EXCITING NEW PACKAGES - ALL ABOUT COFFEE

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		(-/-/A)
Privattranfer in 4x4 von Pereira nach Nido del Cóndor - nur Fahrer
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.
El Nido del Cóndor Ecolodge (1 night)
Room type Glamping Tent	Meals: Full board included
Day 2: Nido del Condór – Hacienda Venecia		(B/L/-)
Private transfer in 4x4 Nido del Cóndor - Hacienda Venecia - only driver
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.
Hacienda Venecia (2 nights)
Room type: Standard room at Main House	Meals: Breakfast included
Day 3: Hacienda Venecia		(B/-/-)
In the morning Half Day Coffee Process Hacienda Venecia, Private tour - with English speaking guide
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.
Day 4: Hacienda Venecia – Orchid farm Finca La Romelia		(B/-/-)
Half Day Excursion, Orchids in Finca La Romelia - with English speaking guide
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)		(-/-/D)
Transfer Medellin - Doradal (El Río Hotel) 165 km/3-4h - with English speaking guide
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.
El Río Hotel (2 nights)
Room type: Suite "Comino"	Meals: Breakfast and dinner included
Day 2: El Río Hotel			(B/-/D)
Day at leisure
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.
Day 3: El Río Hotel – Doradal – Cacao Tour - Medellin		(B/-/-)
Private transfer Doradal - Medellin with Cacao tour - with English speaking guide
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) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3. GETAWAY TO ANTIOQUIA'S COFFEE REGION - 2 D/1 N

Day 1: Medellin – Jericó – Hacienda La Sierra		(-/-/D)
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.
Hacienda La Sierra (1 night)
Room type: Suite	Meals: Breakfast and dinner included
Day 2: Hacienda La Sierra – Coffee Tour Fredonia - Medellin		(B/L/-)
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).