Coffee Triangle - Coffee Region Colombia

'Coffee, a popular drink in Germany and Europe. Many people I know drink coffee. Especially in my family, I notice that a day without coffee is not a good day. Here in Colombia, it is also a habit to drink a lot of coffee. In Peru, it was different. Hardly anyone in Peru drinks coffee. When I traveled with my family in Peru, it was always difficult to find a good coffee and not just some cheap instant coffee. Actually, it's strange because Peru, like Colombia, produces coffee. Different culture, different customs. But what makes coffee so special for many people? Well, I can't say, because I don't drink coffee. Yeah, I just don't like coffee. I've tried it a few times, but it's just not for me. One thing I can definitely say is that the smell of coffee grounds smells really good.'

Next Stop Salento:

After my time in Medellin, I spent a few days in the coffee region of Colombia. An incredible place with incredibly beautiful nature and its colorful little villages. Once again, I took the bus. For a whole 9 hours, the bus crawled up and down the sharp curves of the mountains of Colombia. The bus was full of tourists, all headed to the same destination - the small village of Salento. This beautiful, touristy village is located between Pereira and Armenia. In the heart of the Coffee Triangle. In the past, the area was still controlled by guerrillas and therefore dangerous. Today, the region is buzzing with people from Colombia and around the world.

Casa de Lili:

My accommodation 'Casa de Lili', which means House of Lili, was my home for 4 nights. I immediately liked the hostel. Of course, like almost all houses here, it is colorful on the outside. In addition, I got along well with the owner, Lili, from the beginning. The hostel didn't seem like a typical hostel to me. It was more like staying with a friend.

Coffee Triangle Region:

An incredible area to find peace and quiet. The best thing you can do in the region is to go hiking, visit a coffee farm, and stroll through the beautiful, colorful villages. In Salento, the plaza and the main street are filled with people on the weekends.

What did I actually do there? - My highlights:

One day, I went hiking for 3 hours in an area known for its many tall palm trees. In the middle of the green, mountainous landscape. The area is called Valle del Cocora by the Colombians. Simply incredibly beautiful there and hiking through the hilly landscape is a dream. The hiking trail was varied. First, it went through the palm forest, then through a 'real' forest to a farm. Always steadily uphill. Arriving at the farm, I took a little break and then hiked back down the mountain on a different path. It went downhill directly through the forest. The path became narrower and muddier. Eventually, the path ran along a river. Over and over again, I had to cross wobbly suspension bridges. In the end, it went on a path through a cow pasture.

Another day, I took part in a coffee tour at a farm. Even though I don't drink coffee and don't really like it, I decided to join in and approach the whole thing with an open mind. During the tour, we learned interesting things about the production of the black beverage. At the end, there was a tasting, where I also tried a coffee, but once again had to realize that I'm just not a coffee drinker. The farm was about an hour away from Salento. I could have also taken a jeep there, which is very popular for transporting people, but I decided to walk and enjoy the beautiful nature.

Conclusion in the coffee region of Colombia:

After four nights in Salento, I decided to head towards Bogota, the capital of Colombia. I spent one more night in Armenia, as my bus would leave for Bogota in the morning, and I didn't want to stress. Arriving in Armenia, I once again experienced the typical chaos of South America - loud, dirty, thousands of cars, crowded streets, and no more beautiful, colorful houses.