Jardín: Coffee farm tour from Medellín with lunch

Summary

Wake up to the colors of Jardín & taste Colombia’s coffee culture

You’ll start your day with pickup in Medellín and head straight into Jardín’s colorful streets before visiting a family-run coffee farm in the hills. Meet local farmers, roast beans by hand, enjoy a traditional lunch cooked over firewood, and wander through town with your guide — moments you’ll remember long after you leave Colombia.

What’s the experience like?

I opened my eyes just as we rolled into Jardín — those painted balconies and the smell of rain on stone hit me first. Our guide, Andrés, was already grinning at something I’d missed out the window. He handed us tiny cups of tinto before we even got out of the van. It was early but people were already sweeping their doorsteps, chickens darting between boots. The drive from Medellín had been quiet, except for that one stretch where someone’s playlist went full salsa at 7am (not complaining). I didn’t expect the air to feel so clean or for the hills to look that green — like someone turned up the contrast.

We stopped at a small coffee farm tucked up in the mountains outside town. The farmer, Don Jaime, waved us over with hands stained by years of picking beans. He showed us how to twist ripe cherries off the branch — it’s oddly satisfying, that pop — and then he laughed when I tried to say “cosecha” right (I’m still not sure I nailed it). The smell inside his kitchen was all woodsmoke and brewing coffee; breakfast was arepas hot off the fire, and honestly I could’ve stayed there all morning just listening to stories about harvests and weather gone wrong. There’s a part where you get to try roasting beans yourself — don’t wear white if you’re clumsy like me.

Later we walked through Jardín itself with Andrés pointing out murals and little details I’d never have noticed alone: old men tapping dominoes in the plaza, a woman selling guava sweets from her window. We stopped at the coffee cooperative too — it’s not fancy but you see how much work goes into every cup before it ever leaves Colombia. Lunch back at Don Jaime’s was simple but perfect: beans, rice, chicken cooked over firewood, everything smoky and filling after a morning on our feet. The view down into the valley is something I still think about when I drink coffee at home.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Jardín Coffee Tour and Farm Visit

• Full-day coffee tour with private transport
• Visit small coffee farm and meet farmers
• Enjoy traditional lunch

Top questions

How long does the Jardín coffee tour from Medellín take?

This is a full-day tour starting early with pickup in Medellín and returning by evening.

Is lunch included on this coffee tour?

Yes, a traditional lunch cooked over firewood at a small mountain farm is included.

Do we visit an actual working coffee farm?

Yes, you’ll visit a small family-run coffee farm near Jardín and meet local farmers.

Is transportation provided from Medellín?

Private transportation with air conditioning is included from Medellín.

Are guides local experts?

The tour is led by local guides who know both Jardín and its coffee culture well.

Is breakfast provided during the day trip?

A traditional breakfast is served along the way before arriving at the farm.

Will we walk around Jardín town as part of this tour?

Yes, there’s a guided walking tour around Jardín included in your day.

What’s included

Your day includes private transportation from Medellín with air conditioning, a traditional breakfast en route, hands-on experience at a small mountain coffee farm (with roasting), entry to the local cooperative for insight into Colombia’s coffee market, guided walking tour of Jardín town, and a hearty lunch cooked over firewood before heading back in the evening.