'''Zona Cafetera''', usually refered to as "Eje Cafetero", is a coffee-growing region in the Andino region of Colombia.
Regions
Quindio
Cities
Pereira
Armenia
Manizales
Towns
Chinchina
Apia
Balboa
Belen de Umbria
Dosquebradas
Guatica
La Celia
La Virginia
Marsella
Mistrato
Pueblo Rico
Quinchia
Santa Rosa de Cabal
Santuario
Salento — A sleepy little town of 4000 or so inhabitants, perched on a hill in "La Zona Cafetera", 24 km from Armenia and 60 km from Pereira (pronounced Pay Ray Da), beside the valley of the river Quindio, after which the department (state) of Quindio is named.
Calarca
Other destinations
''El Parque del Cafe'' is a must if you're in the area. The colonisation and history of the entire area is explained as well as all the details of growing and processing coffee. In addition it features a botanical area (bamboo forest, coffee plants, etc) and an amuesement parc like Disneyland.
''Los Nevados'' close to Manizales is where you have to go if you want to touch snow or if you want to see that one can climb an altitude of 5000 m by car.
Understand
The people in the area basically speak the same dialect as in Antioquia. Soon you'll recognize that the word "pues" can be used in every sentence.
Talk
Get in
Get around
As in entire Colombia: by buses of all sizes you can reach every point.
See
Do
Stay in one of the touristic "fincas" where you can do horse riding or swimming.
Go to the "El Parque del Cafe" where you can see different fauna, vegetation. You can also see there some typical dances and enjoy the nice weather.
Eat
Lots of plantain
Beef
Drink
Aguardiente
Stay safe
In some of the remote areas of the Los Nevados park there is guerrilla presence. Usually they don't harm tourists.
Get out