| Finca Villa Maria, Pereira |
Located only thirty minutes from Pereira this is a stunningl eighty acre working coffee farm. If
you go during the week you will likely be the only guest and have the run of the place. The
price includes free horse riding, fishing in the lake, a great pool and just the most beautiful
peaceful place. Splash out and enjoy it for a few days. I myself have been five times and loved
every second. The more expensive price includes all meals. For complete relaxation there
cannot be a better place. Also the opportunity to learn the coffee making process and see
dozens of workers picking the raw bean off the plants. There are also thousands of plantain(a
type of banana) trees.
you go during the week you will likely be the only guest and have the run of the place. The
price includes free horse riding, fishing in the lake, a great pool and just the most beautiful
peaceful place. Splash out and enjoy it for a few days. I myself have been five times and loved
every second. The more expensive price includes all meals. For complete relaxation there
cannot be a better place. Also the opportunity to learn the coffee making process and see
dozens of workers picking the raw bean off the plants. There are also thousands of plantain(a
type of banana) trees.
Obvioulsy the only option for accommodation is at the finca itself. It may appear a little expensive at 49.000 pesos excluding food and 65.000 pesos
including food but it really is a bargain. The price includes free horse-riding, a tour of the coffee operations, a lake where you can fish and great
service from Humberto and his sister, the cook. The rooms are very nice and the bathrooms spotlessly clean. There is plenty of hot water. During
the day they will give you plenty of coffee and juices. I'm sure you'd pay several times this cost anywhere in the first world
including food but it really is a bargain. The price includes free horse-riding, a tour of the coffee operations, a lake where you can fish and great
service from Humberto and his sister, the cook. The rooms are very nice and the bathrooms spotlessly clean. There is plenty of hot water. During
the day they will give you plenty of coffee and juices. I'm sure you'd pay several times this cost anywhere in the first world
plantain and coffee
harvesting in full swing
harvesting in full swing
some of the machinery pre-dates Jesus... but heh it works
To get to the finca first make your way to the Pereira city bus terminal. From there you have two options.
option 1: take a taxi direct to the finca. It should cost between 15.000 and 25.000 pesos. I don't really recommend this idea
because a lot of the taxi drivers don't want to take there taxis on the last bit of road which is rough.
option 2: take a bus. Find the bus stand where buses depart for the town of Marsella. They depart every fifteen minuntes
at least. Tell the bus driver where you are going. He can leave you at the Bodega you see below. From there its a pleasant
twenty five minute walk to the finca ask the owner of the shop if confused. To get back to Pereira just walk down to this the
main road and buses pass by at least every fifteen minutes.
option 3: take a bus or taxi to Crucero La Combia which is two thirds of the way to the coffee farm. At this intersection point
rent a WIllys Jeep, easy to spot, and pay 10.000 pesos or so for the last fifteen minutes of the journey.
option 1: take a taxi direct to the finca. It should cost between 15.000 and 25.000 pesos. I don't really recommend this idea
because a lot of the taxi drivers don't want to take there taxis on the last bit of road which is rough.
option 2: take a bus. Find the bus stand where buses depart for the town of Marsella. They depart every fifteen minuntes
at least. Tell the bus driver where you are going. He can leave you at the Bodega you see below. From there its a pleasant
twenty five minute walk to the finca ask the owner of the shop if confused. To get back to Pereira just walk down to this the
main road and buses pass by at least every fifteen minutes.
option 3: take a bus or taxi to Crucero La Combia which is two thirds of the way to the coffee farm. At this intersection point
rent a WIllys Jeep, easy to spot, and pay 10.000 pesos or so for the last fifteen minutes of the journey.
Around dusk sit in the open living room area and marvel at the change
in colours of the surrounding area with a bottle of wine... New Zealand
preferibly.
in colours of the surrounding area with a bottle of wine... New Zealand
preferibly.
| the surroundings are like a little garden of eden |
Where to stay
Getting there and away
the pool is fantastic and always empty
go for a fish in the lake or take one of the horses out for a morning gallop
around the acres of coffee and plantain plantations.
around the acres of coffee and plantain plantations.