Salento, considered Quindio’s first modern settlement, is one of the most popular coffee villages to visit in the coffee region and it’s not hard to see why. Stroll the

streets, lined with colorful facade houses, each built in the traditional coffee region style, using local Guadua bamboo structures, bright colors and with Spanish-era

balconies. 

Take a walking tour of this historical town, learning about its coffee culture, brightly colored houses, and its high quality handicrafts, before enjoying some down time with an award-winning local brew.

After lunch, you will visit Jesús Martín, where you will taste one of the best coffees in Salento and you will be surprised with a demonstration of art latte. After a visit to the town, "a few rounds of the traditional village game, 'Tejo', is highly entertaining and well worth seeking out to play with locals, usually enjoyed while having a few beers at the local corner shop. 

An old throwing game whose origins appear lost in the mists of time, Tejo involves throwing a metal puck or disc (the ‘tejo’) from a set distance onto a small sand-covered area in which some gunpowder targets are buried. Small explosions sound when the tejo hits the target, providing the buzz in this otherwise gentle rural game. 

(B,L)

ACCOMMODATION : Salento Real

This stunning valley is home to the world’s tallest palm and Colombia’s national tree: the endemic Colombian Wax Palm. 

Spend time exploring the spectacular green mountain landscape of Cocora, named after the local pre-Hispanic chieftain’s daughter of the region, catching a traditional Willys Jeep to take you there from Salento.

Today, after breakfast, we will be transferred to Valle del Cocora, as you get closer, you will begin to see how on both sides of the road, the majestic Palma de Cera starts to make a presence, one of the only species of palms in the world that  managed to adapt to the altitude to adorn the mountains of Colombia. 

In Cocora Valley we will have the opportunity to choose between two beautiful hikes through the Andean forest to understand the importance of this ecosystem and enjoy the spectacular scenery. 

(B,L)

Today you will visit Filandía in the morning on the way to Caldas department, a colorful coffee village of Filandia in the far northeast of Quindío. 

Your guide will explain the culture of this coffee-growing region and how small villages such as Filandia form the backbone of rural agricultural life. You’ll stroll the pretty streets of this quiet village before climbing the town’s observation tower for an impressive 360º view of the Quindio department and its small villages, as well as a view of the Central and Western Andes.

You will have lunch in a delicious restaurant and continue towards Hacienda  Venecia where we will spend the night.

In Caldas, in less than 80km (50 miles) we can find altitudes that vary between 1,200 to 4,400 m.a.s.l (3,940 to 14,440 f.a.s.l), with a huge variety of ecosystems, perfect to plant a wide variety of products, from sugar cane, plantain, fruits, etc. in the lowlands; coffee, avocado and more plantain in the midlands to potato, onion, etc. in the highlands.

The variety of ecosystems also makes this region rich in biodiversity, around 477 species of birds, more than 25% of the total birds identified in Colombia, among which we find the majestic Condor of the Andes, but also a great variety of mammals like the beautiful danta o tapir, monkeys and many other animals inhabit and move around the big biological corridors of the region.

This region has also a great importance for the production and cycle of water, which starts its journey in the glaciers and páramos above 4,000 m.a.s.l (13,120 f.a.s.l), and begins to descend in the form of small streams, rivers and lagoons, it is filtered and retained in the high Andean forest, preventing floods, erosion and creating water reserves for dry seasons and finally arriving to the cities and providing us with 80% of the drinkable water of the country. 

(B,L,D).

MTB 

Today, after a pleasant breakfast at Hacienda Venecia, we will drive up to Manizales for a bike tour around Manizales. 

The tour begins with a visit to the Polish Corridor, climbing the towers of the Catedral Basilica Metropolitana Nuestra Señora del Rosario de Manizales, the highest cathedral in Colombia and one of the highest in South America, from where you have panoramic views of the city and hopefully the imposing Nevado del Ruiz. 

After this visit we will begin our bicycle tour from the emblematic Plaza de Bolivar towards Chipre, where we will see the monument to the Colonizers and begin our descent along the roads of western Manizales. 

There’s impressive views of the lower parts of this spectacular coffee region, amongst the vast coffee plantations that will make this tour a panoramic spectacle. Streams and rivers will accompany us whilst we pedal through the emerald greens of the lush Colombian countryside, where rural life and its peculiarities can be observed all around us – a mixture of ranches, coffee plantations and beautifully typical, ornate farm buildings that combine to create this UNESCO cultural landscape. As we descend, the landscape begins to be covered with coffee plants and the weather becomes warmer, and approaches one of the most traditional haciendas in the region, Hacienda Venecia.

Adorned with coffee plantations, birds and flowers of all colors, the Hacienda awaits with a delicious lunch to end a wonderful day in the mountains of the department of Caldas.

COFFEE TOUR

In Hacienda Venecia, the largest coffee hacienda in the region, located at the bottom of a beautiful valley you’ll experience an in-depth coffee tour. You’ll learn about the processes behind coffee production, the culture, history, qualities and different varieties. You’ll also see the roasting process, smell the aromas and walk

through the plantations themselves, before visiting the ‘Wet Mill’ where they wash, dry and pack the most important product in this region.

This will be a journey not only through the process of coffee, but through the history, economy and culture of Colombia through coffee 

(B,L,D).

ACCOMMODATION : Hacienda Venecia

The visit to the Valle de Las Tumbas (Graves Valley) and the Ruiz snow-capped volcano is a panoramic tour to enjoy one of the most special landscapes of Los

Nevados National Natural Park. The Valle de Las Tumbas or Solitude Desert, with its appearance of a lunar landscape and the imposing Nevado del Ruiz in the background, make this outing a photographic spectacle and a unique experience where the volcanic landscape prevails, to end our day relaxing in the warm

waters of Termales del Ruiz and return recharged with energy.

Since this is an active volcano, there are no hikes close by for safety reasons, but there is an old road where you will pass by vehicle, making some stops in the most amazing spots where you can shoot the most amazing photos.

This is also a beautiful opportunity to experience the ecosystem above 4,000m.a.s.l, and keep understanding the importance of Colombian highlands to produce water.

After the tour, we will descent a few hundred meters to stay in the beautiful mountain hotel of Termales del Ruiz, located in the buffer zone of the park at 3,500 m.a.s.l, a beautiful hotel with pools of thermal waters that come down from the volcano, you will stay here for the night before continuing north. 

(B,L,D)

ACCOMMODATION : Hacienda Venecia

After breakfast, we transfer to the airport of Pereira to catch your flight to Bogota and then to Ecuador.

B