8 Days • 7 Nights
Colombia Coffee & Culture: Medellin & the Coffee Region
Tour Includes
About the Trip
Trip Highlights
- The transformed city of Medellin
- Metrocable rides over hillside barrios
- Vibrant street art and paisa culture
- Colourful Guatape and its towering rock
- The emerald coffee region and coffee farms
- The Cocora Valley and towering wax palms
Day by Day
A detailed day-by-day plan for this 8-day journey.
Welcome to Colombia. You are met at Medellin airport and transferred to your hotel in the 'City of Eternal Spring'. Settle in and enjoy a welcome dinner of paisa cuisine.
A guided tour of Medellin's remarkable transformation, riding the metrocable over the hillside barrios to Comuna 13 with its vibrant street art and escalators, the Botero Plaza and the innovative public spaces that reinvented the city.
A day trip to the colourful lakeside town of Guatape, with its brightly painted houses and zocalos, and a climb up the towering El Penol rock for sweeping views over the islands and reservoir.
You travel to the coffee region, the emerald heart of Colombia, settling into a coffee-farm hacienda among the vivid green plantations, with an afternoon exploring the estate.
A day learning the journey from bean to cup on a working coffee farm, with a tasting, and a visit to the stunning Cocora Valley, home to the towering wax palms amid misty green mountains.
A day exploring the colourful town of Salento, the artsy villages of the coffee region and their painted balconies, with a game of tejo and time to relax at your hacienda.
A free day to enjoy the coffee region, a horseback ride, a bird-watching walk, more coffee, or simply the beautiful hacienda and its scenery, with a farewell dinner.
After breakfast you are transferred to the airport for your onward flight, full of coffee and colour.
Where You Will Travel
What's inside the package?
Inclusions
- 7 nights accommodation
- Daily breakfast, a welcome dinner and a coffee-farm lunch
- Airport and internal transfers
- Touring, sightseeing and activities as per itinerary with expert English-speaking guides
- Domestic flights as specified
- National park and attraction entry fees as per itinerary
- a Medellin tour, a Guatape day trip, a coffee-farm tour and a Cocora Valley excursion, plus domestic transfers
Exclusions
- International airfare
- Visa or tourist card fees where applicable
- Travel insurance (strongly recommended)
- Meals not mentioned in the itinerary or inclusions
- Drinks unless specifically stated
- Optional excursions and experiences
- Personal expenses and gratuities
- Anything not specifically mentioned under Package Inclusions
Know when to go.
- Visa & entry: Most nationalities, including UK, US, EU, Canadian and Australian passport holders, do not need a visa for tourism and receive up to 90 days on arrival; a passport valid for at least six months is required. We confirm details for your nationality
- Currency: The currency is the Colombian Peso; cards are widely accepted in cities and hotels, but carry cash for markets, small vendors and the coffee region and coast. We advise on current money matters
- Diverse climates: Colombia sits near the equator, so temperature depends more on altitude than season, Bogota is cool, Medellin is the 'city of eternal spring', and the Caribbean coast is hot year-round; pack for the range in your itinerary
- Best time to visit: Colombia is a year-round destination; the drier months (December to March and July to August) are ideal, though the coffee region and coast are lovely throughout, with occasional rain
- Getting around: Colombia is large and mountainous, so itineraries use domestic flights between regions such as Bogota, Cartagena, Medellin and the coffee region; these are arranged and included where specified
- Safety: Colombia has transformed in recent decades and is a warm, welcoming and increasingly popular destination; we use trusted local guides and drivers and sensible precautions, and most visitors find it friendly, safe and easy in the areas we visit
- Health: A yellow fever vaccination is recommended for the Amazon and some jungle and coastal areas; bring insect repellent and sun protection, and drink bottled water outside the main cities. We advise on current requirements
- Culture & power: Colombians are famously warm and welcoming; a little Spanish goes a long way, and tipping around ten percent is customary. Power is 110V with type A and B plugs, so US travellers need no adapter
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Medellin safe to visit?
Yes — Medellin has undergone a remarkable transformation and is now a vibrant, welcoming city and a model of urban renewal, hugely popular with visitors. We use trusted local guides and sensible precautions, and the areas we visit are safe and friendly.
Do I need to like coffee to enjoy the coffee region?
Not at all — while coffee lovers will be in heaven, the coffee region is above all a stunningly beautiful area of emerald mountains, colourful towns and warm culture. The scenery, villages and Cocora Valley delight everyone, coffee fan or not.
What meals are included?
Daily breakfast is included, along with any meals named in the itinerary such as a welcome dinner or a coffee-farm lunch. Colombia's food, from fresh Caribbean seafood to hearty Andean fare, is a delight, so most other meals are left free with our recommendations.
Are domestic flights included?
Yes — the domestic flights between regions specified in your itinerary, such as Bogota to Cartagena or the coffee region, are arranged and included, along with all airport and hotel transfers, so your journey is seamless.
Is Colombia safe to visit?
Colombia has transformed in recent decades and is a warm, welcoming and increasingly popular destination. We use trusted local guides and drivers and sensible precautions throughout, and most visitors find the areas we visit friendly, safe and easy.
Do I need a visa for Colombia?
Most nationalities do not need a visa for tourism and receive up to 90 days on arrival with a passport valid for at least six months. We confirm the requirement for your nationality when you book.
When is the best time to visit Colombia?
Colombia is a year-round destination; the drier months (December to March and July to August) are ideal, though the coffee region and coast are lovely throughout. Temperature depends on altitude, so pack for the range in your itinerary.
Can the itinerary be customised?
Absolutely. We can adjust the balance of city, coast, coffee region and jungle, add the Amazon or Tayrona, change the pace and tailor hotels to your interests and budget.
More Cultural Journeys
Cultural
Customizable
Uruguay Highlights: Montevideo, Colonia & Punta del Este
Uruguay Highlights: Montevideo, Colonia & Punta del Este
Uruguay
Cultural
Customizable
Uruguay Wine & Gastronomy
Uruguay Wine & Gastronomy
Uruguay
Cultural
Customizable
Argentina & Uruguay: Buenos Aires, Colonia & Punta del Este
Argentina & Uruguay: Buenos Aires, Colonia & Punta del Este
Uruguay