Hacienda Bambusa in the Colombian coffee region

An authentic hacienda with a modern twist

Bambusa is an authentic hacienda in the Colombian coffee region. It is tastefully decorated with a modern touch, featuring cheerful colours. The accommodation comprises eight spacious guest rooms, all situated around the central patio. Each room has its own balcony or patio. The name Bambusa comes from the native species of bamboo that grows abundantly here and which was also used in the construction of the hacienda. It is the perfect base from which to explore the stunningly beautiful surroundings. On the hacienda’s grounds, you can enjoy lovely walks or horse rides, although spending a day in a hammock or by the pool with a good book is also a brilliant idea.

This is a place to truly unwind. The town of Armenia is a long way off, and the only sound we hear here is birdsong. The climate is pleasant. As the area lies at an altitude of around 2,000 metres, the temperature is always around 25 degrees and it never gets extremely hot or cold. In the evening, we sit down for dinner on the terrace at the back of the hacienda. A few Colombian classics play softly in the background, and the terrace, which opens out onto a large meadow, is atmospherically lit. Every evening, you can choose from a menu featuring typical dishes from a specific Colombian region. Tonight, the menu features typical delicacies from the Choco region, situated on Colombia’s Pacific coast.

Authentic Colombian coffee in Salento

The following morning, after a hearty breakfast, we set off with our guide Guillermo. We visit the picturesque village of Salento, which is pleasantly bustling. Salento is a village with whitewashed houses, whose window frames, doors and windows are usually painted in soft colours. We take a stroll through the village and walk to a viewpoint from where we have a lovely view of the village on one side and a green valley on the other.

Guillermo takes us to a little coffee bar, where they serve good coffee in various varieties. Although Colombia is famous for its coffee, until recently it wasn’t a country where you could easily order a nice cup of coffee. The best-quality coffee used to go straight to Europe, the second-best quality went to the US, and the rest was left behind in Colombia. In recent years, there’s been a trend towards more and more coffee bars opening up, where you can order a delicious espresso, latte macchiato or cappuccino. We’re enjoying a good coffee at Café Jesús Martín, one of the pioneers in this field. The coffee served here with such passion comes from the café’s own plantations in the region.

Walking through the Coroca Valley

​We continue on to the Cocora Valley. This valley is famous for the so-called wax palms that grow here. These palms can reach heights of between 40 and 60 metres, making them the tallest palms in the world. The Cocora Valley lies at an altitude of between 1,800 and 2,400 metres above sea level and forms part of the Parque Los Nevados nature reserve. The nature reserve is a unique ecosystem featuring cloud forests, which eventually give way to a páramo landscape at an altitude of over 3,500 metres above sea level. Many native animal species inhabit this area, including various bird species found nowhere else, as well as unusual plant and tree species, such as the wax palm.