Jericó Coffee Farm Tour & Rainbow Waterfall Experience

Summary

Hands-On Coffee Culture Tour in Antioquia’s Countryside

If you want to really understand Colombian coffee culture—not just taste it—this tour lets you pick beans alongside real farmers and see how everything works behind the scenes. Plus there’s home-cooked food, mountain views, and that hidden rainbow waterfall you’d never find alone.

What’s the experience like?

The dirt road out of Jericó gets quieter with every turn. I remember the first thing that hit me stepping off the van at La Cascada Arcoiris Farm: the smell—fresh earth, sweet coffee blossoms, and a hint of wood smoke from Ariel’s kitchen. Ariel himself waved us over, his hands stained from years of picking cherries. You can tell this place is far from city noise—just birds and the soft rush of water somewhere below.

We started with a glass of guava juice under the old avocado tree. Our guide, Mateo, grew up nearby and knew every inch of the hillside. He walked us through rows of coffee plants, letting us try picking ripe red cherries ourselves (it’s trickier than it looks). The process is all hands-on—de-shelling beans with an old wooden crank, feeling how sticky they get during fermentation, then spreading them out to dry on big mesh racks in the sun. The family showed us their roasting room too; you’ll never forget that nutty smell.

Lunch was simple but perfect: beans, rice, fried plantain, and chicken stew cooked by Ariel’s wife. We ate together at a long table while dogs napped nearby and someone played vallenato quietly on a radio. On the way back to town we stopped at the waterfall—if you catch it just after noon and the sun’s right, there’s this rainbow that hangs in the spray for a few minutes. Last stop was a tiny roadside fonda where we shared cold beers with locals swapping stories about harvests gone by.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Coffee Farm and Waterfall Visit

• Tour coffee farm and learn cultivation
• Enjoy traditional lunch and fresh juice
• Visit viewpoints and waterfall with rainbow
• Stop at traditional Antioquia countryside bar

Top questions

Is this tour suitable for people who don’t know much about coffee?

Absolutely! The guides explain everything step by step and make it easy to follow along—even if you’ve never seen a coffee plant before.

What should I wear or bring for this experience?

Wear comfy shoes for walking on uneven ground and bring sunscreen or a hat—the sun can be strong out here. A light jacket helps if it rains.

Can vegetarians be accommodated for lunch?

Yes! Just let us know ahead of time so we can prepare something fresh without meat.

How long does the whole tour take?

The experience usually lasts around 6 hours including travel time from Jericó and all stops along the way.

What’s included

Your day includes private transport from Jericó, guided farm tour with hands-on coffee making steps, traditional homemade lunch (with options), fresh juice or local coffee/tea, entrance to viewpoints and waterfall stop, plus a visit to an authentic countryside fonda for a drink with locals.