The Eje Cafetero or Salento region is the famous coffee region of Colombia full of tropical environments that are ideal for the growth and production of some of the best and purest coffee beans in the world. Besides the artisanal coffee farms throughout the valley, this quaint tropical region is an excellent place to exhale and decompress, take in the unique beauty through different activities and adventures, and be enchanted by the world that will surround you.
Part of the charm of this region is that the towns are small and getting between towns is relatively simple through different forms of transportation. Sometimes, these transportation options are activities in and of themselves. And we really appreciate when the time between different adventures can be part of the interesting and beautiful experience as well! Let’s talk through your options and when to use each one based on the activities that you are doing and your ultimate destination so you can truly take in this environment.
Do I Need to Rent a Car in the Eje Cafetero Region?
While having full autonomy and flexibility may sound nice, renting a car in the Cocora Valley is completely unnecessary and may take away from your experience here. It may be challenging to find places to park near your accommodations in the different towns. Many of the smaller roads off of the main avenues are bumpy dirt roads that may be challenging to drive on, damaging to the car, or result in unexpected flat tires. In addition, you may not be used to the way that people drive in this part of the world.
That being said, there are other ways to get around the region, including the famous Willys, Uber, taxis, and other bus transportation for longer distances.
Everything You Need to Know About Willys
Willys are the main form of shared transportation around the region, especially for the shorter distances between different towns and activities. They have really been designed for the needs of the tourists and many of their routes will be sufficient for your needs.
So how do they work? In the center square of Salento in the Salento region, the most popular tourist town in this region, there is a stand with Willys parked in front of it. This stand contains a lot of information about the routes of the Willys, their departure times, and the nearby coffee farms to visit. Below are some of the top destinations for the Willys and the nuances of those routes:
Cocora Valley: These Willys leave every 15 minutes, starting at 6:30 AM. (If you are looking to hike in the Cocora Valley, it’s better to take the first Willys.) You will purchase the tickets from the kiosk in the Salento central square with cash and get in line to take the next Willys. Make sure to purchase round-trip tickets so you can take the Willys back from the Cocora Valley from the same location at which you will be dropped off.
Coffee Farms: Once you have chosen the coffee farm that you want to visit, you will purchase round trip tickets at the stand before your tour at the coffee farm. Expect it to take around 30 minutes to get to the farms. You will tell the person at the Willys kiosk where you are looking to go and they will organize the Willys based on the location of the different farms that people are visiting. They also know the times of all the different tours at these farms and have organized the Willys to arrive right on time for these tours.
Other towns, such as Filandia: You can also take Willys to visit the nearby towns. To do this, you need to schedule your Willys transportation two days in advance to guarantee the time at which you want to take the Willys. Because these towns are not as popular as the other tourist destinations in the region, they only run one Willys per hour. Now this will only be for the transportation to the other town. To schedule your return trip, you will need to coordinate with the Willys company in that other town. For Filandia, the Willys office is located in a coffee shop across the street from where Willys park in the center square. If you have a hard time finding it, you can ask a Willys driver for help.
How to Ride the Willys
There are three places where you can sit within the Willys. The first is in the back of the car where they will try to fit 8 people on the benches that line the back of the car. You will not see very much of the route that you are taking if you are sitting in the back of the car. The second is in the front of the car where there are two seats next to the driver. Finally, you can stand on the back of the car while holding onto a bar at the top of the car. This thrilling option will give you the best views of the route that you are taking but it will feel the most dangerous, given that you yourself have to hold on to stay on the car. However, it really does have the best view of the landscape and valley!
Other Transportation Options Around Eje Cafetero Region
While the Willys are the primary form of transportation around the Salento region, you may find that you need other forms of transportation.
Using Uber or Taxis
There are a few Uber cars within this region of Colombia, making it possible to use for longer and more challenging destinations, such as going to the airport or going to different towns. You can also use a taxi to get around. Make sure that the taxi is an official taxi and that the driver starts the meter when you get into the car.
Other Bus Transportation
There are also buses that leave from the main bus station in Salento to different parts of the Salento region. You can ask your hotel about the schedule of these buses or use Google Maps to look up your different options to get around the region. Google Maps has the bus schedule of the public transportation of the region. The buses may be large vans or smaller buses that can take you around the area.
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Hi! We Are Kevin and Melina!
We are Kevin and Melina, two avid travelers who have decided to take our hobby of traveling into our new lifestyle.
Follow along as we show you the highs and lows of planning, coordinating, and executing travel to help you make the most of every travel adventure.
