Things to do in Colombia's Coffee Region

Salento and the Cocora Valley

The Cocora Valley is home to the wax palm, Colombia's national tree, and Salento is the oldest town in Quindío. Together they are the must-do of the Coffee Region.

Cocora Valley & Salento Tour7 hThe world's tallest wax palms and the most colourful town in Quindío. Shared Tour: Cocora Valley & Salento7 hA shared group tour to Cocora Valley and Salento, comfortable and affordable. Cocora Valley Trek: Acaime, home of the hummingbirds6 hTrek to Cocora Valley and Acaime, a hummingbird refuge among giant palms. Full Day Filandia, Cocora Valley & Salento8 hThe best of Quindío in one day: Filandia, Cocora Valley and Salento.

Filandia

Filandia keeps its bahareque houses with colourful balconies and a living basket-weaving tradition.

Filandia Tour4 hThe heritage town, its viewpoint and the master basket-weavers. Artisans · Basket-weaving workshop2 hWeave your own piece with a master basket-maker from Filandia.

Coffee farms and specialty coffee

On a traditional farm you follow coffee from seed to cup and learn how to taste it.

Coffee farm visit4 hFrom seed to cup on a traditional farm, with an origin coffee tasting. Specialty coffee cupping2 hA professional specialty-coffee cupping with an expert barista.

Nature and birdwatching

Cloud forests and nature reserves with hummingbirds, tanagers and motmots: the Coffee Region is a great destination for birdwatching and for walking among wax palms.

Birdwatching and bird photography for enthusiasts2 hColombia, world #1 for birds: toucans, tanagers and dozens of hummingbirds. Wax palms in the high Andean forest (Pijao)6 hWalk among wax palms, the national tree, in the high-Andean cloud forest. Nature reserves · Barbas-Bremen3 hAndean forest and howler monkeys between Filandia and Pereira. Nature reserves · Río Blanco4 hCloud forest and antpitta feeders next to Manizales.

Hot springs

The hot springs of Santa Rosa de Cabal are the perfect way to relax after a day of hiking.

Hot springs: Santa Rosa, San Vicente or El Otoño4 hRelax in hot springs (Santa Rosa, San Vicente, El Otoño or Tierra Viva).

Theme parks

For families: Parque del Café, PANACA, the Coffee Culture Tour (RECUCA) and Bioparque Ukumarí.

Parque del Café7 hThe Coffee Region's flagship theme park: culture, rides and coffee. PANACA7 hThe largest agricultural nature park: animals and live shows. RECUCA Coffee Culture Tour4 hExperience coffee culture interactively: dress up and harvest coffee. Bioparque Ukumarí4 hOne of Latin America's most modern bio-parks, with wildlife from several continents.

Adventure

Paragliding, paratrike, canopy zip lines and horseback rides with views over the coffee mountains.

Paragliding1 hSoar by paraglider and admire the Coffee Cultural Landscape from the sky. Paratrike1 hA paratrike flight: the motorised aerial adventure for everyone. Horse-riding experience: river and mountain2.5 hA horseback ride between river and mountain through rural Quindío. ☕ Canopy adventure in nature3 hZip wires over the forest canopy, near Armenia.

Mountain towns of the Cordillera

Córdoba, Pijao and Buenavista, in Quindío's mountains, are lesser known and wonderfully authentic.

Full Day Mountain Towns of the Cordillera: Córdoba, Pijao & Buenavista8 hThree mountain towns and an unforgettable coffee viewpoint.

Cities

Armenia, Pereira and Manizales offer city tours with history, architecture and coffee.

Traditional city tour of Armenia4 hExplore Quindío's capital: history, parks and local culture. City tour of Pereira4 hDiscover the 'Pearl of the Otún': viewpoints, culture and coffee-city life. City tour of Manizales4 hCathedral, cable car and mountain architecture of this welcoming city. City tour: Cuyabro art and single-origin coffee4 hLocal art and origin coffee on an urban tour with authentic flavour.

Rural and community tourism

Spend a day with a farming family, discover cacao, sugarcane and bees, and support local communities directly.

Hands-on tour: Farmer for a Day8 hExperience a day of rural life: milking, the vegetable garden, wood-fire cooking and country traditions. Cacao Tour4 hFrom bean to bar: growing, harvesting and artisanal chocolate with cacao-growing families. Sugarcane & Trapiche Tour2 hThe sweet craft of sugarcane: from cutting to the trapiche (traditional sugarcane mill) and panela. Bee Tour4 hThe world of bees, honey and pollination with local beekeepers.

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