coffee plantation for visiting: can anyone recommend something?

bopenyan says on Aug 16, 2007, 12:20:

There was an excellent NY Times travel article in November 2006. Just search www.nytimes.com using "zona cafetera" and you should find the article. The writer discusses several fincas where he stayed, all reasonably priced (the most expensive one was about $55, and that was for comfortable rooms with a dramatice vista).

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EMAN says on Aug 16, 2007, 14:33:

The NY times artice can be found in the below web site for turismoquindio.com. They have many Fincas and read the NY times article as it has many recommendations. As far as working fincas, I heard the best is Finca Villa Maria, Pereira. Please see below websites:

http://www.turismoquindio.com/

http://www.travelpod.com/travelblogphotoalbums/sianandjim/careerbreak0...

http://www.blacksheepmedellin.com/fincavillamaria.html

http://www.turiscolombia.com/agroturismo_risaralda_alquiler_fincas_eje...


BEST OF LUCK!!

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bufalo says on Aug 16, 2007, 16:26:

Send me a PM: rapprichard at gmail.com I may, may be able to help out. I live here and my whole family and I just got back from the farm we always go to. Not touristy, a real-life working farm. We know the whole area of Quindio and can show many out of the way places. Anything in an ad will be touristy and yes, the parks suck.

"If you don't like it - lump it, take it down the road and dump it." - Archie Bunker played by Carroll O'Connor

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john_stark says on Aug 16, 2007, 20:22:

I think you should go to Monteria and once you arrive get a cabbie to take you to the cockfighting arena and restaurant nearby. You can bet on some prime fighting cocks while downing a quart of aguardiente and singing along to Diomedes. After the fights get the owner to cook up the losers so you can eat fresh fried chicken. Once that's all over, drive out to the finca near Santa Lucia and stop for a nightcap at the tollbooth in Los Cedros. Don't run over any of the hogs fighting with the kids for loose scraps of food from the food vendors. Listen to some more vallenato and flirt with the cute chicks who collect the tolls. Pass out in a ditch. It's the end of a perfect evening.

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durito says on Aug 16, 2007, 22:40:

I've stayed at Finca Villa Maria a couple times. It's about 20 minutes from Pereira. It costs 70,000 pesos a night per person (3 meals a day included).

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el flaco says on Aug 17, 2007, 02:54:

You are not travelling any where near the coffee area so I would miss it out as you have limited time.

On your next trip go to Salento, see the guide, where you can do a day trip to a working farm or stay at another farm. I was so impressed with my day trip, I would like to stay at a farm as well but that will be for my next trip.

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bufalo says on Aug 17, 2007, 08:06:

My parents are going today. In a week we went to a REAL coffee farm, twice, up the mountain in Calarcá, swimming holes, Salento (horseback riding), Circasia (in festivities now, will be going back to dance), I brought them to see the real deal down here, not a touristy finca with pools and everything shiny clean - that is perfectly fine for the people who want that, but I don't see how they really get to know the coffee region. Too bad they were only here for a week, there's plenty more to see. (I imagine I didn't mention a ton of other stuff we did)...

"If you don't like it - lump it, take it down the road and dump it." - Archie Bunker played by Carroll O'Connor

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