Lush fields of coffee and banana plants, bamboo groves and heliconias - fantastically shaped tropical flowers - to be admired from slow moving rafts, horseback or from one of the Jeep Willys that provide the main form of transport in the region.
The coffee growing region of Colombia has become an important touristic region with many of the coffee farms or fincas opening their doors to guests. Because of its popularity with Colombian, and increasingly international tourists, there are better developed facilities than in many other parts of the country, with day trips to many of the sites and attractions easily organised through agencies or the farms themselves. Highly recommended.
A coffee farm with nice traditional rooms (but with bathrooms, 2 pools, a bar and restaurant, and a number of activities on site including presentations on coffee growing and processing (including picking your own coffee berries, preparing and roasting them), horse riding through the coffee groves and the largest canopy in Colombia - 7 zip line rides over the trees.
Very friendly staff who are happy to organise outings to the National Coffee Park, a trip down the La Vieja river on a bamboo raft, or up to the mountains to go walking.
www.fincahotelelbosque.com/
Near to Quimbaya, in Quindío province, 27km from Armenia.
Cafe del Mar is, like its namesake in Ibiza, a cocktail/lounge bar, spread across the top of the 17th century defensive wall surrounding Cartagena. A wonderful place to have a drink and watch the sun set into the Caribbean - and a good place to get out of the city heat and find a breeze.
Centro Historico, Baluarte Santo Domingo;
tel: (+57 5) 6646513;
www.cafedelmarcolombia.com
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first submitted a tip on 5 September 2006
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