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Colombia

Classic Colombia / Land of Coffee & Tayrona / Archeology & History / By the Sea / Nature Tour
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The Coffee Triangle - The Heart of Colombia

The coffee zone is a geographic area that comprises of three Colombian departments: Caldas, Risaralda and Quindío; with their respective capital cities of Manizales, Pereira and Armenia. The departments have many things in common including a coffee culture, the pre-Columbian legacy that runs deeper than the Spanish legacy, its beautiful landscapes, the friendliness and drive of the people. Nevertheless, each has its particularities: Manizales stands out for its cultural life, museums and monuments; Armenia as the heart of the region and for being reconstructed after the earthquake of 1999, and Pereira due to its commercial activity, gastronomy and nightlife.

Before the arrival of the Spanish in the mid XIX century, the area was inhabited by the Quimbaya people. This tribe had 80 caciques or independent chiefs of which 5 of these were high ranking. They lived in the midst of immense bamboo forests and they were experts in working “guadua” making instruments, tools and constructions. They were the first to work with metals, in approximately 500BC , in what is presentday Colombian territory, using techniques such as lost wax, adopted from other South American tribes.

Most of the coffee production in Colombia is based here and for that reason the region is aptly named as the “Coffee zone”, “Coffee Axis” or “Region or Coffee Triangle”. The climate, with temperatures that vary from 8 to 24 degrees; the geographic characteristics, a tropical Andean forest between 1,300 and 1,700 meters; and other geological issues permit such high quality coffee. The fertile valleys with their seemingly endless coffee plantations, traditional wooden houses with brightly coloured balconies and further constructions in guadua come together to create the typical and vibrant landscape of this region. It is believed that coffee was first cultivated by the Jesuits and then its usage started growing gradually throughout the country and then for exportation towards the end of the XIX century. Coffee comes from a bush-like tree of the rubiáceas family and what is cultivated here in Colombia is the Arabica strain which is the most popular type. Historically coffee has always been present in one manifestation or another of man’s existence. It has been the drink of love and the drink of loss, happiness and sadness, friendship and loneliness.

4 days - 3 nights COFFEE TRIANGLE FROM RISARALDA (PEREIRA )

Day 1 | Bogotá - Pereira
Arrive to Pereira airport, transfer to hotel and check in. Overnight Meals: B / - / -

Day 2 | Pereira - Chinchina - Coffee Farming R egion - Pereira
After breakfast, HALF DAY PLANTATIONS AND COFFEE PROCESSING tour. Free remainder of the afternoon for for individual activities. Overnight stay. Meals: B / - / -

Half day visiting the coffee plantations along the steep hills typical of this area. On a secondary pathway view the green carpet of coffee plants that spread out as far as the horizon interrupted only by fincas and heliconia flowers. Break in the Alto de La Paz, a beautiful viewpoint close to the
municipality of Chinchiná in the department of Caldas and enjoy the view of the beautiful scenery of the coffee region that has been declared a world Heritage site by UNESCO. The visit continues on to one of the coffee haciendas to see the plantations and the production system in minute detail, including the harvest, the drying to the sun and treatment in this land of volcanic terrain along the Central Andes Mountain range which is perfect for this crop. The visit to the property begins in the house with an introductory chat about coffee, its preparation, toasting, the characteristics of quality and the properties that allows for such a variety of coffees in the world. The route continues through the grounds, appreciating its coffee plantations and the work of the coffee pickers as well as to understand the famous humid coffee that is characteristic of Colombian coffee. Visit the main house on the property to enjoy the local typical architecture and history. Taste different coffee brews and return to the hotel.
The harvest in Colombia takes around a year, although the main period is between October and May/June. Most of the plantations in Colombia produce Arabica beans which produce a delicate and light tasting coffee which is widely recognized and consumed. The process begins from when the bean is planted and takes approximately 75 days to germination. The seedling is then placed in a plastic bag and placed in partial sunlight until its base dries. Two years after plantation the tree bears its first fruit which is harvested when the bean is red in colour and dry and ripe. Once the fruit has been picked, the pulp is stripped away and the bean is cleaned and dried in the sun (the big haciendas now use a special machinery to strip and dry the beans in a short period of time). The beans are exported or dried in preparation for sale, before being ground up and made ready for
human consumption. Duration: Approximately five hours from Manizales. Approximately six hours from Armenia. Approximately five hours from Pereira.

Day 3 | Pereira - Valle del Cocora & Filandia - Pereira
After breakfast, FULL DAY VALLE DEL COCORA , FILANDIA AND SALENTO tour. Return to hotel and overnight stay. Meals: B / - / -

In the morning leave for the Valle de Cocora which is located in the central mountains of the department of Quindio. This makes up part of the Parque Nacional de los Nevados and is the ideal place to marvel at the “Quindian wax palm” (Ceroxylon quincense), the national tree of Colombia. This tree can reach a staggering height of 60m. Around here a great number of species of birds live, in particular some types of hummingbird and the orejíamarillo or the palm parrot (Ognorhynchus icteroti) which is endangered.
Upon arrival in the valley, either hiking or on horseback, head into the cloud forest to enjoy the biodiversity of flora and fauna. On the return journey, cross the River Quindio while walking along an ecological pathway which takes one past the tallest wax palms in the world. Learn why the indigenous people here worshipped this tree. Stop at a trout farm and then enjoy a traditional meal of smoked trout. Enjoy some free time here.
In the afternoon, continue 10km towards the traditional town of Salento to enjoy a city tour that visits the Plaza de Bolívar with its colourful balconies, the calle real, the handicrafts shops and the Cocora viewpoint.Then, transfer to the traditional village of Filandia to enjoy a city tour
that includes the viewpoint, the colonial homes, the Plaza de Bolivar and the coffee shops. Here, enjoy some time soaking up the regional atmosphere and perhaps some local spirits before returning to the hotel. Duration: Approximately nine hours from Manizales. Approximately
eight hours from Armenia. Approximately nine hours from Pereira.

Day 4 | Pereira
Transfer to the airport after breakfast. Meals: B / - / -

I want to book this!

2011 Price per person in US$: $1463 for 1 person, $913 for 2 in double, $835 for 3 in triple, $481 for child

Includes: Transfers in-out / Breakfast (3) + Lunch (2) + Dinner (2)
Excursions: City tour,Coffee Process & Valle del Cocora and Salento
Hotel included - Hacienda San Jose or equivalent

4 days - 3 nights CALDAS ( MANIZALES ) AND LOS NEVADOS NATIONAL PARK

Day 1 | Bogotá - Manizales
Arrive at Manizales airport, transfer to hotel and check in. Overnight stay. Meals: - / - / -

Day 2 | Manizales
After breakfast, HALF DAY IN MANIZALES. Free remainder of the afternoon for individual activities. Overnight stay. Meals: B / - / -

Half day visit of the city of Manizales, the capital of the Caldas department. Given its unrivalled geographical location nestled in the mountains and boasting a comfortable year-round climate, here one enjoys some of the most beautiful scenery in the region, such as snow-capped mountains, valleys and colourful sunsets. The city appears as if poured onto the hills here as the topography is uneven and often abrupt in places that allows for views of the surrounding countryside. This city has a great deal of cultural wealth and a long tradition of hosting festivals such as La Feria de Toros de Manizales that takes place in January every year and is considered as national heritage. Manizales is also known as the “city of open doors” due to the hospitality that its citizenry show to visitors.
The tour begins in the historic centre, entry into the Cathedral which is rustic in design and displays a mix of styles such as neo-gothic, medieval and byzantine which is far from common in churches in Latin America. After climbing up the stairs to a height of 113m the visitor arrives at the Polish corridor and is greeted with views of the city and the Nevado del Riuz. The visit continues on to the Plaza de Bolívar where the splendid sculpture of the “Libertador Cóndor”by Rodrigo Arenas Betancourt is on display. Transfer to the touristic balcony in the Barrio Chipre and enjoy views over the mountains before visiting the monument to the colonists. This sculpture is a massive work –created from 50 tons of bronze- of art by Luis Guillermo Arias paying tribute to the founders of this city. Following along the Avenida Santander towards the Sector del Cable, this is one of the most traditional areas of the city with a great variety of restaurants, bars and discos in former warehouses, where in the past the old telegraph was located and linked Manizales with the city of Honda. Enjoy some locally produced coffee and transfer to the Cerro de Oro from where there are further good views over the city. Return to hotel.

Day 3 | Manizales - L os Nevados National Park - Manizales
After breakfast, FULL DAY PARQUE NACIONAL DE LOS NEVADOS. Return to the hotel and overnight stay. Meals: B / L / -

The Parque Nacional Natural Los Nevados is located a 52km from Manizales and covers an area of 58,300ha spread between the departments of Caldas, Risaralda, Quindio and Tolima. There are yearround snow-capped mountains that reach the heights of 5,300masl. The mountain of the Nevado del Ruiz with its glistening snowfields can be seen from the city of Manizales.
Early in the morning, leave to the mountains of the Parque Nacional Natural de los Nevados. On the way the journey passes coffee plantations and coffee fincas until the point where the vegetation begins to change and becomes a carpet of frailejones. At 4200masl the landscape is rocky and lunar until the Desierto de la Soledad is reached at 4400masl. This place was a pilgrimage site for ancient indigenous tribes.
All through the tour there will be various breaks to ensure acclimatization to the altitude. The first of these stops will be for breakfast. The second refuge point is reachable by car and from here the rest of the trail is done on foot until the glacier of the Nevado del Ruiz. The hike here is at 4700m, and continues on until 5100m ending at a refuge at the base of the Nevado del Ruiz and doing a snow walk. The glacier starts in the snow and is surrounded by a beautiful landscape, the climate is rugged and sometimes Andean Condors are visible. From the Nevado, hike down for 1 and a half hours to the thermal springs to soothe aching limbs in these naturally curative waters. Duration: Approximately eight hours from Manizales. Approximately ten hours from Armenia. Approximately nine hours from Pereira

Day 4 | Manizales
After breakfast transfer to airport. Meals: B / - / -

I want to book this!

2011 Price per person in US$: $1450 for 1 person, $978 for 2 in double, $869 for 3 in triple, $750 for child

Includes: Transfers in-out / Breakfast (3) + Lunch (2) + Dinner (2)
Excursions:City tour,Trekking Nevados - private
Hotel included - Hotel Termales del Otoño or equivalent