Colombia has become the second largest exporter of coffee in the world behind Brazil. The Arabica coffee bean is the bean of choice here - a higher grade of coffee. The rugged hills of the state of Quindío have long exported Colombia's famed beans. Now, working coffee plantations and haciendas are opening their doors to guests.
The Coffee Triangle is a lush green region lying on the slopes of the Andes, west of Bogota, at an altitude of about 1500m. It takes 35 minutes to fly from Bogota to Armenia, the capital of Quindio. At its core are the cities of Armenia, Manizales and Pereira, but it is the rural areas and the plantations which are the real reasons to come and visit. There are a number of traditional coffee fincas which are great from which to explore the area. All over you the region you will see big haciendas.
Also from these areas it is possible to head out on day trips to the Andean paramo of Los Nevados National Park. Beware of snow here though, as very suddenly you are much higher up than before and the weather can change on a sixpence. The highest peak in the park is at 5,325m and it is great to be able to walk up to one of the many volcano summits here.
At an altitude of between 1300 and 1700 metres above sea level, the area provides virtually ideal conditions for the production of coffee, never quite going down below 8 degrees at night and with usual daily temperatures of c. 25 degrees.
Another great thing about this area is that there are many thermal springs dotted around the place, just perfect for a soak after a day’s hiking in the Los Nevados or a full day of learning how the coffee appears in your mug. A three night trip in the coffee lands can give you a flavour of all three coffee regions with one night in Armenia, one night in Pereira and one night in Manizales. You would fly to this region from Bogota and it takes about an hour and a half to reach Armenia airport. Or you could combine some time in the coffee farms with some time in the Los Nevados. This mini trip combines a great variety of landscapes and plant/animal diversity.
Hacienda San Jose is where you will find three centuries of tradition and history in Columbia’s coffee farming region. The hacienda was built in 1888 and is one of the best preserved in this area of lush vegetation. There are 8 bedrooms in total all with private bathrooms. More...
Hacienda Bambusa is in the heart of Quindio just twenty minutes away from Armenia. It is a typical two storey hacienda built in bamboo and surrounded by farms, pastures and mountains. There are 8 double bedrooms all with private facilities. More…
Casa de Campo El Delirio, a beautiful colonial-style house is a kilometre away from Montenegro. It is surrounded by a large garden and has great mountain views. The house is decorated in a period-style. There are also eight rooms here. More…
