20 best things to do in Colombia’s Coffee Region (Eje Cafetero)
Last updated on September 10th, 2026 at 03:58 pm
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The coffee region, or Eje Cafetero, of Colombia is quite a big deal! It is a UNESCO World Heritage site that covers Caldas, Quindío, Risaralda, south-eastern Antioquia and the Valle del Cauca with their (typically) small family-run farms growing coffee on steep mountain slopes and towns full of very colorful colonial architecture.
The Coffee Triangle, just to confuse you as you will hear all these terms, is a part of this wider region. This is the actual El Eje Cafetero and is the geographic region that is the heart of the UNESCO World Heritage site! It has three cities (shown in green in the map below) that form the hub of the area and the triangle:
- Manizales: Capital of the Caldas department, with steep streets and cable cars.
- Armenia: Capital of the Quindío department, the gateway to popular small towns like Salento.
- Pereira: Capital of the Risaralda department, the largest city and the central hub of the region making it great for exploring the region on day trips. This is a recommended base if you are short on time!
Whatever, the definition of the coffee area, it is one of Colombia’s top destinations, a stunning place, and absolutely not to be missed!
Contents
(Use this to skip ahead if you like!)
The 20 best things to do in Colombia’s coffee region!
A 2-4 week full itinerary and options to make it shorter!
Things to pack when travelling to Colombia
Frequently Asked Questions about Colombia’s Coffee Region
Travel Tips for Colombia’s Coffee Region
Trip Planning Checklist
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Top picks for coffee country are
- Trekking at Los Nevados National Natural Park
- Full-Day Private Coffee Tour in Cocora Valley and Salento
- Endemic Birds Tour in Salento
- Medellin: Colombian Cacao Experience | Chocolate Tour
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The 20 best things to do in Colombia’s Coffee Region (Eje Cafetero)
These are the things not to miss in this prime area of Colombia – coffee included of course! They are in no particular order although no 1 and 2 are the most popular things that are on almost everybody`s itinerary!
1. Hike through the Cocora Valley
The Cocora Valley is where most of those photos of the super tall wax palms come from. They are the tallest palms in the world and really incredible to see – one of the must-sees in Colombia!
You can just visit and seeing the wax palms (about a 30 minute walk each way), or do a loop hike through native forest, across dodgy bridges over the rivers, waterfalls, and plenty of bird life, as well as the wax palms.
Because you go through private land, it costs around $15-20 depending on whether you visit the Acaime Hummingbird Sanctuary which you pass by on the hike or not. Allow 5 hours! Find the AllTrails map here (download before you go as you will lose reception).
Top tips:
- Leave from Salento on a Willys Jeep – found in the square. Go early to avoid the heat and afternoon crowds!
- There are two off the beaten path places to see the wax palms as alternatives.
- Also from Salento there is a 4×4 tour to La Carbonera Valley. This is a virtually untouched valley with way more wax palms than Cocora.
- Second, from Salamina, take a bus to San Felix and walk to “La Samaria.” (Find out more in no 16 below.)
Tour options
If you are on a tight schedule, or don’t need the hassle of logistics, there are some great tour options from Pereira. These are the most highly rated:
- Salento, Cocora and Filandia Private Tour from Pereira or Armenia
- Salento, Cocora and Filandia day trip options
- PRIVATE transportation salento-cocora salento 1 day from Pereira/Armenia
Highly rated tours from Salento you can take are:
- Tour of the La Carbonera wax palm forest
- Salento: 4×4 Experience – Hike in La Carbonera, a natural palm sanctuary
- Salento: Full-Day La Carbonera and Coffee Sightseeing Tour at a Traditional Farm
I recommend staying at either Alojamiento Rural San Francisco or Salento verde (budget). If you are looking for a high end stay try the highly rated Espectacular casa Campestre con Jacuzzi or Hotel Kawa Mountain Retreat
2. Visit a traditional coffee farm
Clearly its another must-do while you are in the Coffee Region! Its quite fascinating see the whole process from flowers, to beans, to picking and drying and finally making and tasting coffee! (That’s a very simplified overall process btw.)
There are tours from all over the place, plus there are options to stay on a coffee farm! I highly recommend staying at the 10/10 Hacienda Boutique Santa Rosanna near Santa Rose de Cabal (close to Pereira) where you can enjoy a very personalized coffee tour with the owner!
Hacienda Venecia Coffee Farm Hotel near Manizales is also highly rated. The farm has plenty of walking paths through the coffee fields, daily coffee tours, and a wide range of other tours and workshops including birding tours and barista and chocolate making workshops!
Another place to stay that I also recommend is Casa Laureles. It is a lovely little place with a garden complete with hummingbirds near to Filandia! They do coffee tours as well as day trips to Manizales.
Other coffee tours that are very highly rated are:
Salento:
- Cocora Valley, Salento and Coffee Farm Day Tour
- Tour of the Don Elías Coffee Farm (Guide in English/Spanish/French) Great value
- Coffee Tour at Finca El Ocaso, Salento: Traditional Farm – English – also great value
Pereira:
- Coffee Farm and Santa Rosa Hot Springs Tour from Pereira
- Full-Day Private Coffee Tour in Cocora Valley and Salento
Manizales: Manizales, Colombia: Coffee Tour + Barista Show
Jardin: Coffee Tour and Jeep Tour at Finca Mariposa in Jardin
Medellin: Half-Day Coffee Tour: From the Seed to the Cup, Farm & roastery
3. Visit the colorful town of Filandia and the Barbas-Bremen Regional Natural Park
Filandia is said to be the prettiest town in Colombia (I’m not sure by who) but it is definitely very colorful and pretty – and has some nice cafes to add to that! Apart from all the color and cafes, there is a nearby reserve (Barbas-Bremen) which features red howler monkeys as well as many species of birds! You have to go on a tour to visit the reserve which costs around $40-50.
if you want to have all the logistics handled for you, you can go on this Howler Monkey Tour – Filandia Views And Gastronomy from Periera.
Otherwise, to get to Filandia take a bus from the main Terminal de Transportes in Pereira.
I recommend staying at either El Zócalo Hotel Boutique (who kindly let me look around) or Three House Hostel Boutique (budget).
4. Ride the Cable Cars in Manizales
Manizales is built on the steep slopes of mountain ridges and so part of its public transport system is the cable car. It costs the same as a bus – about $1 and is great fun as well as convenient!
Literally when you arrive at the bus station in Manizales you are right beside the cable car station. Do what I did and take a ride or two before you even get to your accommodation. I got a ticket and went for a joy ride over to Villamaria on line 2. I stayed on the cable car back to the bus station then transferred to line 1 to get to the central town area and my accommodation.
There is plenty to do in Manizales and nearby as well. Read more in this What to do in Manizales post.
If you are staying in the city, it is best to stick to accommodation in the central town area for convenience! I recommend the following places:
For a fun and quirky budget to mid range stay try the Hostal Mirador Andino (I loved the people here and all the fascinating decor!) I also enjoyed the clean Golden Frog Manizales (budget).
For a higher end stay the Hotel Carretero is highly rated! The other great option is to stay at the Hacienda Venecia Coffee Farm Hotel (see no 2 above).
5. Climb the Cathedral’s Corredor Polaco – to the top spire in Manizales
While you are in Manizales you simply have to climb the Cathedral’s Corredor Polaco! The Cathedral itself is an incredible piece of architecture, but to climb to the top of its tallest spire is a fantastic experience! It is the tallest Cathedral in Colombia and is an unusual concrete build with stunning huge stained glass windows. You climb to around 102 meters or 350 feet and then walk around the spire to see a full view of Manizales. Buy your tickets at the entrance to the Cathedral.
Top tip: Go early as the tickets get booked out during the later part of the day.
Read more in this What to do in Manizales post, and see no 4 above for where to stay.
6. Relax in hot springs at Santa Rosa de Cabal
Santa Rosa is a nice enough little town close to Pereira, but its main draw are the nearby thermal pools. There are two to chose from, the more local and usually busier Termales Santa Rosa de Cabal, or the more remote and generally quieter San Vincente pools.
The Termales Santa Rosa de Cabal are easier to get to and feature a gorgeous natural waterfall and a few hummingbirds for good measure. San Vincente is set in the forest and has natural river bathing pools as well as formed pools, and a natural sauna space.
You can either visit the pools on a day trip from Pereira, often in a combo tour, or you can stay in Santa Rosa and make your own way there.
These tours are highly rated if you prefer to cut the logistics out or combine a visit with a coffee farm tour:
- Coffee Farm and Santa Rosa Hot Springs Tour from Pereira
- Private tour to Finca Cafetera y Thermales santa Rosa de Cabal
- San Vicente hot springs from Pereira, Armenia or Salento
If you are staying in Santa Rosa, I recommend you stay at the very chill and hospitable Hostal Arraigo (budget) or just out of town for a night or two of more upmarket accommodation on an organic coffee farm, the 10/10 Hacienda Boutique Santa Rosanna!
Top tip: At the pools don`t expect luxury facilities (eg bathrobes) like you might get in other places, but do expect a lovely environment to enjoy while soaking away any aches or pains!
7. Travel on Willys jeeps – especially on the tailgate!
A huge part of the Coffee Region culture is the Willy’s Jeep! Basically you all pile into the back of a jeep that can handle the lesser form roads in the area and get you to almost anywhere. It is great fun to ride the tailgate as well – as long as you can hang on tight and are not too short (which makes it difficult to hang on)!
You will have plenty of opportunities to ride them if you are exploring the area. For example from Salento to Cocora Vally it is the standard form of transport, or from Filandia to Salento, or to the San Vincente pools.
Make sure you get at least one trip on a jeep!
8. Walk at over 4,000 meters (13,000 feet) on Nevado del Ruiz
Nevado del Ruiz in Los Nevados National Park is a highlight of the Coffee Region as well as of Colombia! You can visit it in different ways. The most popular is to take a day trip to the volcano from Manizales or Pereira and enjoy the incredible scenery on the way as well as on the mountain. It is often combined with a hot pool stop on the way back (which is a great alternative to the Santa Rosa de Cabal pools)!
These tours for this trip are highly rated:
From Pereira:
From Manizales:
You can go on longer hikes in this National Park and really immerse yourself in the scenery – see the next item 11.
9. Hike through the mountains in the incredible Páramo
You can also go on longer treks for 2-5 days through the Los Nevados National Park which will take you into the páramo and give you a much much fuller experience of the park and its scenery. These are mostly done from Salento or Manizales.
The páramo is an incredible and unique high-mountain ecosystem located in the Andes, and most of the world’s páramos are found in Colombia! It is at high altitude 3000-4000 meters and has stunning specialized plant life like the frailejone trees which are vital natural water factories.
I recommend this tour from Salento Trekking at Los Nevados National Natural Park to see the incredible páramo ecosystem and the rare tropical glacier! These are a couple more great options:
- Discover Frailejones in Los Nevados National Natural Park (2 days)
- Trekking Nevado del Tolima 4 days (5220 meters high)
See no 1 above for where to stay in Salento, and no 4 for where to stay in Manizales!
Top tips:
- If you have time you can also book tours in Salento when you arrive – you may have to wait a couple of days to join a group but it is a viable option.
- If you go on a tour from Salento you do not need to go on a Cocora Valley wax palm tour as you will return through these wax palms!
- You can also walk from Manizales to Salento or vice versa. It means more in terms of logistics e.g. leaving your gear somewhere, and it is not recommended you go alone. These are highly rated companies that do this trek: Páramo Trek and Montañas Colombianas to get you started.
10. Go off the beaten path and take the chiva from Jardín to Jericó
Jardín and Jericó are two of Colombia’s most beautiful, preserved heritage towns and definitely worth making time for seeing at least one of them. I couldn’t chose one above the other for you so the best thing is to go to both and enjoy what they have on offer.
Jardín is famous for its vibrant, colorful main square, birds, coffee culture and local trout, while Jericó is renowned as a deeply spiritual hilltop town, a center for traditional leather craftsmanship, and the birthplace of Colombia’s only saint!
But even better is you can have another very cool experience and instead of taking boring buses between these two lovely towns, get on a local chiva to get between the two!
A chiva (also known as a bus escalera or “ladder bus” because some people need a ladder to get on and off) is a traditional, open-sided wooden “mountain bus” used in rural Colombia, particularly in mountainous regions like Antioquia – exactly where these two towns are! Its going to be bumpy and fun and you will be surrounded by locals and see the real rural lifestyle!!
Stay in Jardín at Hospedaje en Esplendor (dorms and privates) or Vista Farallones Hostel (privates) – both are budget and both are wonderful so be careful you don´t end up staying a while! Or for a more upmarket stay the Casa Passiflora Hotel Boutique – Jardín (which I didn’t stay at but looked around) is absolutely lovely!
Stay in Jericó at Hotel Santa Laura. Backpackers also love Parcerito’s Hostel which has a great vibe but is a little cramped!
11. Swim in the Cueva del Esplendor in Jardín
This is famous in Jardín, so if you take the time to get to Jardín you want to take the time to get to the cave! It involves a few logistics, but you can either share a jeep with some friends to get most of the way there, or you can take a tuk tuk, most of the way but not as far as on a jeep. Either way you will have to walk the last 30-60 minutes to get to the finca with the cave – but its worth it! A waterfall comes down through an opening in the roof of the cave. You can take a swim – its great but cold!
Tip: Organize your tuk tuk to pick you up again if you don’t want to walk back to Jardín – 3 hours!
Stay in Jardín at Hospedaje en Esplendor (dorms and privates) or Vista Farallones Hostel (privates) – both are budget and both are wonderful so be careful you don´t end up staying a while! Or for a more upmarket stay the Casa Passiflora Hotel Boutique – Jardín (which I didn’t stay at but looked around) is absolutely lovely!
12. See the carrieles being made in Jericó!
There are a few things to do in Jericó, but one is quite unique. Jericó is the original home to the carriel. What is that you might ask?
A carriel is the traditional, handcrafted leather bag or satchel that you see the men wearing at the waist or hip particularly in the Paisa region of Colombia. It is another major cultural symbol of the coffee region and Antioquia. The carriel is famous for having lots of hidden pockets used by historical muleteers to safely carry money, personal documents, and small valuables. I saw one bag with 21 pockets – most of them well hidden!
And at Hecho en Jericó Carrieles you can watch them being made. I had quite a long chat with one of the men while he was working the leather and he was quite happy to chat and tell me about what he was doing. You can of course buy your own carriel while you are here!
Stay in Jericó at Hotel Santa Laura. Backpackers also love Parcerito’s Hostel which has a great vibe but is a little cramped!
13. See the bird antics at the Cock-of-the-Rock Reserve in Jardín
Jardín is also famous for a particular, fairly rare bird – the Andean cock-of-the-rock! The male is an incredibly unique looking bird with a bright orange and black body, some grey on its wings and the most unusual large orange crest that looks like a mohawk!
It is famous for its mating displays where they jump and bow, snap their beaks and flap their wings, and make loud squawking noises. This mostly happens from November to March, but can happen at any time. These birds live in the cloud forests of the Andes mountains, usually near rocky ravines and streams, and in Jardín they have chose one particular area where they have been living naturally for years – nobody knows why as it is right on the edge of the town!
You can see them at the Cock-of-the-Rock Reserve and it is best later in the day when they fly in from about 4-6pm. Even if the males are not displaying, they are a sight to get to see up relatively close!
See 11 above for where to stay.
14. Go Birdwatching in the Cloud Forest
Speaking of birds – the Coffee Region is one of the world’s best birding destinations! Almost anywhere you can find amazing birds and bird watching tours. It is one of the top things to do in the region. Colombia has over Colombia has more than 1,900 species of birds (nearly 20% of all bird species on Earth), making it the country with the highest bird diversity in the world, and the coffee region has around 1000 of these!
A famous place for bird watching is near Manizales at the Rio Blanco Reserve. You might want to stay the night in the reserve if you are a birder, as you will get some great night birding in as well as the day birding. You can book Owl’s Watch at Rio Blanco and get your fill! Otherwise you can stay at the Hacienda Venecia and go on their 6-hour Río Blanco tour starting at 6:00am.
Some highly rated tour options in the Salento coffee region are:
15. Visit a Cacao Farm
An alternative to coffee!! For those of you, like me, that don’t like coffee, but do like chocolate or hot chocolate, then the coffee area is also good for you because it is also a chocolate area – well a cacao growing area! Although Santander is the king of the cacao growing areas, Antioquia and parts of the coffee country are also up there! You can learn all about it on one of these tours:
Quindío Chocolate Tour with Tastings & Guide
Tour del Cacao in Colombia, a unique experiencie around the cocoa
Medellin: Colombian Cacao Experience | Chocolate Tour (I definitely recommend this one – great fun!)
16. Get off the beaten path in the heritage town of Salamina
I loved wandering the streets in Salamina more than any of the other towns (I think – maybe I was just in a great mood)! It really is a lovely town and seeing the balconies it is famous for is fun – it definitely reminds you to look up! The town is full of 19th-century Antioquian colonial houses built from bahareque (bambu/clay construction) with some very intricate carved wooden balconies crafted by local master woodworkers!
Another great reason to come here is to go to the nearby town of San Felix (by bus) to visit the completely un-touristed Bosque de Palmas de Cera “La Samaria.” This is a great alternative to the crowded Cocora Valley, and a nice little adventure in itself. Walk from San Felix (or hitch a ride – it seemed perfectly safe) into the valley where you will see plenty of the towering Quindío Wax Palms. You can also visit or stay at Alojamiento Rural Mirador Samaria San Felix above the valley. For a small entrance fee (if you are not staying) you can go on a tour of the finca where they explain their reserve and reforestation focus, as well as allow you to walk through the farm and forest.
Top tip: For something very local in Salamina, Café El Polo is a historic coffee shop in Salamina that has been serving traditional breakfast creations for over half a century. Its signature delicacy is huevos al vapor, a unique dish where eggs are whipped with butter and steamed to fluffy perfection using the steam wand of an espresso machine!! Interesting!
Stay at the lovely Casa Lola Hotel Boutique
17. Explore the other Caldas towns – Pácora and Aguadas
Not far from Salamina are Pácora and Aguadas – each with their own little gems!
Aguadas
Aguadas is a heritage town famous for its production of the authentic “Sombrero Aguadeño.” Those are those fabulous hats you see all the men wearing! All true Aguadas hats are 100% hand-woven by local artisans (mostly rural women) at home, then the town artisans do the iron pressing, shaping, and ribbon-sewing in their town center shops.
You can learn all about it at the Museo del Sombrero Aguadeño. But you can also visit Taller del Sombrero Aguadas Papá where you can see the artisans doing the traditional manual iron-shaping and custom-finishing of the hats. You can also ask at Sombreros Agudeños Pipintá about organizing a demonstration of the whole process. Finally, at Sombreros El Cacique you might find the owner who loves to tell you all about it!!
Pácora
Meanwhile in Pácora, its all about water! This town is famous for being “the town that saved itself from water”. Beneath the streets and traditional architecture there is a hidden labyrinth of underground aqueduct tunnels!
What happened was that during the Antioquian colonization in the 19th century, settlers chose a beautiful mountain ridge to build the town. Then, they realized the ridge was completely cut through by five “aggressive” mountain creeks. But, instead of moving the town, they decided to build over the water. So they hand-built subterranean channels using clay bricks held together with calicanto – a mortar made of lime, sand, and animal blood. They are still working well nearly 200 years later!!
You can visit a little museum which tells you about it or go on a tour of the underground labyrinth. Sadly, I missed this as the tour guide was away at the time I was there so the closest I got was the pamphlets in the little museum – Casa Museo los Sonidos de la Matraca y la Quebrada. Its meant to be really good though!!
The other thing Pácora is famous for is the matraca (a traditional wooden noisemaker used to call the people during Holy Week instead of church bells – from medieval times in Europe). This was brought to the area during the Spanish conquest times.
I didn’t stay in Pacora as I got a late bus on to Aguadas, but in Aguadas stay at the lovely Hotel Colonial Aguadas.
18. Try the regional food specific to the Coffee Region
There are all sorts of local foods to try. This is my list for you to tick off!
Main meals
- Trucha – trout
Trout is not native to the areas but around Salento and Jardin etc it is farmed and so is quite the thing to eat! Try trout somewhere in the region. The most popular dish is Trucha al Ajillo with Patacón Gigante, where it is baked or fried in a garlic cream sauce and served over a crunchy, thin green plantain pancake! - Fiambre Montañero
The ancient field lunch. Rice, slow-cooked hogao (tomato and onion sauce), chicken, pork chicharrón, potato, and a hard-boiled egg are wrapped tight in green bijao leaves. La Casa De Los Recuerdos is a good place to try this in Pijao (see 20 below).
Drinks and sweets
- Forcha
A frothy, fermented beverage made from a base of corn flour, panela sugar, water, and spices. Try it in Filandia or Manizales. - Sirope
Yum! A traditional, super-refreshing cold mountain drink made from boiling panela sugar down with warm spices like cinnamon and cloves, then cutting it with loads of freshly squeezed lime juice and ice. - Arequipe de Café
You can get dulce de leche (arequipe) everywhere, but in Quindío they add dark, locally roasted espresso to the yummy caramel! - Postre Jericoano
Found in Jericó, this is a labor-intensive dessert with a 120-year history. It is a seven-layer cake that takes up to 12 to 15 days to prepare! There are five distinct layers of slow-simmered, panela-sweetened fruits alternating with two thin layers of light sponge cake. The place to eat it is La Pizzería de José! - Confites de Cardamomo (cardamon sweets)
These are little amber-colored hard candies made of sugar or panela infused with ground cardamom seeds – still individually cut and wrapped by hand. You also find them in Jericó which is a place where cardamon grows really well! Try them at Dulces El Jericoano
19. Mountain biking through coffee plantations
We have talked about coffee tours throughout, but one way of getting off the beaten path and joining in on a very obvious and fun regional pastime – cycling – is to get out on a bike yourself! This tour from Pereira is highly rated and although I didn’t do it myself, the route goes through places I visited and it is a really good tour in terms of where you go!
Coffee Axis: 3-Day Bike Tour of the Coffee Mountains – you get nicely off the beaten path!
20. And finally…..slow down in Pijao
Pijao in southern Quindío was the first town in Latin America to join the international Cittaslow (Slow Town) movement! The town and surrounds actively preserves its traditional rural pace of life, agricultural roots, architectural heritage, and sustainable small-scale farming.
There are some cool things to do in town / at a slow pace of course!
First you can go to Experiencia Cafetera and organise to go on a Wakecup Tour! They will take you in a Willys Jeep out to small-scale family coffee farms (micro-fincas).
After that you can go to the Bar Los Recuerdos to listen to some vintage vinyl over a slow beer with the locals! Another quirky place to go is the Pijao Social Bar which has the only surviving vintage steam-powered espresso machine in Quindío. It is a fun thing to see or get a coffee from!
You can also just wander the colorful streets and enjoy the true 19th-century bahareque (bambu lattice and mud mortar) buildings – topped off with all the colors of the rainbow. While you are wandering go into the church on the main square and check its clock tower. The clock stopped at 7:25 decades ago – quite fitting for a slow town!
And for real off the beaten path experiences, Pijoa has its own wax palm are and its own paramao – high above the town. You wont see another tourist in sight and you can get to these places on tours – talk to the people at Experiencia Cafetera who operate these tours as well as bird watching tours.
I recommend you stay at Habitación Colibrí, Pijao, Finca Flora del Río or if you are on more of a budget Koniminto is a good spot!
Bonus: Head slightly out of the region and way off the beaten track to Murillo – its fantastic.
As I say – Murillo is slightly out of the coffee region, but its a brilliant detour if you have the time. Even if you just go for a night to travel the fantastic road – which goes over 4000 meters! They have waterfalls, hot pools, the paramo and failejones, and a very authentic rural town where jeeps and horses reign king!
Read my post on Murillo for more details.
A 2-4 week full itinerary and options to make it shorter!
If you are very short on time, and probably going from Medellin to Pereira, you can use both places as a base and do day trips from them. I would allow 4-5 days in this case and cover the Cocora Valley, Nevado del Ruiz, and a coffee farm from Pereira (using combo tours to add in Filandia and or a stop at the hot pools), and a day trip to the Jardin area from Medellin.
However if you have time and want to explore, I have mapped out a trip through all the sights above – you can pick and choose which bits you want but this allows you to get to them all! I will go from Medellin south but of course you can go vice versa.
As you can see, you can easily spend 2-4 weeks in the area if you have the time!!
Northern area
1: Jericó 2 days
Medellin to Jericó by bus, explore the town and see the making of the carrieles. Climb to the viewpoint, hike the hills behind the town, try the local foods.
2: Jardín 2-3 days
Travel from Jericó to Jardín by chiva in the morning, explore the town and arrange to go to the Cueva del Esplendor the next day – it will take most of the day. On the third day, ride the garrucha cable car, see the Cock of the Rock birds at the reserve, walk to other waterfalls.
3: Aguadas 1 day
Take the bus(es) to Aguadas in the morrning – it will take most of the day. Visit some of the hat vendors after you have dropped your bags at your hotel. Visit the museum and other hat shops in the morning before you take the short bus trip to Pacora.
4: Pacora 1 day
Take the bus to Pacora in the morning. Try and book the underground tour ahead or you might be disappointed. Take the tour the afternoon after you arrive or the next morning before getting a bus to Salamina.
5: Salamina 2 days
Explore the town and its architecture. Have tea or a meal upstairs at the lovely Don Fermin Restaurante Café Bar on the corner of the square. On the second day take the bus to San Felix and see the huge wax palms. This will take all day.
Central area – the hub
6: Manizales 3-4 days
Take the bus to Manizales. See my post on what to do there, but it is a great place to go to Nevada del Ruiz from – with a hot pool visit on the way back. That will take one day. Make sure you ride the cable cars from the bus station and climb the Cathedral spire!
7: Optional side trip from Manizales to Murillo 3-4 days
I just loved Murillo and the road to get there is fantastically beautiful. It is the same road you take to Nevada del Ruiz but keeps on going through the paramo! Read my post on Murillo – it is almost untouched and personally I would rate it as one of the best places to go in the whole area!
8: Santa Rosa del Cabal 2 days
Take the bus to Santa Rosa in the morning. Decide which hot pools you are going to and get yourself organised for the next day soaking in the pools.
9: Pereira 0-4 days
Whether you stay here depends on whether you want to use it as a base to do day trips or not. if you do, get a bus in the morning to the city, get to your accommodation and sort out your day trips. If you don,t you can carry on by getting a bus to Salento.
Southern area
10: Salento and the Cocora Valley 2-5 days
It will take a full day to visit the Cocora Valley and do the loop walk. If you want to go on a coffee tour or bird watching etc as well you probably want one more day. I allowed 5 days for those that want to go hiking for 2-3 days from here.
11: Filandia 1day
Take a Willys jeep to Filandia and spend the rest of the day visiting the Barbas Bremen Nature Reserve or exploring the colorful town.
12: Pijao 2 days
Take a bus to Armenia and swap to a bus to Pijao. Spend the rest of the day exploring the town – slowly. Organize any tours you might want to take to the paramo or wax palms, or the local coffee growers.
13: Pereira 1 day
Take a bus back to Pereira and fly or bus out to your next destination!
Things to pack when traveling to Colombia’s Coffee Region
This is what I have packed and use!
- Clothing layers
- Good hiking shoes as well as around town and hotel shoes & crocs
- Waterproof jacket or poncho and / or umbrella
- A very lightweight day pack as well – this one to be exact!
- A reusable insulated water bottle to cut down on single-use plastic waste.
- High-SPF Sunscreen (SPF 50+) and cap or sunhat – the altitude is high and you can get burnt even on cloudy days
- Swimwear and Quick-Dry Microfiber Towel
- A drybag to protect your gear or a rain cover for your day pack
- Your camera/phone and power bank for day trips! Plus a water-proof pouch for your phone.
- Secure wallet / travel pouch for money and cards
- Travel plug adapter if you are from outside the Americas – Colombia uses the same plugs as the USA and Canada.
- Mosquito repellent (deet free) Also lightweight clothes that cover arms and legs as protection.
- Wet wipes and hand sanitiser – for the less pleasant toilets etc
Frequently asked questions about Colombia’s Coffee Region
Q: How do I get to the Coffee Region, and which airport should I fly into?
A: The three key cities are Pereira (PEI), Armenia (AXM), and Manizales (MZL). Pereira is the most popular airport to fly into. But you can also take buses from Medellín (4–5 hours to Pereira) and Bogotá (7–9 hours).
Q: Should I stay in Salento, Filandia, Pereira, or Manizales?
A: Thats a tough one. if you are really short on time, day trips from Pereira is the easiest option to see the coffee region highlights. Manizales is a good base for the Nevada del Ruiz and has some city highlights. If you have time for all four, then do it!
Q: Is Salento too touristy? What are the best less crowded alternatives?
A: Its very busy on weekends and quite tourist-oriented. See 1 above for alternatives!
Q: How do I visit the Cocora Valley (Valle de Cocora), and how do Willys work?
A: At Salento’s main plaza and buy a ticket for one of the shared Willys Jeeps – its easy.
Q: Do I need a guide to enter Los Nevados National Park?
A: Yes, generally. Independent, unguided entry into the park is strictly prohibited. You can drive your own car to the mountain but you have to wait for a guide to go further.
Q: What is the best time of year to visit, and how bad is the weather/rain?
A: December – March and July – August are generally the sunniest dry periods. April – May and September – November generally have afternoon rain.
Q: How many days should I allow for the Coffee Region?
A: See the itinerary above.
Q: How safe is the Coffee Region compared to Medellín or Bogotá?
A: The Coffee Region is rated as one of the safest regions in Colombia for solo, female, and family travelers.
Travel Tips for Colombia’s Coffee Region
- Card readers across Colombia often ask if you want to be charged in your home currency (USD, EUR, GBP etc). Always select COP (Colombian Pesos). Choosing your home currency triggers Dynamic Currency Conversion (DCC), adding a hidden 5% to 8% markup on every transaction.
- Keep small cash (COP) for Jeep Willys, street snacks and budget restaurants, and entry to smaller family farms and businesses. Credit cards are usually only accepted in mid-to-high-end hotels and restaurants, and shops in Pereira, Manizales, and Armenia
- The bus ride from Medellín or Bogotá to the Coffee Region takes 5 to 9 hours due to heavy mountain traffic, roadworks, and winding passes. Direct domestic flights into Pereira (PEI) or Armenia (AXM) take under an hour and are often very affordable. Check the prices as they are often little more than the bus!
- Visit the hot pools near Santa Rosa de Cabal on weekdays, not weekends or school holidays if you can – to avoid any crowds.
- Bring clothes for four seasons – layers and waterproofs included. The weather is a real mix!
- Make sure you have good strong runners or hiking boots for the trails.
- If you plan to trek into Los Nevados National Park (e.g. Nevado Santa Isabel, Laguna del Otún, or high-altitude paramo loops), book through certified mountain agencies weeks ahead. Park daily visitor quotas are strict, and independent unguided hiking in the high-alpine zone is illegal.
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