Colombian Coffee Cultural Landscape
Known as the CCLC, which corresponds to the Coffee Cultural Landscape, this zone is an outstanding example of adaptation to difficult geographic conditions in which hillside and mountain coffee growing developed. The cultural landscape combines three elements in the region: natural, economic and cultural, and constitutes an exceptional case in the world. The human, family and generational effort of the coffee growers is combined with the permanent support of its institutions. During the visit you can enjoy mountains planted with coffee and bananas; and valleys where you can see guaduas and sugar cane crops. In the area you can practice adventure sports, relax in hot springs, visit natural reserves and spaces dedicated to culture. ver la nieve entre otras cosas. Lo conforman los departamentos de Quindío, Risaralda, Caldas y norte del Valle del Cauca.
Coffee farm: In the PCCC you will find different options of farms where you can have a real experience next to the coffee plantation, from the planting of the seed, through the process of pulping, drying, selection and roasting, until you have a delicious cup of Colombian coffee. We have different options of farms that you can visit depending on the location of your hotel.
Salento: One of the most picturesque villages and visited by nationals and foreigners. Its architecture is the most representative because it shows the social organization of the municipality at the end of the IX century and the beginning of the XX century. Its intense colorful, boast large doors in wood very worked, windows of the same style and large balconies that protrude from the front of the houses. Admiring the handicrafts in the main street or having a coffee are two of the activities you can't miss in the town.
Cocora Valley: It is considered one of the most beautiful landscapes in Colombia, characterized by a great variety of flora and fauna, much of it in danger of extinction, protected under the status of national natural park. Among which the Andean Condor, frailejones, hummingbirds, spectacled bears, butterflies and a variety of living species stand out, making it an ideal setting for bird watching, hiking, trekking and even horseback riding.
Los Nevados National Natural Park: Located on the central mountain range, where it is taking part of the departments of Caldas, Quindío, Risaralda and Tolima. The park includes cold, paramo, and icy thermal floors, so its main ecosystems are Andean forests, paramos, and glaciers. It also includes the watersheds of some rivers, such as the Otún River, Quindío River, Totarito River, Molinos River, Azufrado River, Lagunillas River, Campoalegre River, and Guali River, among others. Bird species such as the hummingbird, Andean toucans, the sparrow hawk, the Andean condor; mammals such as the goat, cusumbos, spectacled bears, pumas and armadillos. The vegetation is paramuna, we find an interesting range of frailejones, mosses, lichens, colorful algae in the various lagoons, sunflowers. And some orchids that adapt to high altitudes and adorn the horizons of the snow-capped mountains that make up the flora of the super paramo, paramo and high Andean forest. The soils of this majestic national natural park are quite rocky, and it is very common to find abundant deposits of pumice stone.
Otún Quimbaya Flora and Fauna Sanctuary: The Otún Quimbaya FFS is located in the western part of the Central Mountain Range for the conservation of the valuable sub-Andean forest. The sanctuary has a diversity of orchid and bromeliad species, the Quindío wax palm, cherry trees, the romerón and the curubo de monte, species that are very important for conservation. If it is about animals, with time and a lot of calm, you can observe the howler monkey, the páramo tapir, the partridge, parakeets, ducks, several species of eagles and hundreds of butterflies. There are three interpretative circular trails of medium and low difficulty: El Río, Los Bejucos and Humedal. On these trails you can enjoy wildlife observation, especially bird watching, some of which are endemic to the region. El Río Trail: This trail runs parallel to the Otún River and crosses La Mula Creek (1 km, 1½ hours, low difficulty). Bejucos Trail: Circular hike whose main theme is plant succession (1.4 km, 1½ hours, medium difficulty). El Humedal Trail: Circular trail with a sample of sub-Andean rainforest in the process of regeneration (1.5 km, 2 hours, medium difficulty). Which one do you dare to do?...
Santa Rosa de Cabal hot springs: The hot springs of Santa Rosa de Cabal are well known in the CCLC for having natural and cultural resources, the hot springs are located 11 kilometers from the urban area. The thermal waters spring from the interior of the earth, its warm waters have a special composition that makes them ideal for relaxation and rest treatments, also have renowned chorizos santarrosanos. It is worth mentioning that municipal manufacturers have managed to achieve a Guinness Record from chorizo longest in the world with 1,917 meters. You can't leave without trying them...
Botanical Garden and Butterfly Garden. It is a place for nature lovers, you will find trails among 600 species of plants and trees up to 200 years old. Special for bird watching and in its gardens there is a large collection of heliconias, palms, orchids and ferns that will fascinate you and the best thing is a magical butterfly garden of 680 square meters and the experience of having more than 1500 butterflies of 50 different species in the middle of hundreds of flowers and water paths that flutter around you. Just enter and the butterflies will greet you.
Tour the coffee farms, enjoying rural tourism and let yourself be carried away by the aroma of coffee, as well as the beauty of its landscapes in which the green color stands out with the blue of the sky and the charm of an atmosphere full of joy. Practice in one of the coffee farms for a day as a coffee picker, tour the crops and the processes of the processing and subsequent roasting of the bean, cupping, the diverse methods of preparation, the art of barismo, recipes and even coffee desserts, are part of the multiple activities.
Dare to visit different crops where you will learn more about this bean that represents history, culture and Colombian pride and once you are there you will want to extend your trip or return, because you will love the kindness of the people who welcome you with a cup of the smoothest coffee in the world.
You will not be able to leave this zone without visiting the coffee farms and enjoying rural tourism, learning about the daily life of the hacienda owners, collectors and peasants that still work as they did more than a century ago in the haciendas, and their knowledge that is passed down through generations, make your trip to the coffee zone of the country unique. A trip in the typical Yipao or Jeepao, transportation in the zone and its unequaled folklore and native expressions will make the trip worthwhile.
- The weather in the coffee cultural landscape is very pleasant, being located on the Andes mountain range, with an average temperature of 20º C.
- For transportation within the city you can use the cab service by requesting it from the reception of the hotel or restaurant where you are staying. For transfers airport - hotel - airport or between municipalities or departments the recommendation is to use the transportation provided by your travel agency.
- The most important areas to hotel will be according to your needs, because you will be able to find urban central hotels in each of the main cities or country hotels or finca hotels in the surroundings with special views.
- Arriving to the coffee region of Colombia is easy thanks to the 3 options you have, which you should review very well before choosing the airport according to the location of your hotel. Remember that there are 3 departments with 3 capital cities and in the surroundings there are rural lodgings or finca hotels.
Quindio - Armenia - International Airport El Edén
Risaralda - Pereira - International Airport Matecaña
Caldas - Manizales - La Nubia National Airport