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Planning Your Coffee Tour in Salento 

Writer's picture: abbey & elliot  abbey & elliot

Coffee field at Las Acacias

Colombia is recognized all across the world for its coffee beans, and the small city of Salento sits right in the heart of production. So, if you’re anything like us and love a good cup of coffee, a “finca” tour might be right up your alley. 


However, once you arrive in Salento, figuring out the best way to book your tour and where exactly you should go can be a challenge. So, here's everything we learned along the way!


Line of "willy's" waiting to head out for tours

Don’t Book Ahead 


While many visitors opt to book their coffee finca tours ahead of time on sites like GetYourGuide or Trip Advisor, we found this was really not necessary. Instead of paying more to book ahead, locate one of the two spots where tours are offered for walk-up customers. The first is in the main plaza. Walk down Calle Real (Carrera 6) and go just a few blocks until you reach Plaza de Bolivar. The other option is linked here and is on the corner of Calle 3 and Carrera 3.


Coffee tasting at Las Acacias

In both locations, you’ll find a line of jeeps (called willy’s) which are the main form of transportation in the Cocora Valley area. There will be a small ticket booth nearby and each of the finca tour options will be taped on the window. It can be overwhelming to decide which tour to join (especially without much knowledge of the farms). We went with Finca el Ocaso and Las Acacias and had a great time at each, but since each of the fincas offer relatively the same experience for close to the same price (10-20,000 COP/$3-5 USD), we recommend choosing your tour based on the following: 


1. Language: Which language you’re most comfortable with (English or Spanish) 

2. Time frame: How long you’d like to spend there (tours can last anywhere from one to a few hours)

3. Departure: What time will the next willy leave? 


Once you choose your tour and find out your departure time, simply wait by the willy's to begin loading. When it’s time to leave, give your ticket to the willy driver and enjoy the roughly 5km ride to your finca. If you’re up for an adventure, you can often get a spot standing on the back, which makes the ride much more exciting (except when it looks like rain). Make sure to hang on to your return ticket, as you’ll need to give this to your willy driver for the return journey back to Plaza de Bolivar. 


Shelling coffee beans at Finca el Ocaso

What to Expect on Your Tour  


Picking coffee beans

During your tour, you’ll be flooded with a wealth of information about these traditional and sustainable fincas by local guides. Tours typically begin by discussing the region’s coffee farming history and progress to the field where you’ll see the process in action. You’ll learn about coffee picking and processing from start to finish and have the opportunity for some hands-on engagement as you pick, plant, grind, and brew a pot of Colombian coffee. 


While you can find a bit of shade in the fincas’ banana and coffee groves, these tours can be HOT and BUGGY. Make sure to bring along your sunscreen, bug spray, and water. We even recommend long sleeves as the sun can be brutal. 


The tour will end with a coffee tasting and you'll have the opportunity to tip your guide, so be sure to bring a little extra cash. Then you’ll be on your way back to the willy's! You may have to wait a bit for the ride back, so we'd recommend not packing your schedule too full for the day. 


Learning the variations of Salento coffee

Overall, whether you're a daily coffee drinker, or just want to know more about Colombia's rich coffee culture, a finca tour in Salento is the best place to start. The knowledgeable staff will guide you through the history and practices of these sustainable fincas while engaging hands-on in production will help you develop a genuine appreciation for the artistry that goes into every cup of Colombian coffee.

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We're Abbey and Elliot.

We began our travels in

2022 with just our small backpacks and started this blog to share everything we've learned along the way. We hope we can help inspire your next trip.

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