One Day Tour to San Sebastian de Palmitas from Medellin, Colombia
One of the most popular excursions to partake in while in Medellin, this day tour near San Sebastian de Palmitas is a scenic getaway in the Colombian countryside that you wont want to miss. Continue reading to learn more about what to expect on this coffee plantation and horseback riding combination tour.
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Before the Tour
San Sebastian de Palmitas is a small village in the northern region of Colombia. Located about 45 minutes outside of Medellin, the coffee plantation where your tour will begin sits in the surrounding countryside of Palmitas. To make the trip easier, your tour group will take care of transportation to and from the coffee plantation by arranging pickup from your hotel. (Please note that the company only picks up from hotels, so if you’re staying in a hostel, Airbnb, or the like – provide the address of the hotel nearest to you, then meet them out front of the lobby.)
San Sebastian de Palmitas Day Tour
This combination tour typically lasts between 6 – 7 hours, including travel time to and from Medellin. While lunch is ultimately served on the tour, be sure to pack yourself some water and snacks for your journey if you think you may want them.
Coffee 101: A Course on Coffee
When the van drops you off at the plantation, your group will make its way to a small outdoor lecture area. Seated under an overhang on a few large, colorful steps, your guide will delve into an informative lesson on the history of the coffee bean & how to cultivate it.
Perfect for coffee lovers, this illuminating class goes into great detail (~ an hour’s worth) on the subject, providing samplers of the coffee bean at each of its stages.
Cultivate Your Coffee
Now that you’ve learned about the ins & outs of coffee – its your turn to try out the process!
Your guide will distribute some traditional attire, including a hat, apron, poncho, and neckerchief. You will then be given a basket (with a few starter beans in it) and free range of the coffee plants to try to find your own beans to harvest!
The ease of your hunt will vary based on the time of year you’re visiting. While coffee can be harvested in Colombia year round, the most fruitful months are from January to March & July to September.
While away from the bigger group, this also serves as a great time to take some photos in the field and take in the surrounding views!
Regardless of how bountiful your basket is when you’re done in the fields, everyone will have the opportunity to try shelling some beans after. While you will not have a hand in every step, you will also get to see each proceeding stage of the process as well – including fermentation, washing, and drying.
Last but not least, the coffee-themed portion of the day will end with another tasting session! Except this time it’s more than just the bean – you’ll get to enjoy a fresh brew!
Enjoy a Traditional Colombian Lunch
Once you’ve had your fill of caffeine, your guide will provide a classic Colombian lunch for the group. Served in plantain leaves, the meal generally consists of rice, chicken, plantain, and mashed potatoes. It is also served with a rejuvenating lemon water infused with a bit of honey derived from the local coffee beans. Be sure to fill up to prepare for the second half of the day!
Horseback Ride Through the Countryside
To end your day, you will saddle up on the farm’s local horses and ride off to a scenic viewpoint in the mountains! All of the horses are well trained, so definitely don’t worry if it’s your first time riding. Your guide will also lead the horse, so you will not have to provide any direction on your own.
There are some steep hills to ascend on your way to the viewpoint, so be sure to lean forward on your horse to keep your center of balance. After you’ve taken in the beautiful views in the mountains, you will be lead through a few local neighborhoods in San Sebastian de Palmitas before arriving back at the coffee plantation.
Once back at the coffee farm, your van will pick you up to begin the 45 minute journey back to Medellin. Please let us know what your favorite thing about the tour was in the comments below!
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About the Author: Hi, I’m Jill! I am a biomedical & mechanical engineer who loves traveling during my free time. My hope is to help make it easier for others to plan their dream trips by providing firsthand experience from the places I’ve been! Read More.
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What a great experience! I love that you get to pick your own. Colombia is so great and affordable.