Need advice/tips to have a great time in the Coffee region of Colombia

traqueto del valle says on Jun 3, 2008, 13:28:

Hola Beisbollover

I recomend to stay in a finca. Try MACHANGARA.

http://fincahotelmachangara.com/ubicacion.php

Near Pereira. A beautiful Coffee Farm. Or try "Finca Villa Maria" but you need your own car but I guess you have one. Also beautiful, nothing just coffee plants, a pool and alot of nature. From the coffee farm you do day trips to the most beautiful places in the coffee zone.

1. Valle de Cocora, travel to Salento, visit this charm full village and finally go inside the valley, beautiful, from there you can start a trekking till Manizales through the Parque de los Nevados, eat a "TRUCHA" Fish (what is Trucha in english?).

2. Parque del Cafe, I don't like it too much but alot of people do. Near Montenegro.

http://www.parquenacionaldelcafe.com/

3. Small typical villages like Finlandia, you can visit some villages in one day. They are all nice little villages typical for the coffee zone.

4. Go to the hot springs near Pereira, or between Pereira and Manizales, for example "Termales de Santa Rosa", the water is comin from the Nevados from the Parque de los Nevados

5. Visit the Nevado del Ruiz in a day trip from Manizales, the agency who organize this is for example "Rosas del viento" in Manizales, but there are alot of agencies. You will reach over 5000 meters.

6. Go to Pereira (Medellin pequena) and ask a girl to sit down------look what she will do.....

7. Go to Otun Quimbaya, a natura park near Pereira, but you have to stay there one night in the cabanas from the park. Beautiful.

8. There is nothing to avoid, like in whole Colombia

here is an other website about the coffee zone...

http://www.turismodelcafe.com/

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Gator says on Jun 3, 2008, 13:37:

With the kids along I would definitely put the Parque Nacional Del Café about 6 k out of Montenegro on the list. Have fun - this is IMHO the most scenic part of Colombia.

"Credidi pretio parvo emere et magno vendere tibi in animo fuisse!" .

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Jopito says on Jun 3, 2008, 16:17:

Did you see our website:

http://www.fincahotellacristalina.com

Realy we offer a great time for your kids and yourself !!!!!!!

Joop

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annieb says on Jun 3, 2008, 18:14:

I would say Salento, Valle de Cocora, and a finca where you can relax and play. Do you plan to go anywhere else? If you have time I would say to go to Medillin. Coffee region first, Medilin second.

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jenny6 says on Jun 3, 2008, 18:43:

I would agree with Valle de Cocora, Salento, and staying at a finca. I also loved the Los Nevados, but it may be a little difficult for kids. Because of the high altitude, the little ones have a hard time adjusting and I saw plenty of kids sick. There is also an ecological park in Manizales (sorry I can't remember the name) where you can do ziplining, canopying, and rappeling. There is also an ice skating rink. It's very family-friendly. I would also recommend the butterfly refuge in Manizales. It's beautiful and the kids can see animals.

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bickerss says on Jun 4, 2008, 01:50:

Salento is great.

The Ecotermales near to Periera or Manizales are also excellent (San Vicente).

If u get to medellin try to go to Santa fe de Antioquia. You can stay at fincas near there and swim, pish, zip line, BBQ boat etc.

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el flaco says on Jun 4, 2008, 02:43:

Salento is great, also it has the tejo game.

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beisbollover says on Jun 4, 2008, 05:59:

Thank you everyone, your the reason why this website is so awesome. I'll check out all of the recommendations and hopefully plan a wonderful trip for us.

-josh

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TimH says on Jun 4, 2008, 08:45:

Salento and Cocora for sure.

National Coffee Park in Montenegro - the kids will enjoy the rides.

You might also think about Panaca - theme park based on domesticated animals. Pet show is cheesy, but the dog show is good, the horse show is decent and the pig racing surreal.

You could also check out the mariposario and Jardin Botanico in Calarca - good day out.

There is also Balsaje which is slowly drifting down the river on a bamboo style raft - like the famous gold statue in the gold museum.

San Vincente is cool but staying there can be expensive.

Check out the PBH guide for the area.

It´s better to be silent and thought a fool than open your mouth and prove the fact....

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gatogris says on Jun 4, 2008, 10:04:

For kids, riding up to the Valle de Corcora in one of those tricked-out Willys Jeeps is fun. Also, there are some excellent mellow little horse trails in the Valle de Corcora made for kids, if they're not too little, and if they are, they can always ride with you. The horses are very safe and the guides are good with kids.

There is also a very cute spectacled bear that you can visit just a 45-minute walk outside of Manizales, not in a zoo cage, but in a nice friendly reserve. I also agree with Jenny6 that the ecological park/preserve in Manizales proper with ziplines and a museum full of dead snakes and other creatures is really cool, and the staff is very friendly.

Pereira and Armenia are fly-overs.

Enjoy!

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traqueto del valle says on Jun 4, 2008, 11:31:

Pereira isn't too bad, but not with childrens, it is ok for male travelers. The rumors say the girls are the most open minded in the whole country. The city has a statue from Simon Bolivar where he is naked riding a horse, curious. Try also disco "Paradise" or "Flores Fresca".

Go to Otun Quimbaya, nobody knows it, just awesome. Armenia has also a Gold Museum, maybe the only attraction in town. Or try Calarca, this is the place where they caught my buddy Diego Montoya. Nice area, nice mountains.

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