“El eje cafetero”, made up of the three departments, Caldas, Quindio and Risaralda, was one of my favourite areas of Colombia. Not only a scenically beautiful area, with some of the most breathtaking views I had seen on my travels, but also a great climate; warm and sunny enough during the day to wear shorts and a t-shirt, but cool enough to wear trousers and a shirt at night.  The food in the Paisa region of Colombia is also a major plus for the ‘foodies’ amongst us, with the locally-sourced fresh, sometimes organic produce often surpassing expectations. I found myself frequently ordering the Bandeja Paisa - a rich meal with almost every food group clamouring for its place on the big dish it’s served in.

Of course, as the name suggests, the Eje Cafetero is the most well known area for coffee growth within Colombia, and it is a must see if you are a coffee lover. I spent a week touring through the towns of Pereira, Armenia and Manizales, all fun and full of very helpful and kind people and great coffee. I would say the highlight of my journey was a tour of a ‘hacienda de café’ (coffee farm) near to Manizales, where being the only visitor late afternoon, I had a private English speaking guide and meal for pennies. I also had a wonderful walk through the beautiful town of Salento, near to Armenia, and up to the Valle de Cocora, which can also be done on horseback if you’re feeling a little lazy.

La Zona cafetera is a must see if you’re headed to Colombia. I am so glad I went there on the recommendation of a good friend in Bogota.