Coffee Region (Zona Cafetera) holidays
Coffee Region (Zona Cafetera) holidays at a glance
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This is Coffee Region Colombia built its global reputation on: rolling green hills between Pereira, Armenia and Manizales, where terraced fincas still dominate the countryside and produce some of the world’s most celebrated coffee.
Colombia Coffee Region landscape mixes coffee plantations with giant banana plants and bamboo forests, one of the country’s most distinctive stretches of scenery. Agriculture has diversified over the years, but coffee remains at the heart of local identity.
Sitting between 1,400m and 2,200m, the region enjoys a pleasant climate, well suited to relaxing. Colombian coffee tours here run alongside walking trails, thermal pools and countryside hotels, so there’s plenty to fill the days beyond the coffee itself.
Why choose Journey Latin America for your holiday to Coffee Region (Zona Cafetera)
We’ve been planning trips to Central and South America for over 45 years, longer than any other UK specialist. Every holiday is built around you by a Travel Expert who has been to the places they recommend, with support from your first enquiry to the day you fly home.
Colombia’s temperate coffee region is famous for its verdant sloping landscapes peppered with rustic traditional towns.
When to visit Coffee Region (Zona Cafetera)
The Coffee Region is considered a year-round destination, with a temperate climate and steady rainfall that keeps the landscape green throughout the year.
These are the driest months in the coffee region, though you can expect rainfall at any time of year. Temperatures hover in the high 20°Cs. The fortnight over Christmas and New Year can be very busy with international and local visitors.
Temperatures hover in the high 20°Cs and there is rainfall one out of every two days, which keeps the landscapes verdant and fresh.
These months see less rainfall, though you are never guaranteed dry weather in the temperate coffee mountains, and temperatures are comfortable in the high 20°Cs. This is a great time to hike to the Cocora Valley trek from Salento, taking in vistas of the world’s tallest palm trees.
One out of every two days is wet during these months, though temperatures are pleasant and comfortable in the high 20°Cs. There are far fewer visitors than in December, making this a good time to enjoy the scenery in utter peace and quiet.
Top Things to do in Coffee Region (Zona Cafetera)
There’s no shortage of things to do in Zona Cafetera, from the Cocora Valley trek out of Salento (home to the world’s tallest palm trees) to watching coffee production firsthand or spotting hundreds of species at Quindío Butterfly Park.
See Colombia’s national tree, the majestic wax palm, swathing the scenic slopes of the Zona Cafetera.
Visit a traditional finca in the heart of Coffee Country to see first-hand how Colombia’s renowned coffee beans are picked, roasted and brewed.
Explore Quindio’s botanic gardens and see 50 polychromatic species of butterfly in its butterfly house.
Accommodation in Coffee Region (Zona Cafetera)
The Coffee Region is known for its charming accommodation, including historic coffee haciendas and countryside lodges such as Casa Delirio, El Mirador del Cocora, Hacienda Venecia and La Casa de Lola Garcia. Many former coffee estates now welcome visitors, offering peaceful rural settings alongside newer purpose-built countryside hotels.
Small, homely guesthouse on the edge of Salento with magnificent views of the Cocora Valley.
A working coffee plantation with comfortable accommodation and excellent opportunities for hiking and birdwatching.
La Casa de Lola Garcia is a longstanding family guest house in Colombia’s coffee country.
A former Journey Latin America tour leader, Sally spent 7 years working, travelling and living throughout Latin America before returning to the UK to help people arrange their own adventures to this wonderful destination.
Holidays to Coffee Region (Zona Cafetera)
Group Coffee Region (Zona Cafetera) Tours
Our group tours follow expertly designed, well-planned routes with an experienced local guide throughout. Prefer to keep it to your own party? Book the same trips privately for four or more.
Chachalaca: Colombia’s Colonial and Coffee Culture
Places visited: Bogota · Villa de Leyva & Barichara · Coffee Region (Zona Cafetera) · Medellin · Cartagena
14 days from £4,476
Weaverbird: Spirit of Colombia
Places visited: Bogota · San Agustin, Popayan and Cali · Coffee Region (Zona Cafetera) · Caribbean coast and islands · Villa de Leyva & Barichara · Cartagena
16 days from £3,326
Tailor-Made Coffee Region (Zona Cafetera) Tours
Prefer to travel on your own terms? We’ll build a trip around your dates, your pace and the things you most want to see – whether that’s a first run at Machu Picchu, a family adventure mixing history and wildlife, or a food-focused journey through Lima and the Sacred Valley. Our Travel Experts can help shape it with you.
Self-drive Colombia: Exploring the coffee region and beyond
Places visited: Bogota · Coffee Region (Zona Cafetera) · Villa de Leyva & Barichara
12 days from £2,700
Signature Colombia: Culture and coffee
Places visited: Bogota · Coffee Region (Zona Cafetera) · Medellin · Caribbean coast and islands · Cartagena
15 days from £4,050
Signature Peru and Colombia – Andean Wonders to the Caribbean Coast
Places visited: Lima · Cusco · Sacred Valley of the Incas · Machu Picchu · Bogota · Coffee Region (Zona Cafetera) · Medellin · Cartagena · Caribbean coast and islands
20 days from £6,030
FAQs about visiting Coffee Region (Zona Cafetera)
Coffee Region (Zona Cafetera) is one of the most popular destinations, and there’s plenty to think about before you go. Here, our specialists share their best advice.
- When is the best time to visit the Colombian coffee region?
The region is an all-year destination. It enjoys a pleasant, temperate climate with plenty of sun and enough rain to keep the landscape verdant.
For more detailed information visit our When To Go section.
- What language is spoken in the Colombian coffee region?
The main language spoken in the Colombian coffee region is Spanish.
- What currency do I need in the Colombian coffee region?
The Peso is the main currency used in the Colombian coffee region. Notes can be withdrawn from ATMs in all major towns and cities, including Pereira, using a UK credit or debit card, though you may have to advise your bank first and amounts that can be withdrawn may be lower than in the UK. Be aware that some ATMs are often out of service but there should be a working one nearby. Banks will offer advances on a credit card, but with a lot of paperwork. Money exchanges (casas de cambio) change US dollars cash (very few accept euros or sterling and the rate will be poor). You are advised to acquire local currency before heading into the coffee region.
- What is the time difference between the Colombian coffee region and the UK?
The time difference between the Colombian coffee region and the UK is GMT – 5 hrs
- What places combine well with the Colombian coffee region?
An excursion to the lovely rural colonial town of Villa de Leyva, 129km from Bogotá; a few days in Colombia’s most graceful and atmospheric cities, Cartagena, on the Caribbean coast, 1.5hrs by air from Bogotá
- How do I get to the Colombian coffee region?
There are frequent flights from Bogotá to Armenia and Pereira (both 1 hr).
Ready to start planning?
Tell us where you want to go, and we’ll take it from there. No obligation, no sales pitch – just a conversation with someone who knows the region inside out.