GENERAL INFORMATION

Capital: Armenia
Altitude: 1.480 meters ( Armenia )
Temperature: 24 degrees C
Population: 245.000
Economy: Commerce, agriculture: coffee, citric, pineapple, cassava, beans, tomato, plantain, banana, agrotourism.
Telephone Prefix : 6 (096)
Getting there : Air or land.
Distance and time from Bogotá:
Land: 265 km
Air: 25 minutes

One of the youngest departments of the country, Quindio has its economic and agricultural base in coffee. The people from this region are known for their warmth and generosity. The mountains here are dotted with coffee plantations and many other agricultural products -- beautiful landscape. Quindio stands out for its traditional Antioquía architecture.

 

ATRACTIONS

RECREATIONAL PARKS: (Consult our section of Coffee Region attractions.)

Parque Nacional del Café: Located in the municipality of Montenegro, The Coffee Park offers the visitor a taste of the traditions and culture of the coffee region. Enjoy the view from the top of the coffee monument, walk through an elaborate ecological path and the garden of fables, visit the Paisa Village, ride horses, roller coasters, the train and gondolas. You can also enjoy shows and presentations. (Consult our section of Coffee Region attractions.)

Fees and Ticket Prices: Avoid long lines, and contact us for entrance passes and packets for no additional charge.

PANACA - National Park dedicated to the culture of farming and livestock. There's an interactive park, cultural room, summer camps and more. Located in Quimbaya, it's a great theme park where you will learn about domestic animals and enjoy the beauty of country life. Among other attractions, don't miss out on the world of livestock, the world of birds, and the sensational world of pigs, dogs, horses, and even bio-organics (bugs!). (Consult our section of Coffee Region attractions.)

Fees and Ticket Prices: Avoid long lines, and contact us for entrance passes and packets for no additional charge.

 

MUSEUMS (Consult our section of Coffee Region attractions.)

Museo de la Guadua y el Bambú: Located in Córdoba, this is the ideal place for you to visit to familiarize yourself with the diverse uses of guadua and bamboo. (Consult our tours and programs)

Quimbaya Museum : National Architecture Award designed by the famous Colombian architect Rogelio Salmona. One of the most complete collections of pre-Colombian art and artifacts is housed in this museum. (Consult our section of Coffee Region attractions.)

 

NATURE

Salento - Valle de Cocora: Here you can enjoy the diversity of flora and fauna in the High Andean Woods. In Cocora Valley, there are high concentrations of the national tree -- the Palma de Cera -- a tree that stands out for its long skinny trunk and tremendous height.

From Cocora Valley, you can hike to the Acaime and Herencia Verde Natural Reserves.( (Consult our section of Coffee Region attractions.)

 

ACTIVITIES

 

FAIRS AND FESTIVALS

Procession of Our Mother of Solitude
Anniversary of Quindio. Jeep Parade
International Air Festival
National Concourse of Hermanos Moncada Duets
National Coffee Queen
International/National Craft Fair
Parade of "Old Year" Dolls
National Coffee Beauty Pageant
Coffee and Poetry
Meeting of Absent Children
Festival of Candles and Lanterns
Palma de Cera Beauty Pageant

GASTRONOMY

Beans cooked with pork, served with ground beef, rice, plantain, avocado, fried eggs, chorizos, fried pig skin, and sweet plantain create this amazing dish called bandeja paisa. It's certainly not for the small eater. And the best trout you'll ever eat is the trout in Salento with fried plantain.

Mazamorra -- a corn drink with milk and sweet guava or sugar cane is a typical Pereira drink. Also, we recommend corn arepas with cheese, buñuelos and natilla (cheese donuts and cinnamon pudding, typical during the Christmas season), exquisite fruit salads with cream or ice cream, las solteritas (a cookie served with condensed milk), obleas with cream, strawberry and sour sop meringue, and candied figs with cheese.

The traditional alcohol of the region is aguardiente.

 

TRANSPORTATION

 

Air:
Airports
Airport el Eden

Commercial Airlines :
Avianca
Satena

Land
Bus Terminal: ( Buses, taxis ):
Address: Tel:

 

COMMUNICATION

Newspapers:

La crónica del Quindio

Regional Channel

Telecafe

 

HOTELS - LODGING

FOOD - RESTAURANTS

ENTERTAINMENT