You’ll wander through Santa Rosa de Cabal’s lively streets, soak in mineral-rich hot springs beneath waterfalls, and taste authentic local chorizo. With hotel pickup included and plenty of time to relax in volcanic waters or chat with locals over lunch, this is one of those days you’ll remember long after the trip.
“If you want the real chorizo, you have to try it here,” the driver grinned as we rolled into Santa Rosa de Cabal. I was still half-asleep from the drive out of Pereira, but that woke me up fast — I didn’t expect food to be part of a hot springs day trip. The town itself felt like it had just rained: everything smelled fresh, a little earthy, and people were already out chatting by the plaza even though it was barely mid-morning.
The walk up to the hot springs was shorter than I thought — maybe ten minutes? There’s this low rumble from the waterfalls before you see them, kind of like distant thunder. Our driver pointed out which pools were hottest (he said locals always go for the hottest one first, but I chickened out and started with something milder). The steam made my glasses fog up instantly. I remember dipping my hand in and thinking it felt almost silky, not just hot. You could hear birds somewhere above us, but mostly it was just quiet except for water splashing and people laughing softly.
I tried to order chorizo at lunch and totally mangled the pronunciation — Li laughed and helped me out (I think she’s used to tourists trying). It tasted smoky and a bit sweet, nothing like what I’d had back home. Sitting there wrapped in my towel with wet hair, eating sausage and watching clouds drift over the green hills… honestly, that’s the part I still think about. The whole day felt slower than usual, like time stretched out around those warm pools.
Santa Rosa de Cabal is a small town near Pereira city; travel time is short by car.
Yes, hotel pickup and drop-off are included in your booking.
Yes, you should bring your own towel for use at the hot springs.
No official guide is included; a driver accompanies you during the trip.
Bring comfortable shoes, sunscreen, water, your camera, and a towel; dress appropriately for weather conditions.
No lunch is not included; you can buy food such as local chorizo in town.
Yes, infants are allowed but must sit on an adult’s lap during transport.
Yes, it operates in all weather conditions; dress accordingly.
Your day includes hotel pickup and drop-off with a local driver who knows Santa Rosa de Cabal well. Entry tickets to the thermal hot springs are covered so you can relax without worry—just remember to bring your own towel for comfort between dips in those mineral-rich pools.
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