Finca El Ocaso: Coffee Tour With Jeep Willys, Harvesting And Coffee Tasting

Aboard an iconic Jeep Willys —the most authentic mode of transport in the Coffee Region—you`ll depart from Salento`s main square with our guide, who will be waiting for you with a sign. In approximately 30 minutes, you`ll descend along rural roads bordering the Quindío River until you reach Finca El Ocaso , a family farm with over 100 years of history, located 1,900 meters above sea level in the heart of the Coffee Cultural Landscape, a UNESCO World Heritage Site .

Upon arrival, the bilingual (Spanish/English) guide begins the tour of the shade-grown coffee plantations , a system that protects the farm`s biodiversity and promotes the slow development of the beans, key to producing high-quality coffee. You will learn to identify the Tabi and Castillo varieties that grow on these slopes, understand their complete life cycle, and, during harvest season, have the opportunity to pick coffee with your own hands.

The tour then moves on to the post-harvest process : the guide explains and demonstrates in detail each stage of the bean`s transformation, from pulping and fermentation, through drying and threshing, to artisanal roasting. At this point, you will also learn about the history of the Colombian coffee industry and the secrets behind its international reputation.

The tour concludes with a tasting of specialty coffee prepared using filter methods right on the farm. You`ll discover in your cup the characteristic notes of El Ocaso coffee: caramel, red berries, balanced acidity, and a creamy body . A way to understand, once and for all, the difference between ordinary coffee and a truly special one.

At the end, we returned in a Jeep Willys to the meeting point in Salento Square.