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Medellin might not be the capital of Colombia, but it’s quickly become one of the country’s most popular travel destinations. A buzzing city situated in the heart of the Andes Mountains, spending a few days in Medellin is worth adding to your Colombia travel plans just because of the unique experiences you can enjoy.
Dan and I spent some time living in Medellin, and we visited the city countless times before and after we lived there! However, one of our favorite things to do to explore Medellin and the surrounding Antioquia region is take a coffee tour.
It’s no secret Colombia produces some of the world’s best coffee and as coffee lovers ourselves, we knew we had to taste some of that coffee straight from the source! So naturally, one of the best Medellin day trips is heading to a coffee farm. If you want to learn about the country’s brewing history, here are some of our favorite coffee tours you can take from Medellin.
Don’t have time to read the full article? Our favorite coffee tours from Medellin are:
- This half-day tour to sample coffee at a nearby coffee farm in the beautiful Aburra Valley.
- The 2-for-1 experience on this one-day tour where you’ll visit a coffee farm and the highlights of the colorful town of Guatapé.
- Combining the history of coffee with horseback riding in the mountains on this day trip from Medellin.
8 Best Coffee Tours in Medellin
1. Coffee Half-Day Tour in Medellín: From the Seed to the Cup
You don’t have to venture far from Medellin to sample amazing locally-grown coffee. This half-day tour is a short ride from the city and packs a ton of information into such a quick experience.
You’ll learn everything from how coffee beans are grown and harvested to how they’re roasted and brewed. You’ll even learn how to recognize a good cup of coffee and the different flavors you can pick out. Black coffee won’t taste the same after this!
You’ll spend about four hours exploring the coffee farm and sampling cups of coffee made from beans harvested here. The guides are amazing and you’ll be paired with Pablo as well as an English interpreter so there’s no worry if you don’t speak Spanish.
The farm is in the Aburra Valley and it’s surrounded by greenery and mountains, so we enjoyed having coffee and a view here! Just make sure to wear long pants and bring bug spray – a couple of people in our group didn’t have any and got a few bug bites.
After touring the farm, you’ll spend time at Urbania Café to learn about the work that goes into coffee roasting before you sample some of their most poignant flavors. We had a bit of a caffeine buzz after trying four different types of coffee here. It was hard to pick a favorite from all that we tried!
This highly-rated tour costs $75 USD per person and has hundreds of 5-star reviews, so you can trust that you’ll have a good time and that the coffee is exceptional! If you’re looking to spend a morning learning about and drinking great coffee close to Medellin, book your spot on this tour online here.
2. Coffee Tour and Lunch in Medellin
If you’re a hands-on traveler like we are, sometimes tours can feel a little dry. Dan and I are doers by nature, so we love interactive travel experiences. That’s what you get when you book this coffee tour from Medellin.
On this 6-hour excursion, you’ll travel to San Sebastián de Palmitas, one of the city’s suburbs. From there, you’ll visit a coffee farm and learn not just about the coffee-growing process, but about the people who have been picking and preparing coffee beans for centuries. Then, you’ll sample some local coffee to learn what makes an irresistible cup.
After your lesson, you’ll put on your own poncho and hat before venturing into the Colombian hills for a hike to pick your own beans. Most coffee tours from Medellin don’t offer this, so it’s one of the things that makes this one stand out. It’s also a good idea to wear clothes and shoes that are good for a bit of hike – so leave the flip flops back at the hotel.
Once you’re done, you’ll sit down for a tasty lunch and enjoy the ambiance. This tour felt like an immersive experience and not just a promotional tour to sell coffee, which was great. You could buy coffee at the end if you wanted, but we liked the free gift bag at the end with coffee and sugar inside.
For $65 USD, this is an unforgettable way to spend your day on the outskirts of Medellin, so make sure to reserve your spot here.
3. Jardin Private Day Trip: Colombian Coffee Tour from Medellin
If you’re looking for an easy day trip from Medellin, Jardin is one of the most popular places to visit to learn about Colombia’s coffee culture. This coffee plantation tour is our pick because it combines the best of what Jardin has to offer and is a private tour, so you can savor the experience with just your travel group.
Early in the morning, your van will pick up and transport you two hours away to Jardin, a popular vacation town for tourists and locals alike. From there, you’ll head to a local coffee farm where we were welcomed with a fresh cup of coffee and the owner of the farm taught us about the region’s optimal growing conditions and why Colombian coffee is unlike any other.
I love the hands-on aspect of this tour as you’ll get a chance to spend about 20 minutes picking coffee beans and then the guide walks you through the entire process of how coffee is made. Because this is a private tour, you can ask as many questions as you like and it doesn’t feel rushed. You can even buy a bag or two of freshly roasted coffee from the farmer.
You’ll then hop on one of Jardin’s famous cable cars (they are made of wood!) and dig into a traditional lunch at a mountaintop restaurant. Once you head back down the mountain, you’ll have time to explore Jardin before heading back to Medellin. We grabbed a cup of coffee in town and sat in the main square to people-watch for a bit and then did a bit of window shopping around the cute boutiques in town.
This tour costs $165 USD including all your transport, coffee tastings, lunch, and a private guide which is a fantastic deal. I think it’s a great way to explore this charming town and it’s especially worthwhile if you were planning to visit Jardin on your trip anyway.
For a private coffee tour that also doubles as a way to explore more of Colombia, check availability and book this coffee tour in advance.
Related Read: While you’re here, don’t miss exploring the transformation of the Comuna 13 neighborhood in Medellin. Our tour here was one of the highlights of visiting Medellin.
4. One Day Guatapé & Coffee Farm Tour
Visiting Guatapé from Medellin is popular for a reason! The town’s colorful streets and huge 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.
While this tour doesn’t focus as much on coffee as the others on our list, you still get to visit a coffee farm, 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!
Having time to explore Guatapé is what made this tour 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 700 steps!) for incredible views. Just bring some pesos to pay the entrance fee (20,000 COP/$4.40 USD).
This small-group tour caps at a maximum of 8 people, so you’re guaranteed a more personal experience. It’s also cheaper the more you book for costing $130 USD each for 2 people, but drops to $85 USD per person if you’re booking for 6. There’s also the chance to upgrade to include a boat ride or turn this into a private tour if you’d like to customize the whole day!
If you’re looking for a tour that weaves Colombia’s coffee culture in with the city’s overall history, then booking this tour is the right choice.
Why We Book Tours with Viator
Viator is a trusted online booking system for tours around the world! We almost always book our tours using Viator for a couple of reasons:
- Free cancellation on most tours – Most of the tours on Viator allow you to cancel and get a full refund up to 24 hours in advance. This is handy in case plans change, or if booking an outdoor activity, the weather forecast is looking grim.
- Reserve now and pay later – You can secure your spot on some of the most popular tours well in advance and not pay until closer to the day of the tour.
- Lowest price guarantee – If you happen to find the same tour at a lower price elsewhere, Viator will refund you the price difference.
- Pay in your chosen currency – Avoid costly international transaction fees by choosing to pay in your home currency.
- Peace of mind – When booking with tour operators you find in person on the street or in small booking offices, you are often promised one thing and given another. This online platform holds tour operators accountable with a written description of inclusions as well as the opportunity for customers to leave reviews.
Check out the Viator website here! Or, for more info, read our detailed review about Viator here.
5. Coffee Tour with Horse Riding and Lunch in Medellin
Think history is boring? This 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. Then, you’ll sample black coffee and another cup with milk and enjoy a snack before heading to another part of the ranch for lunch.
After that, it’s time to get on the horses! You’ll end your 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.
The tour starts at $89 USD per person and you can reserve your ticket here.
6. Half-Day Coffee Plantation Private Tour in Medellín
If you hate the idea of taking big, impersonal tours, this half-day 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. From the moment the tour picks you up in a private car, you’ll feel like you’re part of the family.
During your ride, you’ll get unparalleled views of the Colombian countryside as you make your way to Nina and Jose’s farm. They only speak Spanish, but it’s not a problem because you’ll have Andres or another helpful tour guide there ready to translate.
While getting to know your hosts, you’ll have the opportunity to sample some of their coffee brewed four different ways. Make sure you pick a favorite so you can trace its story during your coffee lesson. During your tour, you’ll learn how the beans are planted, de-pulped, dried, fermented, and ground into your favorite brew. Then, it’s time for a little competition.
You’ll use the knowledge you just got to compete against the other members of your tour group to see who can pick the most coffee beans. After a weigh-in at the end, a coffee winner will be announced, giving you bragging rights for the rest of the day.
Afterward, you’ll get the chance to deskin and dry the beans before they’re roasted into a batch you can purchase. This private tour starts at $99 USD and you can reserve your spot here.
Related Read: For more memorable experiences on your travels, check out our recommendations on the top tours from Cartagena!
7. Half-Day Coffee Tour at Family Farm Close to Medellín
If your Airbnb or hotel is located in El Poblado, it’s very convenient to hop on this half-day tour and explore a coffee farm 30 minutes from Medellin.
Some coffee tours throw in a lot of extras to make the experience unique and memorable. However, if you’re only there to learn about the beans and want a quick, informative experience, this is the tour for you.
Like some of the other quick trips we’ve talked about, this tour takes you into Sabaneta, where you’ll visit a family farm to learn about the coffee business. Here, expect to drink lots of coffee and learn about the growing process in a lot of detail.
Whether you’re on a private tour or with a group, you’ll have the chance to learn about the family business and how the coffee beans are grown, harvested, and prepared. While learning about the art of coffee making, you’ll get the opportunity to pick some beans for yourself.
One of our favorite parts was to see how the beans were roasted. It’s the last step before they are ready to be made into a delicious drink, and it’s delicate work. During this time, the coffee beans take on their signature flavors, and it’s cool to watch them turn from green to brown.
This tour costs $70 USD per person, and you can buy your ticket here.
8. Private Full-Day Coffee Tour in the Beautiful Jardin Town
If you’re a true coffee fan, you can’t miss this private, full-day tour from Medellin. It’s one of the only tours in the area where your ticket allows you to drink unlimited amounts of coffee on the farm – a true delight if you love the drink like we do!
This 12-hour tour includes pick-up if you’re staying in El Poblado or Laureles before heading to Jardin. During your ride, you’ll have the option to enjoy a chicken pie as you head to the coffee plantation. As soon as you arrive, you’ll get your first cup of coffee before you learn about the drink and head out to pick some beans yourself.
Want to personalize this trip even further? Add a horseback ride to your experience as you make your way to the coffee plants. It’s a great addition if you want to experience the traditional way coffee beans are picked in this region. Since it’s so mountainous, traveling on horseback is the most convenient way to reach the beans.
Afterward, you’ll sit down to a homestyle lunch before heading into Jardin. Here, you’ll get to see some of our favorite architecture in all of Colombia. This is one of the most famous towns in the country, so enjoy its beauty and history before heading back to Medellin.
This tour starts at $189 USD per person, and it’s cheaper if you travel with a few people. Book your ticket now for this highly-rated experience.
Other Activities 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!
Where to Stay in Medellin, Colombia
With so much to see in and around Medellin, chances are you’ll need a solid place to stay in this city so you can explore! And luckily, it’s one of the best places to see in all of South America.
However, picking the right area to stay in a big city can affect your experience, and Medellin is no different. For most people, safety in Medellin is the most important factor when deciding where to stay. Below are the best areas to stay in Medellin along with accommodation options for all budgets.
El Poblado
This vibrant upper-class neighborhood offers amazing nightlife, top restaurants with cuisine from all over the world, and a safe friendly atmosphere. The streets in El Poblado are safe to wander day and night providing you use some care when it’s really late.
This area is a perfect base to explore other parts of the city and the area I recommend staying in Medellin. It’s also the starting point for many of the best tours in Medellin and tours to Guatapé. Some places I recommend staying are:
Los Patios Hostel – A great budget option for backpackers. this hostel is famous in Medellin, and the place is beautiful. There’s a rooftop swimming pool, communal spaces, and a fun terrace. Rooms are themed according to different regions in the country which is a nice touch. While dorm beds aren’t the cheapest (starting at $30 USD), the reviews and standards are really good. You can also easily book on either Hostelworld.com or Booking.com.
14 Urban Hotel – This medium-budget hotel is stunning and perfectly located in El Poblado. The rooms are spacious and modern, the staff is friendly, and the price includes a delicious breakfast. Plus, this hotel can cost as little as $93 USD a night when booked in advance.
Café Hotel Medellín – Cafe Hotel is your typical hotel and comes with everything you’d expect from classic hotel brands such as Hilton. The location is a little up the hill from the main restaurant and bar area of El Poblado, but this makes it much more of a quiet stay. It has a beautiful view and a rooftop jacuzzi which is perfect for relaxing after a long tour! Rooms start from $120 USD on Booking.com.
For luxury travelers, Elcielo Hotel & Restaurant is easily the best choice. Not only is it still affordable (starting at $319 USD), but the hotel comes with a fantastic location, luxurious rooms, a swimming pool, a spa and wellness center, a fitness center, and fantastic views of the city. It’s beautifully decorated, and the quality of the service and on-site food is superb. It’s a popular choice, so best to book this one ahead of time.
Laureles
Laureles is another upmarket neighborhood that’s a great area for tourists to stay. This area is where the stadium in Medellin is located, and it’s very similar to El Poblado. The reason I like Laureles is that it’s closer to downtown and more central so you don’t have to travel as far to visit many attractions in Medellin. Some places to stay in Laureles are:
The Wandering Paisa Backpackers Hostel is a top choice for backpackers in Laureles. It has a fantastic atmosphere perfect for meeting other travelers, a great location, and clean facilities. What more could you want? Plus, a bed in a shared dorm starts from just $11 USD a night. You can check availability and book on either Hostelworld.com or Booking.com.
Hotel Vivre – If you want a quiet and comfortable stay then Hotel Vivre will suit you. It’s right off the strip with lots of shops, bars, and restaurants nearby. The rooms here are modern and clean, and breakfast is included in the room rate (which begins at just $66 USD).
Don’t Forget Travel Insurance!
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SafetyWing has helped us out in some scary situations before and their affordable coverage has given us peace of mind. You can read our honest review of SafetyWing for all the pros and cons.
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!