Highlights of Tierra Paisa

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By Richard McColl

There can be little argument that a trip through the Eje Cafetero will result in being one that the visitor cherishes and counts as an unforgettable highlight of their visit to Colombia. Rambling coffee fincas and estancias have opened their doors to tourism, offering the visitor fine lodging at the gates of an agricultural Eden. Horse rides through coffee plantations and dips in clear running rivers are complimented with strong, savory coffee breaks.

Distinctly different is the ambience of Medellin, a city stained with the legacy of Pablo Escobar yet sprinkled with Botero sculptures and city parks. This is a city on the move; business rules here, but there is a special place for culture and entertainment. Paisas show that they both work hard and play hard, and from Thursday night on you’d be hard pushed to find a city in Colombia with a more electric nightlife.

For something in-between rural idyll and urban chaos, trips can be made through neighboring towns such as Santa Fe de Antioquia, Jardín, Marinilla and Jericó, all of which offer perfectly preserved colonial-era towns with archaeological and historical sites of interest.