diversitours.com

Eco-adventures within the Coffee Region (which is actually only one of many regions where coffee is grown in Colombia, but has nonetheless earned the title) are plentiful and diverse, offering many outdoor activities within a relatively small geographic area.

The small village of Salento and the neighbouring Cocora Valley are a must see.

You can go through plantain and coffee plantations on horseback (a traditional Colombian cabalgata) or on a mountain bike, or you can glide over them on a zip wire or while paragliding. If you want the full coffee experience, you can opt for a coffee cultivation tour in which you see and participate in the whole process of making coffee, from planting the seeds to picking the beans, and from peeling the beans to grinding the coffee.

If you are looking for more extreme outdoor sports, you can hike and scale your way to the top of a bald-faced rock set into the mountain range and rappel your way down into its bat-filled caves. This particular park is dedicated to providing a 100% natural, environmentally-friendly trek at the level of difficulty that suits you best.

If you are still thirsty for more, you can soak yourself in a kayak, traditional raft, or duckie (3-person inflatable kayak) as you whip down the choppy waters of the River Barragán.

After all that adrenaline you might be yearning for something a little more tranquil to wrap it all up. Well, tropical birds are so abundant here that you can sit and watch them from your accommodation or if you fancy a stroll, grab your binoculars and take a walking tour to see them in the forest. You might also enjoy a day in the sun coasting down the calmer Rio La Vieja on a balsaje (a traditional boat made of giant bamboo) and stop to bathe in spectacular waterfalls.

The Eje Cafetero is also home to several of Colombia´s most famous parks, such as the Parque del Cafe (Coffee Park) and the Botanical & Butterfly gardens, where you learn about the indigenous plant species and dip your fingers in orange nectar to attract the fluttering butterflies to rest on your hands. In fact, the botanical gardens might make for a good starting point for your trip, as you will continue to see and recognize the species on the rest of your journey throughout the region.

Located 4 to 6 hours from Medellín and Bogotá and only 2 hours from Cali, the Coffee Region is an ideal destination for Colombian and international travellers alike.

Whatever it is you are looking for, the Coffee Region has something for you.

Activities in the Coffee Region