Eje Cafetero: just live the experience

As you may know, one of the things that make Colombia a famous country is coffee. Although Brazil is the main exporter in the world, Colombia’s quality is much better, since the available land to cultivate is richer in minerals and proteins, besides, we are able to offer a huge variety of this amazing product. I have to confess that we love coffee, that is why we have a sentence:

“Si no te gusta el café, no eres Colombiano”

In English, it would be “If you don’t like coffee, you are not Colombian”. I tell you this because today I will show you some places to visit at the Eje Cafetero Colombiano, the place where the magic of this product comes out.

This zone is located in the center-western of the country, and it is mainly conformed by the departments of Caldas, Risaralda, and Quindío, even though it touches Valle del Cauca, Antioquia and Tolima. You can also find it as “Triángulo del Café” in English “Triangle of Coffee”. This blog will be divided into two parts due to the Eje Cafetero has many touristic and amazing places that definitely represent Colombia, so I cannot miss them. This is why I will show you the best way to make this tour, even though, you are free to adjust the trip according to your wishes and priorities. I will start talking about the nearest places to Medellin, which are Caldas and Risaralda departments.

Nevado del Ruiz

The first place you can visit is El Nevado del Ruiz (snowy mountain), located in the limit of these two departments, and considered as one of the highest volcanos of South America, known because of its variety in flora and fauna, also this is where the “Cóndor de Los Andes”, (emblematic animal of Colombia) lives. To get there, you can take a flight or a bus to Manizales, which is the nearest city. Once you are there you can rent a car or walk because there is no public transport to go to this volcano, nevertheless, I advice you to choose the first option because it is located in Los Nevados National Natural Park and it is forbidden to walk around here, as this volcano is on yellow alert. To make the tour you have to pay approximately 45.000 COP for the ticket, 3.500 COP for mandatory medical insurance, and if you want a guide it will cost you 13.000 COP. Also, if you go in the car the payment for the entrance is 6.000 COP, if you don’t, you would have to rent a car inside the park with a cost of 15.000 COP. I recommend you to go prepared with cold-weather clothes, and will all the eager.

Hot Springs Santa Rosa de Cabal

This beautiful place is located in a little city called Santa Rosa de Cabal in the Risaralda department. These hot springs are one of the most famous in the zone, and are generated by the influence of the volcanic system of Los Nevados National Natural Park… Yes, it is the same park in which is located el Nevado del Ruiz, all of these wonderful things nature has given to us are very connected. This aquatic complex takes advantage of the water outcrops that blossom from the land with a temperature of 70ºC, so when they get to the natural pools and waterfalls it turns to 40ºC. If you want to stay there and pass a few days, there are many hotels and places to eat around it.

I really recommend these places to relax and to enjoy nature, don’t forget that this is just the first part of the whole adventure around the “Eje Cafetero”. Turn on the notifications to read which other amazing places this magical zone brings for you!

Written by Daniella Niño