Salento is a charming town in the coffee triangle of Colombia. When you’re here, a coffee tour is a must, and there are many options available. I wish I could give you a website link with the names of all the Coffee fincas (farms) reachable from Salento, but unfortunately, there does not appear to be one!

The coffee tours are all pretty much the same. You see the coffee from the baby plants to the cherry stage, the processing of the coffee beans, and then you get to sample the finished product. In one coffee tour, you’ll learn the basics about coffee production, processing, and consumption.

The difference comes in how idyllic the farms look, the farm's infrastructure, and most importantly, in the taste of the coffee.

If your taste buds are average or above, you’ll notice that the coffees you sample at different farms do not taste the same. That’s why I recommend doing more than one tour.

I went to the following two coffee tours while in Salento and liked both for different reasons.

Finca el Ocaso

This coffee tour appears to be the most well-known in Salento. In going through various blogs prior to visiting the farm, Finca el Ocaso came up often, and the reviews were good. The highlight for me, was the view and the café on the property.

Finca Don Eduardo

Fewer tourists tend to visit this farm because it is located furthest away from the town (using a jeep). The fields are also more open to direct sunlight, so bring a hat and put on lots of sunscreen. The highlight for me was how much more knowledgeable the tour guide was than the tour guide at Finca el Ocaso. I also preferred the taste of the coffee at this finca.

Getting to a coffee finca

To get to the coffee farms, you will need to take a jeep (called a willy) from Plaza de Bolivar, at the center of town. At the ticket booth near the trucks, you can purchase your return tickets to the farms and for your tours. The costs will differ based on the farm and whether you want a basic or premium tour. The meaning of ‘basic’ and ‘premium’ is determined by each farm. The jeeps leave when they are full, starting at 6:30 am.

Regardless of the finca you choose to go to in or reachable from Salento, your tour will be good!

#Colombia

#Salento

#South America