When In Chinchina – Do Grab A Coffee!

Heading from Manizales to Pereira is a 22 miles drive. Somewhere halfway, at a place called Chinchina, I took a short break to have an equipment safety check and pick up some hot beverage. I’ll tell you this – beware of the highway food!

Now, Chinchina is a place with character! Elevated just above 4,500ft, and under 100,000 inhabitants, it is settled in the surrounding of “fincas”, which means coffee plantations. The place is also known as part of the UNESCO World Heritage Coffee Cultural Landscape since 2011.

Apart from “fincas”, there is a coffee factory and a coffee research center. A perfect place to have your coffee!

In Downtown Chinchina

The town has a special vibe. The main square is spacious and dominating structure is catholic Basilica Nuestra Senora de las Mercedes. There are enough benches and shade to sit down and take a break.

On the Road and Tinto Coffee

The view that I cannot resist is the one that is waiting for you when you go out of town. The panoramic view of the town surrounded by green, green valleys is just stunning! And that is just how all ride from Manizales to Pereira looks like – a road line through greenery!

In case you need to have a drink or a meal, there are many places to stop. There’s a great chance that you will find people who used to live next door somewhere in the States. And you might be offered a wife along the way.

I’ve had a cup of tinto coffee, which is the most commonly prepared coffee in Colombia and means a long black coffee. Now, at some places, you may be given an americano, an espresso coffee, but in the street, in local cafes, or the people’s houses you will be offered a real thing. And all you need to do is to ask for “un tinto, por favor”! My light breakfast was all about eggs, Chocolo cheese, arepa, and a cup of hot chocolate.

I know it may seem that this text has one too many coffee words in it, but we are at the Colombian heart of coffee!

And P.S.

p.s. Should you decide to take a haircut, do let me know and I just might recommend a barbershop that is so perfect for both – having a haircut and beer chilling!