Colombia's Coffee Zone with Kids: Bogotá & Pereira - 7 Days

Day 1: Arrive in Bogotá, Family-Friendly Sightseeing

Welcome to Bogotá! Your driver will meet you at the airport and transfer you to your hotel. Depending on your time of arrival, this afternoon is free for you to rest or jump straight in and start exploring the city. If your kids are older and you're feeling energetic, climb to the top of Cerro Monserrate for an overview of the city's scale and skyline. Alternatively, spend some relaxing time in Simón Bolívar Park, checking out its lakes and gardens. For your first meal in Bogotá, head to the Paloquemao Market, where you'll find local specialties like empanadas, ajiaco (chicken and potato soup), and crispy cheese buñuelos.

Day 2: Fruits of Colombia Tour, Explore Bogotá

Get the day off to a fresh, tasty start on a fruit-focused walking tour, which is sure to please hungry kids with a sweet tooth. Colombia's fruits come in a variety of colors, sizes, and flavors. A private guide will walk you through some of the food stalls at the Plaza de Mercado de Paloquemao while sharing the history of the market and introducing you to local vendors. Taste 15 different fruits, three shots of fresh juice, and other Colombian snacks throughout the tour.

Later, explore more of the capital and learn more about Bogotá's history and culture on a walking tour. Start in Plaza de Bolívar, the city's colonial-era center. Learn about its neoclassical Catedral Primada (Bogotá's largest cathedral) and other significant monuments. Next, visit the Gold Museum, with its impressive collection of pre-Columbian gold pieces. Finish at Museo de Botero, one of Latin America's most important art collections, with over 200 works donated to the city by Colombian painter Fernando Botero. This tour is ideal for families with older kids who can comfortably be on their feet for a while.

Day 3: Fly to Pereira, Santa Rosa Hot Springs

Today you'll fly west of Bogotá to the city of Pereira, in the heart of Colombia's Zona Cafetera (Coffee Zone). At the airport in Pereira, you'll be met by your driver and transferred to your hotel. After you've had time to settle in, it's time to head back out to explore the region's natural beauty.

Travel 30 minutes from Pereira to Santa Rosa de Cabal. From the town, continue for another 40 minutes, driving through the mountains until you reach the Santa Rosa hot springs. The waterfall here, and the Andean cloud forest, make it an ideal place to relax, and your family can enjoy the chance to refresh in nature after this morning's journey. On the way back to Pereira, sample some local chorizo Santarrosano—cured sausage served with arepas (ground corn pancakes).

Day 4: Visit the Coffee Park

Today, everyone in the family can enjoy learning about how coffee is grown and produced at the 237-acre (96 ha) Parque del Café (Coffee Park), a natural and cultural theme park. With more than 20 mechanical and cultural attractions, it presents a mixture of the traditional and the modern and will even appeal to non-coffee-drinking kids.

The park is full of trees and plants and is a great introduction to the customs and traditions of the region. Learn about the history of coffee growing in Colombia through trails exhibiting a wide range of varietals, enjoy an entertaining coffee show, and participate in modern mechanical attractions. 

Day 5: Bird-Watching at the Río Blanco Reserve

Bird-loving kids (and parents!) are in luck today, as you'll get the chance to spot a huge variety of avian wonders in the Río Blanco Forest Reserve, northeast of Pereira. The park contains very important endemic species that are quite easy to see, especially with a pair of binoculars and a knowledgeable guide who is an expert in birds.

The more than 360 species found here include rusty-faced parrots, golden-plumed parakeets, rufous-banded owls, and other species representative of the High Andean forest. A major highlight for everyone, though, will be spotting many varieties of tiny, colorful hummingbirds on an ecology walk. You may also spot animals such as the spectacled bear and deer. This is a must-do tour for animal and bird enthusiasts.

Day 6: Horseback Riding, Cacao Experience

Enjoy more outdoor activities today with a thrilling horseback riding tour through the Hacienda el Palomar, a short drive from Pereira. This plantation is known for its horseback riding and is considered one of the most beautiful parts of the Coffee Zone. You and your kids be assisted by a cowboy and will ride well-trained horses, so everyone in the family will be comfortable and confident. Start the horseback ride in the Valle de Risaralda, where you can admire the views of the Valle del Cauca, Quindio, and other towns on a two to three-hour ride.

In the afternoon, enjoy a change of pace on a coffee and cacao-focused experience. Hacienda Venecia is at an average altitude of 5,000 feet (1,500 m) in the midst of the volcanic Cordillera Central range of the Colombian Andes. It's one of the main coffee-producing areas in the country and designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Today, cacao is also produced here, and your kids will enjoy getting an insight into cacao growing and chocolate production. Learn about how the cacao fruit is grown and turned into chocolate paste, used as a raw material in the production of various products.

Day 7: Transfer to Bogotá, Depart

It's time to say goodbye to Colombia's Coffee Zone, with a flight from Pereira to Bogotá and then an onward flight home or to your next destination. Depending on your time of departure from Pereira, you may have time to pick up some final coffee-themed souvenirs to take home with you. Adios!

Looking for more inspiration for your family trip to Colombia? Check out these other Colombia itineraries, explore other ways to spend a week in Colombia with your family, or discover the best time to visit Colombia.