Visit Jardin

I always enjoy returning to this charming little town, which I’ve explored thoroughly during my various stays.

I think it’s an excellent choice for travelers who like to take their time while having a variety of activities to brighten their day.

Let’s first discover the best things to do in Jardín and its surroundings.

TOM’S TIP

I love Jardin’s local vibe and scenery, but other lovely destinations such as Jerico, Santa Fé de Antioquia, and Guatapé also deserve a visit.

Things to do in Jardin, Colombia

Staying in Jardín offers a delightful way to discover the life of a colonial village in Antioquia, complemented by stunning sceneries.

Discover Jardin without rushing

Jardín is one of Colombia’s 17 heritage villages. It’s a wonderful place to live, and I love immersing myself in its relaxed atmosphere alongside the locals.

Wander through the streets with white houses, colorful woodwork, and flower-adorned balconies. As you pass by, look discreetly through the open windows to see lovely little patios brimming with plants.

Stop by Don Samuel’s shop, where he makes the famous Aguadeño hat the local men wear. My father couldn’t resist getting one.

Stroll around the main square, surrounded by the colorful tables and chairs of the cafés, overlooked by the majestic Basilica Menor of the Immaculate Conception, a beautiful and elegant neo-Gothic building.

ADRIEN’S TIP

Walk around the main square in the evening to get beautiful photos of the basilica illuminated.

Enjoy a good cup of coffee

Coffee Jardin Antioquia Colombia

Don’t leave without enjoying a coffee on the main square.

You can opt for the welcoming terrace of Café Macanas beside the basilica or Café Cuchillas. If you want to discover various coffee preparation methods, head to the first-floor terrace of Café Los Andes. I had a coffee prepared with a Chemex. Plus, you can easily watch the local life in the square.

Eat a good pastry

Got a small appetite? Head to Dulces de Jardín for a delightful pastry in a wonderfully photogenic setting with numerous hanging flower pots. Indulge in their homemade jams—they’re truly scrumptious.

TOM’S TIP

I was surprised by the variety of vegetarian restaurants. Here are a few places to try without moderation: Legado, Revolucion Bananera, Consulado Vegetal.

VIEW Jardin from above

Jardín is located in a valley, so there are stunning viewpoints not to be missed—especially with a good cup of coffee.

  • Cristo Rey & Café Jardin: This is my favorite lookout. I like to take a tuk-tuk from the main square to Café Jardin (about 20 minutes). After a good coffee, I can walk to Cristo Rey (15 minutes). There’s a delicious restaurant there serving wood-fired steaks. From there, you can walk down through the sugar cane fields to La Argelia or take the stairs from the Cristo back to the village—be careful; this path can get muddy if it rains a lot.
  • Mirador la Herrerita: I stumbled upon this little bar while walking above Jardín on my way to La Garrucha. It has a lovely terrace made of guaduas (bamboo), perfect for enjoying a beer or a coffee.
  • La Garrucha: This is a cable car that crosses a quebrada (river) and reaches Jardín. It offers a great view of the village and the coffee and banana plantations. The cable car is closed at lunchtime.

Things to do around Jardin

The magnificent landscapes around Jardin will delight nature lovers.

VISIT A COFFEE FARM

Visiting a coffee finca is essential in Colombia, and Jardín’s climatic conditions make it ideal for this experience.

You can contact Finca Cafetera Los Angeles directly; the owners are delightful.

If you want to learn all about coffee cultivation and are tempted by a farm stay, Marta and Gustavo will host you at their lovely family finca and share their coffee passion. Additionally, Marta is an excellent cook.

At Finca Mariposa, I enjoyed the daily life with Dave and Maria, charming hosts who shared all the secrets of coffee in a stunning and comfortable environment.

Beautiful hikes

Encircled by beautiful greenery and hills, Jardín is an ideal destination for walking. You’ll easily find trails to match your fitness level.

THE EASY HIKES

This hike takes you on a scenic trail (La Herrera) from the village, leading to La Cascada del Amor and Charco Corazón. Afterward, you can continue to La Garrucha and then descend to Jardín—allow about 1 hour.

For an incredible view of Jardín, hike up to the Cristo Rey viewpoint. It takes about 1 hour on a steep, sometimes muddy path if you start from Calle 11 con Carrera 2, or 1.5 hours if you take the Salada trail to the left.

the famous Cueva del Esplandor

If you want a longer hike, I recommend visiting the Cueva del Esplendor, the most popular site in Jardín.

The more adventurous can hike there from the village (3 hours), but with so many great things to do here, I don’t think it’s worth it.

Personally, to fit in another activity in the afternoon, I chose to go through the official agency (here). This allowed me to take a jeep for the first part (50 minutes). After that, there was a 30-minute walk on an easy path to Finca Linda, where a hot agua panela breakfast with arepa and cheese awaited me.

Restored, I descended a narrow, sometimes steep, and slippery path to the waterfall (20 minutes).

The Cueva del Esplendor truly lives up to its name.

A powerful waterfall bursts through the rocky ceiling of a cave and spills into a deep pool surrounded by rocks. Naturally, I couldn’t resist taking a dip. I came out freezing but delighted—what wouldn’t I do for you?

ADRIEN’S TIP

It’s a very popular spot (especially on weekends), which can take away some of its magic. I recommend going with the first tour of the day

The great Las Siete Cascadas hike

This is my favorite hike, and I enjoy doing it after a hearty breakfast at Café Macanas.

After a 25-minute jeep ride, we took small trails through stunning Andean vegetation, crossing rivers and skirting canyons. Sometimes, I had to use pre-installed ropes, or José, our guide, would take one out of his bag. At lunchtime, we settled in a forest to devour a traditional meal José had brought, served on a banana leaf.

The circuit features 7 beautiful waterfalls, including El Salto del Angel, La Cueva de los Guacharos, and the astonishing Garganta del Diablo, where you can observe the strange hanging nests of the Mochileros—curious birds.

TOM’S TIP

Some steep and slippery sections require caution, especially during the rainy season. It’s best to be a good hiker to embark on this 7-hour adventure.

CANYONING

Canyoning Jardin (1)

La Escalera and its 18 waterfalls are ideal for canyoning, especially if you want to try it out for the first time. The path along the waterfall to the top is very steep. But hey, good things come with sweat.

You can choose to descend two or five waterfalls. You’ll be well supervised, and all the necessary equipment will be provided.

ADRIEN’S TIP

For all these activities in nature, I went with the company Jardin de Aventura.

HORSEBACK RIDING

A horseback ride is a great way to enjoy the beautiful scenery around Jardín without getting too tired.

There are several interesting itineraries (2 to 5 hours), but I recommend the ride with William to Chorro Blanco for a real adventure. I loved it—my backside a bit less.

My faithful steed and I followed an old mule trail through lush vegetation to a farmhouse where a traditional meal served on a banana leaf awaited me. Refueled, I continued on foot, emerging behind the Chorro Blanco waterfall through a mysterious 20-meter tunnel dug into the rock and tree roots.

ADRIEN’S TIP

This 7-hour hike includes 3.5 hours on horseback. Best done if you’re comfortable riding.


where to stay in Jardin, Colombia

The full list of my favorite hotels in Jardin.

Hotel Plantación: sustainable approach

Hotel Plantacion
Credit: Hotel Plantación

Hotel Plantación is a great example of a successful eco-friendly commitment. It uses materials chosen for natural temperature regulation, renewable energy, a vegetable garden, and a delicious vegetarian restaurant. The hotel is full of light, with soft colors and comfortable rooms that open onto a balcony or patio. A minimum two-night reservation is required. It is located in the village.

Hotel Passiflora: Elegance and comfort

Passiflora Hotel Jardin
Credit: Hotel Passiflora

Hotel Passiflora is a beautiful and pleasant colonial house in the center of Jardín, opening onto a lovely flowered patio and overlooking a small garden with a jacuzzi. The elegant rooms are very comfortable, and the restaurant is the best in town. It’s an ideal choice for a romantic stay.

Gulupa Ecolodge : a beautiful view

Gulupa Hotel in Jardin Antioquia Colombia

Located 50 minutes on foot or 15 minutes by tuk-tuk, Gulupa Ecolodge is a beautifully constructed brick and wood building, tastefully decorated and nestled in the stunning hills overlooking the town. With comfortable rooms, suspended nets in an idyllic setting, and a jacuzzi, it’s a peaceful and cozy retreat.

Jardin Consentido: economic and peaceful

Jardin Consentido Antioquia Colombia (Jardin Consentido)
Credit: Jardin Consentido

Located 10 minutes on foot from town (by taking the Garrucha), the small hotel Jardín Consentido is a haven of peace. The hosts are delightful and serve a delicious breakfast you’ll enjoy in front of a beautiful landscape full of flowers and birds. Even the rooms are spacious and perfect. In short, you feel right at home at Camilo and Lina’s place.


How to get to jardin, colombia

Jeep Jardin Antioquia Colombia (1)

Getting to Jardin is easy enough, although depending on where you’re coming from, you may have to be a little patient.

FROM Medellín TO Jardin

Take a bus to Jardin departing from the South Terminal in Medellin. It’s best to go with Rapido Ochoa buses as they are faster than Transportes Suroeste buses—though they are less frequent. The ride takes 4 hours. Check the schedules for both companies.

FROM Jerico to Jardin

Take the Chiva (traditional bus) to Andes. It departs from the corner of Carrera 4 and Calle 8 near the basilica. There are two departures per day (morning and early afternoon). The trip takes 2.5 hours.

From Andes, continue your journey by bus or taxi. You will reach Jardin in 30 minutes.

From Pereira to Jardin

Take a bus with Flota Occidental from the Pereira terminal to Riosucio. It’s best to leave around 8 AM. The trip lasts 3 hours.

From there, continue by Chiva to Jardin. The ride is somewhat uncomfortable but fun and unique. There are two departures daily (morning and early afternoon). The journey takes 4 hours.

From Salento to Jardin

Take the direct bus with Flota Occidental, which departs from Salento to Riosucio in the morning. The trip lasts 4 hours.

Then continue by Chiva to Jardin. There are two departures daily (morning and early afternoon). The journey takes 4 hours.

If you miss the Salento–Riosucio bus, you can take a bus to Pereira and then follow the route to Jardin as described above.

TOM’S TIP

If you take the Chiva, check the schedules with your hotel. And if it’s a Sunday, arrive at least 30 minutes early to secure a seat, as Colombians like to visit their families on that day.

Getting around Jardin

TukTuk Jardin Antioquia Colombia (3)

The village is small (8 carreras by 15 calles); you can explore everything on foot.

If you feel tired or want to explore the surroundings, you can take a tuk-tuk. They are stationed at the main square, and the rates are regulated.

Some trails are in poor condition, so the only solution is to take a jeep with three front seats and two benches in the back. Be aware—it can be a bumpy ride!

ADRIEN’S TIP

There isn’t an “official” bus terminal in Jardin. You’ll need to go here.