Antioquia - a journey through the past and the nature of the coffee valleys
Today, we want to share the experience of our colleague Evelyn, who recently explored the vibrant region of Antioquia. Keep reading to learn more about her adventure!
“My journey began in Santa Fe de Antioquia, one of the colonial towns in this region. From Medellín, it’s just about 1.5 hours by car or bus. The streets of the small town are full of history, and with every step, I discovered architectural gems like the Hotel Mariscal Robledo. At noon, I tried regional dishes like the Bandeja Paisa and an Arequipe-Tamarindo dessert. I also really enjoyed the surroundings; not far from Santa Fe is the historic hanging bridge – Puente Colgante del Oriente, built in 1887, which can only be crossed by pedestrians and small vehicles. I took a mototaxi to this bridge, crossed it on foot, and hiked to the beautiful El Salto waterfall. There, I was all alone so I jumped in for a refreshing swim. On my way back, I saw a sign in front of a farm inviting me to enjoy coffee and cake. I was curious and knocked on the gate. A farmer opened up and, together with his wife, they showed me their farm with various trees and plants, typical of the tropical dry forest. I tasted the farm’s coffee with a slice of cake. I was fascinated by the friendliness and openness of the locals. After an hour, I said goodbye and headed back to Santa Fe.
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| Jardín |
After two lovely days, I continued my journey by bus over Bolombolo to Jericó. The small town is known for its shoulder bags, the so-called carrieles. The facades and balconies have their own style, typical of the colonial period in Antioquia. The cathedral stands out a bit with its brick architecture. I went on various excursions, including a hike to the summit in the clouds (Cima de las nubes), where I even discovered orchids along the way.
The next day, I headed to the honey route at Villa Luz farm, where I wanted to learn more about the native bee species, which are much smaller than the well-known honeybees and do not sting. First, we visited the honey nests and then tasted four different types of honey with a cup of coffee. The view of the surrounding coffee valleys was fantastic, and my conversation with Sebastián, the beekeeper, was very exciting for me. The honey from these small bees tasted much more intense than the honey I had known before. After an interesting afternoon, Sebastián took me back to Jericó on his motorcycle.
Two days flew by, and I continued to Jardin. This stretch from Jericó to Jardin is a bit of a challenge, as the road isn’t very good, but with the typical chiva, a traditional Colombian bus, I arrived safely in Andes and transferred to a minibus to Jardin.
Jardin offers the perfect ambiance to relax for a few days. During my stay, there was a film festival taking place in Jardin, organized by the Colombian filmmaker Victor Gaviria and his team. This way, I could not only enjoy the culinary specialties and explore the surroundings, but also watch great films and participate in inspiring discussions. I particularly enjoyed two excursions: the beautiful hike to Cafe Jardin, where I had a fantastic view of the town and its surroundings. In the afternoon, I visited the Gallito de Roca reserve, a must for bird lovers. I got very close to these impressive birds and learned interesting details about this species. Unfortunately, time flew by too quickly, but Antioquia was definitely worth it!”
