Pereira, Armenia, and Manizales are Eje Cafetero’s three big cities, but the region’s villages—like colorful Salento—are where you’ll get a true look at (and taste of) the distinctive culture. The landscape makes Eje Cafetero popular with outdoor adventurers, but the real reason to visit is to see firsthand how coffee beans are grown, processed, and transformed into that warm cup of joe. A few coffee haciendas offer guest accommodations.
Due to the travel distance involved, consider staying at least one night in the region to make the most of your time.
English isn’t widely spoken in this part of Colombia—plan to go with the flow or go on a guided tour.
Take an umbrella or rain jacket, as sudden showers are quite frequent.
Eje Cafetero is connected by daily flights to both Bogotá and Medellín, and it’s a 4-to-5-hour drive from either city. Buses from Medellín stop in Manizales, Pereira, and Armenia.
Colombia’s equatorial climate means the weather is about the same year-round in Eje Cafetero. For fewer crowds, avoid visiting during peak seasons (June through August, and December and January).
Colombia’s coffee-growing region has several worthy areas, depending on the experience you’re hoping to have. With the greatest concentration of natural wonders to explore outside the coffee plantations, Risaralda is the ideal option for outdoors enthusiasts—check out Los Nevados National Park and the thermal hot springs in Santa Rosa de Cabal. Caldas offers a city break in the form of Manizales, while Quindío is home to the charming pueblo of Salento.