There is a common misconception that the only place to experience an authentic Colombian coffee farm is in Eje Cafetero, aka the country’s coffee region. Don’t get me wrong; I love this region of Colombia and encourage you to go there if you can, but what is very important to know is that you don’t have to go all the way there to get the real deal.
In fact, there is an iconic, Colombian coffee farm just two hours from Bogotá called Cafetal de la Trinidad that will absolutely blow you away. So if you only have enough time to visit the country’s capital, I can assure you that you will leave being able to say that you not only experienced an authentic Colombian coffee farm but visited a living breathing piece of Colombia’s coffee history. Let me expand.
The History Behind Cafetal de la Trinidad
Established in 1904, Cafetal de la Trinidad was one of the first Colombian coffee farms to pioneer large-scale coffee cultivation throughout the country and became one of the largest and most significant coffee exporters in Colombia throughout the 1920s: exporting directly to roasters in Germany, Holland, England, and the United States.
This once prosperous and booming business was deeply affected by the decline in coffee prices as well as the presence of the FARC guerrilla groups from the late 1990s to the early 2000s and eventually led to the decline and abandonment of the farm.
Fast forward to the present and this once abandoned, dilapidated Colombian coffee farm has been restored and brought back to life into the magical oasis it once was! Since January 2016, the farmhouse has been renovated and rebuilt, and the farm replanted with traditional as well as newer fashionable varietals. It has been in the same family for five generations and their doors are now open for guests to experience bed & breakfast style overnight stays as well as day tours.
The great-great-grandchild to the founder of Cafetal de la Trinidad, Alejandro, and his fiance Anna now run the bed & breakfast portion of the business as well as the overall coffee farm experience for guests. Anna, a London-native and coffee expert, is whip-smart, insanely chic, and so down to earth – she will make sure your experience at Cafetal de la Trinidad is a 10 out of a 10. To learn more about Anna and her coffee connoisseur ways, make sure to follow Cafetal de la Trinidad on Instagram.
The Colombian Coffee Farm Experience at Cafetal de la Trinidad
I had the unique opportunity to experience Cafetal de la Trinidad first hand this summer and am now on a mission to spread the word about how incredibly special this place is. From horseback riding to hiking, or simply relaxing with a cup of coffee in hand, there’s something for everyone to enjoy at this Colombian coffee farm. All I can say is, get ready for a soul cleansing experience!
Horseback Riding & Coffee Farm Tour
Over the years I have developed an affinity for horses and horseback riding and now consider it one of my favorite pastimes when I travel. However, even if it’s not your favorite thing, horseback riding through Cafetal de la Trinidad’s stunning farmland is an experience you simply can’t miss.
On this 3-hour journey, we meandered through miles and miles of spectacular Colombian countryside, enjoying lush vegetation and breathtaking views of the mountains and valleys all around us. We went up past the coffee duct and the former dormitories where the farm had over 1,500 migratory workers during the harvest season in its heyday and then through the old coffee fields where we learned about the coffee plants and cultivation process. We also took a walk through the newer coffee fields where some of the “sexier” varietals (as Anna would say) like Moka & Bourbon grow in order to understand a little more of the past present and future of the farm.
The entire tour was led by the farm manager Eusebio, who was born and educated on the farm, so there’s really no one better to learn from and understand the history and cultivation process from quite like him! (Just be aware that he only speaks Spanish, but if you need a translator that can certainly be coordinated for you!)
On the loop back towards the farmhouse, we stopped off to admire an indigenous carving on a rock in the middle of the coffee field that is believed to be from the Muisca tribe and could date back to the 12th century. Can we just pause for a second and think about how incredible that is? I knew I felt an intense sense of energy and connection to mother earth while exploring the land of Cafetal de la Trinidad and this gives me a pretty good feeling as to why!!
Tour of the Historic Coffee Factory
The farm is not only visually beautiful but has a beautiful history that Eusebio explained during a tour of their historic coffee factory. As I mentioned earlier – if you want to experience an authentic Colombian coffee farm – you really can’t beat what Cafetal de la Trinidad has to offer.
They still use machinery that dates back to the 1920s including an antique coffee sorting machine imported from England, old-timey typewriters, as well as hand-written records and other archives from when they first opened the farm. Check out the binders of records and other artifacts in the photos below!
Throughout this tour, you will learn about how the machinery works, the coffee fermentation and de-pulping process, as well as the coffee drying process. We visited the African bamboo beds where they sun-dry the coffee beans to ensure an even and gentle drying process that will maintain the best flavors inside the beans. After the tour, we retired back to the farmhouse for a delicious cup of coffee- probably some of the best I’ve ever had.
Between visiting the coffee plants out in the field to seeing the behind the scenes process, you will leave with a pretty good understanding of the coffee making process on a Colombian coffee farm as well as their plant to cup philosophy.
Hike to FARC Rock
In addition to horseback riding, I would also highly recommend going on a guided hike (also led by Eusebio) through the beautiful farm landscape. Part of this hike includes a stop at a rock that is marked with graffiti by one of the former FARC guerilla groups.
Although it’s not something they like to highlight since the FARC caused so much pain and suffering throughout the country, it is a part of their history and explains why the farm was abandoned for 20 years, so it’s important to point out.
Aside from the rock, this hike features sweeping views of the valley and an up close and personal look at the local flora and fauna of the area. It will also take you past arguably the best view on the entire property where you can organize a picnic lunch. No seriously, they have a picnic basket and can set up the most romantic picnic ever on a rock overlooking the valley below! (I’m sitting on said rock in the photo below!)
Specialized Coffee Tasting: From Plant to Cup
I didn’t get the chance to experience this during my stay, but Cafetal de la Trinidad offers a full 2-hour coffee tasting class with a trained barista and coffee expert who will tailor a program just for you. Although I didn’t have a chance to try this class, I can say from experience that their coffee is amazing so I think it would be really interesting to try more and learn more about the brewing process!
Staying at the Cafetal de la Trinidad Farmhouse
There are certain places you come across in your travels that stop you in your tracks. Cafetal de la Trinidad was one of those places for me. It’s the ultimate sanctuary for disconnecting from the hustle and bustle of everyday life and reconnecting with yourself and with nature. There really is nothing like falling asleep to the soft hum of forest creatures in the background and waking up to the sounds of birds chirping and nature greeting you in the morning.
I mean it when I say that Cafetal de la Trinidad is quite literally in the middle of the forest, so if you’re looking for peace, serenity, and an opportunity to connect with your natural surroundings – this is your place. After my two-night stay, I have officially added it to my list of “happy places.”
You will start each morning with a homemade Colombian breakfast of fresh squeezed orange juice from the farm, arepas, scrambled eggs, avocado, and of course – house grown & roasted coffee. My favorite part of the morning was moving out onto the veranda after breakfast with a second cup of coffee in hand while taking in the beautiful scenery and letting the warm morning sun hug my soul. I truly wish every morning could be like this.
The hacienda boasts 4 rooms with a total of 6 beds, 3 baths, and can accommodate 8 guests. Each room is carefully decorated with elements of traditional Colombian style mixed with some English flare (thanks to Anna’s English roots). You will find indigenous mola design elements throughout the house (brightly colored geometric designs) as well as beautiful pillows and fabrics from London.
Some of my favorite touches were the antique coffee grinder collection, brightly colored tiled floors, gallery-style wall art, and vintage, wrought iron Edison bulb style chandeliers. Charming is the first word that comes to mind when describing the style of this hacienda – it’s super contemporary and chic but absolutely holds on to the traditional Colombian coffee farmhouse components that make this place so unique.
Then there’s the food. You’ll have the opportunity to try some Colombian favorites like traditional sancocho soup (potato based with chicken, yuca, fried plantains, and avocado), Colombian asado (basically a BBQ of locally sourced marinated pork ribs, chorizo, morcilla, grilled onions, eggplant, red peppers, and pineapple) followed by Obleas and Arequipe, Colombian chocolate and more coffee.
You’ll sit to enjoy these homecooked meals at the family-style farmhouse dining table surrounded by coffee artifacts and views of the beautiful surroundings.
Cafetal de la Trinidad really does transports you back in time to when life ran on a slower pace and being disconnected was the only way to live. find yourself reading your favorite book swinging in a hammock, meditating on a giant rock or lounging on one of the many couches found throughout the property.
You can book your stay with Cafetal de la Trinidad through Airbnb here.
Disclaimer: I received a complimentary stay with Cafetal de la Trinidad in exchange for my opinions, but all opinions are my own. I only recommend places that I love!
How to Get to Cafetal de la Trinidad
As I mentioned earlier, this Colombian coffee farm is only 2 hours from Bogotá – making it a pretty easy weekend getaway (or a day trip if you are strapped for time) from the city. The only issue is that it’s a bit expensive to get there. I paid 500,000 COP for a private driver (roughly translating to $150 USD) to get there and back. If you can muster up 3 other people to join you this cost significantly drops to around $40 USD per person for a roundtrip ride – which is pretty affordable if you ask me. I would also recommend avoiding rush hour (7-9am & 4-6pm) as Bogotá traffic is on another level – think LA traffic.
It’s also worth noting that this drive takes you past Tequendama Falls, a famous waterfall in Colombia. It has a 516-foot drop and is located just off of the main road making it an easy place for your driver to pull over so you can have a look! There are viewing platforms right along the main road with vendors selling cold drinks and snacks in case you’re feeling a bit famished from the drive!
Proposed 2-Day Itinerary at Cafetal de la Trinidad:
FRIDAY
Afternoon:
3pm: Depart Bogotá
5pm: Arrive at the farm
Evening:
5-9pm Relax and unwind, explore the house, dinner at the farmhouse, sleep like a baby!
SATURDAY
Morning:
7am: Wake up to the sounds of birds chirping
8-9am: Delicious home cooked breakfast
9-10am: Enjoy coffee on the veranda
10am-1pm: Horseback Riding & Coffee Farm Tour & Tour of the historic coffee factory.
Afternoon:
1:30-2:30pm: Enjoy a traditional Colombian asado back at the farmhouse
3-6pm Relax, read a book in the hammock, enjoy an afternoon coffee
Evening:
6:30-7:30pm: Dinner at the farmhouse
8-9pm: Enjoy a glass of wine out on the veranda or in the main room, then sleep like a baby!
SUNDAY
Morning:
7am: Wake up to the sounds of birds chirping
8-9am: Delicious home cooked breakfast
9-10am: Enjoy coffee on the veranda
10am-12pm: Hike to the Farc Rock
Afternoon:
12-1pm: Enjoy a traditional sancocho soup back at the farmhouse
1-2pm: Relax, read a book in the hammock, enjoy an afternoon coffee
2:30pm: Depart back to Bogotá
So if you’re looking for a place to unwind, find peace, connect with and explore nature in an idyllic setting that will take you back in time – I think I’ve found the place for you. Don’t miss this unparalleled Colombian coffee farm experience at Cafetal de la Trinidad, I swear it will be a trip that you’ll never forget!
Wander On,
Wanderluluu xx
