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Looking to experience Colombia’s coffee culture to the fullest? A coffee tour is a must for any Medellin itinerary, and luckily there are tons of good options.
You likely already know how famous Colombian coffee is, and Medellin is at the heart of it. When we lived in Medellin, we went on a few coffee tours because there was such a variety. It makes sense that you may have trouble choosing which coffee tour is best for you!
We’ve narrowed down our top three coffee tours from Medellin, and all are a bit different. Whether you are looking for a full-day adventure, a crash course on Coffee Production 101, or a little bit of both – we’ve got you covered!
Quick Pick: Our Favorite Tour
Don’t have time to read the full article?
Our personal FAVORITE tour is this half-day coffee plantation tour. Book a private or shared tour and visit a locally-owned farm for an authentic Colombian experience. Check out the 700+ 5-star reviews and book it here!
Tip: Reserve this tour early to guarantee your spot and get FREE cancellation 24 hours before you go!
1. PRIVATE Half-Day Coffee Plantation
If you hate the idea of taking big, impersonal tours, this half-day PRIVATE coffee plantation trip from Medellin is perfect for you. Not only does this private tour bring you up close and personal with an active coffee plantation, but it’s also close enough that you can squeeze it into any itinerary.
Sabaneta is only a 30-minute drive from Medellin, but it feels like a world away when you visit. The views of the Colombian countryside were so beautiful, and before I knew it, we arrived at Nina and Jose’s farm! Even though we didn’t speak the language, we still felt super welcomed – and the translators who tagged along were really helpful!
While getting to know your hosts, we had the opportunity to sample some of their coffee brewed in four different ways. Then they taught us how the beans were planted, de-pulped, dried, fermented, and ground into our favorite brews. Afterward, we got to deskin and dry the beans before they’re roasted into a batch you can purchase for the best souvenir ever.
This really was a fantastic experience and with over 700 5-star reviews, we can see why it’s popular – read all the raving reviews here!
You can choose to take this tour with a group or as a private tour. They provide hotel pickup and drop-off from Medellin, all fees, snacks, and lots of coffee in this 5-hour experience. Prices vary by group size (especially for the private tour) but start at $69 USD.
Book our FAVORITE coffee tour from Medellin here before it sells out!
2. One-Day Guatapé & Coffee Farm Tour
Visiting Guatapé from Medellin is popular for a reason! The town’s colorful streets and iconic rock (that you can climb!) have made it a social media star. It’s also a prime place to learn about the history of coffee on this full-day tour.
There are so many add-ons to this tour like sampling unique fruits at a local market, climbing the famous Piedra del Peñol rock, and exploring the city. This is one of the most colorful cities I’ve ever seen, so having time to wander around is a huge bonus.
One of the major highlights of this tour is visiting a locally run coffee farm and learning about the entire process. In addition to a farm tour, you’ll meet the family who runs it, and pick coffee beans. Some people in our group also bought some of the organic coffee to take home, so bring cash if you plan to do that too! Oh, and we sampled lots of coffee, of course – so much I got the caffeine jitters!
Having time to explore Guatapé is another unique reason this tour is one of our top choices. You have a professional guide along to give you a bit of a city tour. Not to mention climbing the famous Piedra del Peñol rock (all 740 steps!) for incredible views. Just bring some pesos to pay the entrance fee (20,000 COP/$5 USD).
This full-day tour is a great option if you’re on a time crunch and want to hit a coffee farm, and see Guatapé in an easy day trip! It’s a small group capped at 8 people maximum, so you’re guaranteed a more personal experience. There are multiple tour options, whether you want to have more time at the coffee farm, include an ATV ride or boat tour, or even make it a private tour. Prices start at $132 USD per person for a group of two.
Book this tour with over 400 5-star reviews here with FREE cancellation options!
3. Coffee Tour with Horse Riding and Lunch
Think history is boring? This coffee tour is almost guaranteed to change your mind. We love this one because it combines a fun history lesson about coffee with a sampling of the tasty drink. Plus, you’ll get a chance to end your day on horseback!
This tour leaves from Medellin and takes you about 45 minutes outside of the city to San Sebastián de Palmitas. There, you’ll spend the next few hours learning about the extensive history of coffee in the region.
If you take the tour in English, there’s a good chance you’ll be with Amelia, who’s incredibly knowledgeable about the history of coffee here and how those beans get from the plant to your cup. Her passion for the craft is infectious!
From there, you’ll get to dress like traditional coffee pickers as a way to honor the workers who have spent their lives harvesting beans. After all that hard work picking coffee beans, you’ll sample the finished product in a few different forms, then head to the ranch for lunch!
The most unique part of this coffee tour is ending the day riding by the mountains where the beans typically grow. It’s an incredible experience to be able to go to the more remote areas of the region and see where coffee beans have been growing for centuries.
This tour is well-priced at $89 USD, including everything mentioned for the day, and lasts about 7 hours.
Don’t miss out on this unique tour – secure your spot before you go here!
Other Things to do While You’re in Medellin
While getting out of the city on a coffee tour is a must, don’t leave without discovering all the things to do in Medellin. I even moved here for six weeks after my first visit because I loved it so much! These are just a few of our favorite activities in Medellin.
- City tour – Get your bearings and explore Medellin with a local guide. This walking tour with Real City is one of the best free walking tours I’ve done in Latin America! You need to book a day in advance and then you’re all set to see the highlights of downtown Medellin. Alternatively, this bike tour of Medellin covers more ground with plenty of stops for photos as you explore back roads, quiet parks, and colorful neighborhoods.
- See Comuna 13 – What used to be one of the most dangerous places in the world, Comuna 13 has transformed into a vibrant neighborhood! Graffiti art and street food are two main attractions and this Comuna 13 tour includes both. The guides also share personal stories of life here giving you a window into its dark past. We learned so much and it was one of our favorite tours in Medellin.
- Eat amazing food – There are flavors galore here, so get a taste of Medellin by joining a private food tour! You get to try traditional Colombian food and drinks as your guide helps you order at some of the best local spots. If you’re looking for a great meal on your own, the vegetarian pizza at Cafe Zorba is a personal favorite of mine!
- Learn to salsa dance – If you’ve always wanted to learn how to salsa, this is the place! We loved the live salsa music at Son Havana Bar for a night out. If you want to learn a few moves beforehand, this salsa and bachata class is a great way to find your rhythm and get those hips moving!
- Explore El Poblado – This is one of the safest and most touristy areas in Medellin and it’s home to some of the best restaurants, bars, and shopping. In fact, your hotel might even be located here! Head to the local square of Parque Lleras for live music and dancing in the evenings!
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Thanks for reading!
Colombia is famous for its coffee and Medellin is one of the best destinations to find out why! There are some fantastic coffee farms nearby that will let you trace your favorite cup of coffee to the source. Plus, many of the tours on our list also include fun extras like exploring another town or horseback riding through the mountains. Choose your own adventure and find the best tour for you!
Before you leave on your travels, have a look at our other blogs about South America. We’ve spent a lot of time exploring this part of the world and have lots of tips to pass along. Here are a few other popular posts to get you started:
10 BEST Day Trips from Cartagena, Colombia to Explore Breathtaking Places
30 FUN Things to do in Bogota, Colombia + Complete Guide!
6 BEST Minca Tours to See Wildlife, Waterfalls, Coffee and Cacao!