Armenia (Colombia)
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Armenia is a city in Quindío department in Colombia's Zona Cafetera.
Get in
By plane
El Eden Airport (AXM) is 20 minutes from the city center. Has a food court in one of its sides were you can enjoy tropical fruit juices like maracuya, mango and guanabana; also try some coffee cookies and the special caramel spread with coffee ready to go. There are other places with magazines and always display some typical art in the walls. The washrooms are very clean and in general people are very warm.By bus
The bus terminal is 3 km from the centre of town where there are plenty of hotels. Expect to pay no more than COP$4,000 for a cab to the centre.- Cali: COP$22,000, 3½ hours
- Bogotá: COP$40,000, 8 hours
- Medellín: COP$31,000, 6 hours
- Popayán: COP$31,000, 6 hours
- Manizales: COP$17,000, 2½ hours every 15 minutes with a minibus
- Pereira: COP$7,800, 1 hours every 15 minutes with a minibus
- Salento: COP$4,200, 30 min
Get around
There are taxis all over and they run into the night. Negotiate a price before riding if the meter is off.
See
Cocora Valley
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Parque De La Vida
address: Avenida Bolívar corner Calle 6NRather big park with a lake and a artificial water cascade. Calm atmosphere and good for relaxing. Many different trees including a bamboo forest. It is worth a visit.
Do
- Recuca - Recorrido de la cultura cafetera (
National Coffee ParkA theme park where you can see different fauna and vegetation, see typical folk dances, ride roller coasters, visit museums inside the park, and ride a touristic train.
Eat
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Restaurante Cafe Quindio Gourmet
phone: +57 6 749 5970address: Carerra 14, #7N (Ave. Bolivar)A dining experience in a clean, modern setting with outdoor seating under a large canopy in addition to the inside tables. Not pricey by U.S. or European standards, exotic appetizers and salads are priced from COP$9,500-16,500, and beef, pork, chicken, seafood, and pasta entrees are COP$18,000-34,500. Beverages include natural fruit juices, coffee, beer, wine, and scotch. A great venue for a first date with a lovely senorita, or your significant other. There are also Quindio coffees, coffee cookies, and gift sets available in the gift shop. The gracious owner, Jaime Moreno Motta, is likely to personally greet you, especially if he hears you speaking English, in which he, and several of his staff are fluent.
Sleep
Hotel Cafe Plaza
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phone: +57 67426587address: Km 3 via al valleA great and warm place with kind staff, all types of rooms (nicely decorated), amazing swimming pools and a Turkish bath. The hotel is eco-friendly.
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phone: +57 6 746 6078address: Carrera 14, #7N-32 (Ave. Bolivar)A very pleasant, clean, and modern hotel with very helpful and friendly staff, within two blocks of various dining venues, drugstores and a supermarket. A very safe and quiet area in the evenings. Approximately COP$4,000 cab ride from the main bus terminal, and COP$2,000-3,000 COP from the chaotic downtown area. All rooms have LCD flat screen TVs, refrigerator, Wi-Fi, and include a hot breakfast. Single COP$79,000-89,000; Double COP$111,000-123,000; Triple COP$154,000; and Studios for up to five persons COP$129,000-245,000.
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phone: +573125900066address: Calle 16N # 14-92Backpacker Hostel with dormitories and private rooms. Dorms start at COP$23,000. The rooms and bathrooms are clean. Hot water available. Laundry service available. Kitchen available for cooking etc. Kind and helpful staff. There is a café/bar in the basement with street access, where music and sometimes live music is played until 22:00. Live music can be very loud and is heard in all the common rooms. Check-out at 11:00.