We have
designed several new packages in the coffee region and in Antioquia for you.
During these 2 - 4 day tours, your customers will not only learn everything
about coffee, but also experience the regional landscape and culture in an
authentic way.
We would like
to introduce the following packages to you:
1. Mountains and coffee - coffee region (4 d/3 n)
2. Getaway into
nature, Río Hotel - Doradal, Antioquia (3 d/2 n)
3. Getaway to Antioquia's coffee region - Jerico, Antioquia (2
d/1 n)
Please find
detailed descriptions below and for further information please, as usual,
contact your local travel agent.
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1. MOUNTAINS
AND COFFEE - 4 D/3 N
Day 1: Pereira – Nido del Cóndor
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Privattranfer in 4x4 von Pereira nach Nido del Cóndor - nur Fahrer
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Transfer from Pereira airport or a hotel in the Pereira region to the
Ecolodge Nido del Cóndor (nest of the condor). We drive towards the Manizales
region in the northern part of the Coffee Triangle, an get closer to the
mountains. From Manizales we uphill - on a dirt road, the same one that leads
to the Nationalpark Los Nevados – and soon we are away from civilization and
surrounded by the wonderful Andean landscape. After about a 1-hour drive, we
see the Nido del Condor which seems to be an island located at the top of a
plateau, surrounded by 2 canyons. The about 45 minutes trek to the hotel
allows us to stretch our legs and our luggage is transported by a small cable
car. First, we walk down a willow until arriving to one of the rivers surrounding
the plateau. We cross it via a suspension bridge und go up to the plateau on
the other side - you can choose to go there directly or to take a little
detour through a nice forest. Finally, we arrive to today’s final
destination. Ready to “disconnect”? Our Ecolodge with luxury tents is located
in the middle of the Andean landscape at about 2.300 above sea level, with no
wifi or cell phone reception, which allows us to totally engage with this
magnificent place. We enjoy a welcome snack and then get comfortable in our
well-equipped tents. The rest of the day is at leisure and if we are lucky
the sky clears in the late afternoon so we can get a far glimpse of the
snowcapped volcano Nevado del Ruiz. Also, we can do one of the treks on or
around the plateau (the hotel staff id happy to give advice), or we simply
relax and enjoy the wonderful natural surrounding. In the evening we light an
outside fire pit and connect with nature. After dinner we are welcome to
light the fireplace in our tent and snuggle into the blankets – the fresh air
and the surrounding silence guarantee a profound rest.
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El Nido del Cóndor Ecolodge (1 night)
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Room type Glamping
Tent
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Meals: Full board
included
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Day 2: Nido del
Condór – Hacienda Venecia
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(B/L/-)
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Private transfer in 4x4 Nido del Cóndor -
Hacienda Venecia - only driver
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After a tasty breakfast the morning and is free to relax in our
hammocks on the private terrace of our tent where, with a good cup of tea or
coffee in our hands, we let our gaze wander. Alternatively, we explore
another trek - whatever we rather feel like. If we are lucky, we get to see
the condor couple that have their nest in the rocky slopes of the plateau and
which is the reason for the name to our hotel. After lunch we walk back to
the dirt road where our transport is already waiting for us to take us back
to warm temperatures and to civilization – well, kind of civilization, as
today’s destination is the traditional coffee farm Hacienda Venecia, a
traditional farm house surrounded by coffee plantations and a wonderful
tropical gardens. Dinner (not
included) and overnight.
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Hacienda Venecia (2 nights)
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Room type: Standard room at Main House
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Meals: Breakfast
included
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Day 3: Hacienda Venecia
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(B/-/-)
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In the morning Half Day Coffee Process Hacienda Venecia, Private tour - with
English speaking guide
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Sprawling across hills
upon hills of coffee crops this traditional hacienda looks like straight out
of a Colombian coffee advert. Lovingly refurbished buildings, beautifully
designed gardens and facilities combine old colonial charme with modern
amenities. Upon arrival we receive an introduction to how the beans are
cultivated and harvested, then to how they are selected and processed and
eventually how the beans are roasted and ground into rich premium highland
coffee ready for packaging.
The rest of the day is
free to relax at the hotels swimming pool with a good book in our hands or to
explore one of the signposted treks set up by the hotel (without guide) that
take us through their coffee plantations. Lunch and dinner are served at the
finca (not included).
Note: Saturdays, Sundays
and holidays, the coffee processing plant is closed.
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Day 4: Hacienda Venecia – Orchid farm
Finca La Romelia
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(B/-/-)
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Half Day Excursion, Orchids in Finca La Romelia - with English speaking guide
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After breakfast we say
goodbye to the coffee plantation and are picked up by our English speaking
guide who will show us a different kind of farm: Finca Romelia has one of
the largest and most varied private collection of orchids in the country. A
whopping 500 genus await us with more than 800 species on this half day
excursion. Walking on stunning nature trails we cross crops and pass small
river streams, a wonderful backdrop for our orchid expedition. After our walk
through the nature, we get a tour to see the tree nursery and the main house.
Afterwards there is still time to enjoy the view from the fincas´s terrace or
to take a closer look at the orchids, bonsais and hummingbirds. Optionally we
can have lunch at the finca.
Transfer to the airport
or other destination for our onward journey (not included).
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2. GATEWAY
INTO NATURE, RÌO HOTEL - 3 D/2 N
Day 1: Medellin –
Doradal (El Río Hotel)
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Transfer Medellin - Doradal (El Río Hotel) 165 km/3-4h - with English
speaking guide
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Early in the morning we will leave the city behind to explore the
fascinating landscape of the Eastern Andean mountain range and the tropical
lowlands of the “Magdalena Medio” (Central Magdalena) region. Descending the
mountains, climate gets warmer and finally we reach Doradal, a small village
which is famous for Pablo Escobar’s Hacienda Napolés. We say goodbye to our
driver and are welcomed by the El Río Hotel staff. Off we go into nature –
driving along a dirt road, we pass lush green hills, small rivers and with
some luck we might even see herons or other animals.
The tiny but very pretty hotel is located in surrounded by a deep
green landscape, hills and tropical forest. The small river Versalles passes
through the grounds of the hotel and invites us to go for a refreshing dip in
its crystal clear big natural pools.
We can spend the rest of the day exploring the wonderful surrounding,
having good cup of tea or coffee at the swimming pool or walking along the
shore of the river and refresh ourselves in the natural pools which are up to
4 meters deep and so clear you can see fishes on the ground. After dinner,
enjoy the sounds of the night while sitting by the fireplace in the hotel’s
garden. Overnight stay.
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El Río Hotel (2 nights)
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Room type: Suite "Comino"
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Meals: Breakfast and dinner included
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Day 2: El Río Hotel
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(B/-/D)
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Day at leisure
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Today we get to spend the
day as we please. The hotel itself and its staff offer various options: from
simply relaxing in the greens of the hotel, enjoying a massage at the Spa
(not included) or renting one of the inflatable kayaks for 2 people and paddle
down the calm river. After about 2 hours on the river, the hotel staff picks
us up by car and, after a snack, takes us back to the hotel (activity not
included).
Another possibility is to
do one of the following private excursions (not included):
1st Option: Waterfall La Danta and Río Escondido
(hidden river)
With a small jeep or a 4x4 we drive along dirt roads, passing small
villages, hills and tropical forest until arriving to a finca, from where we
walk around 10 minutes on a small path to the waterfall La Danta, a beautiful
around 30 m high cascade which falls into a big natural pool. We can take a swim and enjoy the view of
the cascade. Then, wlking through beautiful landscapes, we continue to „Río
Escondido“ (hidden river) where we send the rest of the day snorkelling in
the clear water or just relaxing in a hammock on the riverside. For lunch we have a small barbecue and in
the afternoon return to the hotel.
Duration: around 5 h
Included: Transport,
lunch, English speaking guide, kayaks and snorkel equipment at the river.
2nd Option: One day on the river – daytour by boat on the
„Río La Miel“ (honey river)
This excursion starts early in the morning to make the best use of the
day. After about a 1 hour car ride we arrive at a small village on the shores
of the Río la Miel (honey river). We embark a speeboat and get to enjoy some
amazing views of the river and its surroundings. The river starts rather
broad and then narrows down, while the color of its water is changing from
honey yellow to turquoise. The jungle which fringes both riversides is
getting closer, if we are lucky we might observe howler monkeys on the
treetops, different types of birds or even a snake sunbathing on some branch.
Local fishermen are casting their fisher nets from their boats, and it rather
feels like we are somewhere on the Amazon river instead of just a few hours
away from Medellin. We spend around 4 hours on the river, during this time we
stop for lunch at a beautiful beach of the river and can enjoy a refreshing
bath. We see an impressive hundreds of years old giant Ceiba (kapok tree)
before finally arriving to a point where the river is as if in a small canyon
where cascades are running down the rocky walls. From here we head back to
our car – floating down a part of the river in car tyres, if we want to. In
the late afternoon arrival at the hotel.
Duration: about 7 h
Included: transportation
hotel – river entrance – hotel, boat tour on the Río la Miel River, lunch,
English speaking guidance by the hotel staff, water, tubing.
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Day 3: El Río Hotel
– Doradal – Cacao Tour - Medellin
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(B/-/-)
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Private transfer Doradal - Medellin with Cacao tour - with English speaking
guide
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While coffee is
considered to be the most typical Colombian product it is in fact relatively
new in Latin America. Cacao is an even more traditional agricultural product
of Colombia. Even the pre-Colombian indigenous tribes used cacao seeds as
currency to trade with other tribes and chocolate was considered holy. Even
nowadays most Colombians still prefer hot chocolate in the morning instead of
coffee.
The village of San Francisco with its pristine rivers and sub-tropical
climate is perfect for the cultivation of cacao. In this region, hit hard by
the armed conflict, the United Nations initiated a program of cacao
production allowing the local farmers to have a sustainable income.
We visit a community chocolate project and learn everything about cacao
plantation. The artisanal chocolate production is coordinated by local women
and combines conservation of endemic tropical forests and sustainable
agriculture.
Duration: about 4 h +
transfers
Included: Bilingual guide
(Spanish/English), Cacao-Tour, traditional lunch (dish of the day +
lemonade)
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3. GETAWAY TO ANTIOQUIA'S COFFEE REGION - 2 D/1 N
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Day 1: Medellin – Jericó – Hacienda
La Sierra
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Early in the morning we start our tour to the Coffee Region of Antioquia. Did
you know that the logotype of Colombians most famous Coffee brand, Juan
Valdéz, was inspired by two striking mountain peaks right here, in the
Antioquian Coffee Region? Indeed Antioquia was one of the most important
coffee growing areas in Colombia before it shifted southwards to the nowadays
so called “Coffee Triangle”. However, today we can still find traditional
farms, coffee plantations and colorful villages here that maintain their
authenticity and are visited by only few tourists.
One of these villages is
the lovely village of Jericó and it takes us about 3 hours to get
there. Its town centre with its 16 chapels is considered to be one of
the most beautiful ones in Antioquia and is listed as a Cultural Heritage
Village. Jericó is also famous for its handicrafts and the manufacturing of
small leather goods. We do a tour around Jericó including the historic centre
with its traditional facades and the local “carriel” workshops. These
Colombian leather accessories are handmade in Jericó and the perfect gift for
friends and family. Afterwards we walk through the botanical garden up to the
Cristo Rey monument to enjoy the magnificent view of the town and the
surrounding mountains, valleys and rivers. After lunch (not included) we continue
for about 2,5 h to Hacienda La Sierra, a beautiful traditional coffee finca
surrounded by pure nature and offering wonderful views. Relax in the garden
and enjoy the luxury of this typical finca. Dinner and overnight stay.
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Hacienda La Sierra (1
night)
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Room type: Suite
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Meals: Breakfast and dinner included
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Day 2: Hacienda La Sierra – Coffee
Tour Fredonia - Medellin
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(B/L/-)
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After a delicious breakfast, we drive to a typical small Colombian farm
to experience the traditional coffee culture. On less than three
hectares, a local farmer and his family produce their own coffee and they
give us the unique opportunity to observe the whole coffee process from the
plant to the cup. Before lunch we stroll through the coffee fields learning
more about cultivating and harvesting the coffee beans. After a traditional
lunch, we are introduced to the roasting process and are taught the optimal
way to prepare coffee. After this wonderful authentic experience we drive
back to Medellin (about 1,5 h).
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