Colombia's Coffee Triangle Has A Lush Appeal (PHOTOS)

It's safe to say that Colombia is well and truly back on the map as one of Latin America's most distinct and wonderfully characteristic destinations.

From the worn romance of Cartagena to its Caribbean archipelagos and islands, this is a country that conjures up the true spirit of this magnificent continent and all its cultural quirks.

This Coffee Triangle get its nickname from a trio of departments, Caldas, Risaralda and Quindío, but is actually a unified geographic zone of fertile mountainous valleys sewn with rolling coffee plantations, tropical Andean forests, terraced slopes and wax palms distinguished by a rustic pace of life, pre-Colombian origins and some very friendly locals.

Aside from the coffee culture and its plantations, the area has been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site for both its natural and cultural beauty: trek through endless bamboo forests, visit the communities of the pre-Colombian Quimbayan people, stay at colourful haciendas, hike the cloud forests of the Cocora Valley to see rare orchids and hovering hummingbirds, and then there's the beautiful architecture of the towns of Saliento and Filandia.

Be under no illusions - this is Colombian life at its most rural and languid, but it also at its most characteristic and charming.

During her time here Daphine went on a guided tour of the San Alberto Coffee Plantation for a gourmet coffee experience to see what it takes to get the bean to the cup for a glimpse into one of Colombia's leading industries. Then a day's tour to the magnificent wax palms in an authentic Colombian outing encountering local cowboys and breath-taking views along the way : she has put together the slideshow below to help bring this to life for you.

Jacada offers privately-guided and inspired luxury tours to Colombia and all of its wonderful corners and cities. For more information, see here or call us direct to start planning your very own trip to Colombia.