Short coffee tours
Many people are short on time and thirsty for coffee. This tour quenches that thirst with a punchy and intense plan in Colombia’s Quindío department.
This is a privately organised tour with almost unlimited customisation options to make it your own. It is primarily an illustration to show you the best way to see the most of Colombia’s coffee zone in the shortest possible time.
Tour Plan
The coffee zone is about three things. Coffee of course, stunning landscapes and the hospitality of the cafeteros.
This tour boasts all three, arguably Colombia’s best technical coffee tour, the beautiful Quindío countryside and the Cocora Valley. Most importantly, you will stay 2 nights in a family-run finca.
The sky is the limit in terms of customisations. Quite literally should you wish to go paragliding in Roldanillo. The options tab will give you ideas for making this tour your own. Notwithstanding, off the peg this tour as published is a fantastic way to spend 3 nights in the coffee zone.
Climate
The coffee zone has year round spring-like temperatures of approximately 25ºC. Bring a waterproof in anticipation of occasional showers, don’t forget your swimming costume because most fincas have pools.
Group sizes
This trip is available for groups of 2 people and upwards. Local English speaking guides will be provided at the destination.
Day 1
This tour starts when you arrive in one of the coffee zone’s airports. The plan is costed for Armenia. You will be met from your flight by one of our drivers and taken to a family-owned finca.
The Colombian Way carefully selects fincas for facilities and authenticity, all of the fincas that we offer are located in the UNESCO protected coffee landscapes around Armenia.
Day 2
Following breakfast you will be picked up at your finca. After a brief visit to the village of Pijao you will be taken for a 4×4 tour across the Andean cordillera ending at a boutique coffee estate in Buenavista.
There you will see the culture, customs and processes surrounding the coffee cherries that grow on the hillsides and eventually become your morning brew.
After a technical tasting session in the laboratory, you will have the chance to enjoy the estate’s coffee whilst overlooking the UNESCO protected coffee landscapes of Buenavista.
We will then take you for a traditional lunch.
After lunch you will continue to Calarcá to visit the stunning botanical gardens and Mariposario. You will be returned to the finca for dinner.
Day 3
You will leave the finca and head towards Salento and the imposing Cocora Valley. Salento is one of the quaintest towns in Colombia with its well preserved colonial houses, handicrafts shops and traditional restaurants, many of which serve excellent local trout.
The day is your own, be it a short walk through the Cocora Valley or the full 6 hour trek to the hummingbird reserve at Acaime, you will be guided by an expert local guide. Be sure to take your camera because Cocora is a sight to behold. It is one of the only habitats of the wax palm, the world’s tallest variety of palm tree and the national tree of Colombia.
After the full day outing we return to you to a charming hotel in Salento to spend your final night in the coffee zone.
Day 4
Time to bid farewell to the coffee zone. You will be picked up from the hotel and transferred back to the airport.
Day 1
It’s entirely possible that you want to arrive early in the day on day 1. That’s your choice. Consider adding horse-riding at la Tebaida or for those with an interest in botany, an afternoon at Paraíso del Bambú y la Guadua.
Day 2
Technical coffee tours not your cup of tea? Or coffee? Ramp up the fun by going to Recuca instead for an altogether more frivolous experience.
Day 3
Stay in bed! The coffee zone is the ideal place to wind down, so enjoy a relaxed morning at the finca, transfer to Salento at lunchtime, check into your hotel and enjoy the afternoon taking in the ambience of the town, potter around the craft shops in Camino Real and have yourselves a coffee. Pick up the itinerary again the next day with your trip to Cocora. This is a cost effective way of slowing down your pace by adding an extra night.
Day 4
Take an early evening flight out of Pereira rather than Armenia and spend the afternoon exploring the waterfalls and thermal pools at Santa Rosa de Cabal. Leave your luggage in the car then continue to the airport for your outbound flight.
Destination information
This tour visits the following destinations. Click the links below for more comprehensive information on each destination.
Price
This tour is a privately organised round trip, it indicates an ideal sample itinerary in Quindío. The price shown on this page is the correct price should you wish to undertake this tour exactly as published. All of our tours are customisable to accommodate your own preferences. The price shown does not include flights to and from the coffee zone.
The price shown on this page is based on the following options and group size.
- From/to Armenia airport
- 4 persons
Contact us to amend this tour, book it as is, or build your own custom tour in Colombia.
