The Colombian Coffee Zone | Spiced Destinations

Destinations / Latin America / Colombia / The Colombian Coffee Zone

The Zona Cafetera (Coffee Zone) of Colombia is not just the production place of some of the world’s best coffee beans. It is also a region of striking natural beauty, charming Colonial Towns and welcoming Haciendas. Discover the wonderful “aroma” of Colombia!

Featuring: Bogota, Zipaquira, the Sacred Lake of Guatavita, Armenia and the Cocora Valley

Daily Arrivals in Bogota, all Year-Round

A Journey by Private Car & Private Guide

7 Days / 6 Nights

Highlights

Explore the historic La Candelaria district in Bogotá, with its colonial architecture, museums, and lively plazas
Take in panoramic views from Monserrate, overlooking the city and surrounding Andes
Visit the Salt Cathedral of Zipaquirá, an underground church carved deep within a salt mine
Walk to the Sacred Lake of Guatavita, tied to the legend of El Dorado and surrounded by rolling highland scenery
Travel into Colombia’s Coffee Region, where lush hills and traditional farms define the landscape
Stay in and around Armenia, a gateway to coffee culture and rural life
Wander through the Cocora Valley, home to towering wax palm trees set against misty mountain backdrops
Hike through cloud forest trails, crossing rivers and open valleys
Experience coffee tastings and learn about the process from bean to cup in a working plantation

Included

Itinerary

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Day 1 - Arrival in Bogota

Arrive in Bogota Airport , meet your guide and transfer to your hotel.

Welcome to Colombia! Arrival at El Dorado International Airport, meeting with your guide and transfer to your hotel.

Day 2 - Bogota

Full Day Tour of Bogota, including the Gold Museum and the underground Cathedral at the Salt Mine (b,l)

Morning: Breakfast and transfer to the colonial section of La Candelaria with photo-ops at Plaza de Bolivar, the capital’s main square. Here you will see the Cathedral, the Palace of Congress, the Cardinal's Palace, the colonial church of El Sagrario, the House of Independence, the Palace of Justice and City Hall. Then, a visit to the famous Gold Museum, which houses the world’s greatest collection of pre-hispanic Indian gold crafts. Afterwards, visit the FERNANDO BOTERO Museum with paintings and sculptures by this famous contemporary Colombian artist. Following the museum visit, you will drive through the northern residential area of the city, and a fertile plateau to the town of Cajicá, where you will have a short photo-op at the main square. After lunch (included) we move on to the wondrous underground Cathedral carved in a salt mine near the town of Zipaquirá. Return to Bogota. (b,l) NOTE: The Gold Museum is closed on Mondays and the Botero Museum is closed on Tuesdays.

Day 3 - Ceremonial Lake of Guatavita (Bogota)

Visit the legendary Sacred Lake of Guatavita, where the Muisca Indians celebrated their most important ceremony. (b,l)

Leaving the Bogota Plateau and passing the towns of Tocancipa and Gachancipa, a turn off the Pan-American Highway and you’re headed for the legendary Sacred Lake of Guatavita, where the Muisca Indians celebrated their most important ceremony. The Zipa, or ceremonial king, his body covered with gold dust, was taken on a wooden raft to the center of the lake where he would dive in, thus leaving the gold as an offering to their gods. When the Spaniards first saw the Zipa covered in gold dust they called him "El Dorado" (The Golden One) thus giving rise to the famous legend of El Dorado. After the one-and-a-half-hour hike around the lagoon and time for pictures, on to the town of Guatavita. Totally reconstructed in 1967,after the original town was engulfed by Tomine reservoir, Guatavita is a potpourri of buildings and houses of colonial and modern architectural styles. After a comprehensive visit, return to Bogota. Lunch along the way in a typical restaurant of the region. (b,l) NOTE: Closed on Mondays

Day 4 - Bogota / Armenia

Depart Bogota by air to Armenia. Upon Arrival transfer to your Haceinda. Afternoon visit the local Botanical Gardens (b,d)

Arrival at the airport in Armenia, where you will be met and transferred to CASA DELIRIO, a beautiful old hacienda close to the town of Montenegro and only about 20 minutes from the city of Armenia. The hacienda has beautiful gardens, a swimming pool, and very comfortable rooms with private bath. In the afternoon, a visit to the Botanical Garden and Butterfly Park. Back to the hacienda for dinner and overnight. (b,d)

Day 5 - Coffee extravagance!

Visit to a working plantation where we enjoy gourmet coffee tasting (b,l,d)

Breakfast at the hacienda and transfer to La Chapolera coffee plantation for the RECUCA experience, designed for those who want to learn all about planting, ripening, collecting, washing and drying coffee beans to produce the world’s finest coffee. The highlight of the plantation visit is a genuine coffee tasting to learn firsthand about the aroma, flavor and body of good coffee, Colombia’s export commodity par excellence. Lunch is served in an excellent restaurant of the region. Return to the hacienda in the afternoon, dinner and overnight. (b,l,d) * Recorrido de la Cultura Cafetalera = RECUCA

Day 6 - Towns of the Coffee Region and the Cocora Valley

Full day visit to local Colonial Towns and the Cocora Valley, habitat of the Wax Palm Tree (b,d)

Drive to the towns of Pijao, Filandia and Salento, each with its own typical architecture, homes and local way of life. Then, off to the Cocora Valley, part of the ACAIME Natural Reserve, where you will meet the interesting Wax Palm, national tree of Colombia, first described by Alexander von Humboldt in 1801. Return to the hacienda, dinner and overnight. (b,d)

Day 7 - Armenia / Bogota / Depart Colombia

Transfer to the airport in Armenia and flight to Bogota (b)

This morning at leisure to enjoy the nice swimming pool and the hacienda’s facilities. Then transfer to the airport to take the flight to your next destination in Colombia or Latin America. (b)