their airports and highlights.

Quindío

Capital Armenia
El Edén Airport

 

Risaralda

Capital Pereira
Matacaña airport

 

Caldas

Capital city Manizales
La Nubia airport

 

Check out our tips for what to do in the coffee region., the best hotels and hostels and the tastiest restaurants.