Jardin Travel Guide

Imagine if there were an Instagrammable town in Colombia that was still virtually undiscovered, authentic, and stunningly beautiful. Well, imagine no more. Jardín (pronounced “Hardeen”) in Antioquia is that rare mix of tradition, well-developed tourist infrastructure, natural beauty, and relative anonymity. Read on for my Jardín travel guide, which will convince you to add this gem to your Colombia itinerary.

Located deep in the heart of Colombia’s Zona Cafetera — coffee country — Jardín is an unspoilt colonial town with a nationally recognised main plaza, beautifully maintained pastel-painted buildings, and a laid-back vibe that will lower your heart rate the moment you set foot in town.

This Jardín travel guide has everything you need to plan a visit to the self-styled — and justifiably so — “Prettiest Town in Antioquia.” So, welcome to Jardín, Colombia.

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Why Visit Jardin, Colombia

Jardín is one of 17 Colombian Pueblos Patrimonios — towns that best represent the country’s culture. Blessed with supremely fertile soil and a dramatic Andean backdrop, the area attracted Spanish settlers in the 19th century. The name Jardín, fittingly, is Spanish for “garden.”

The highlight of the town is the main square, which is the centre of local life and epitomises Jardín’s charming Antioquian mountain-town feel. The plaza is lined on three sides by coffee shops and bars, buzzing with locals at all hours of the day and late into the evening. This is a place that takes leisure time and quality of life seriously. Each café has its own colour scheme, with pastel-painted chairs and tables spilling outside and into the square itself.

The fourth side of the plaza is dominated by the town’s large Neo-Gothic church, the Basílica of the Immaculate Conception.

The one word I kept coming back to when writing this Jardín travel guide is authenticity. This isn’t Disney’s idea of a colonial mountain pueblo, prettied up for tourists — it’s a working community, and this is their home and way of life.

Jardín’s location in the Andes gives it access to stunning hikes for all levels. Those willing to test their calves on steep slopes will be rewarded with hidden waterfalls, icy bathing pools, and maybe even a fleeting glimpse of a spectacled bear.

How to Get to Jardín

There are two main departure points for travellers heading to Jardín: Medellín and Salento.

For those brave enough to face the winding mountain roads with more potholes than tarmac, vehicles can be hired in both towns, with several major car hire companies operating in each.

Alternatively, Jardín is well served by buses.

Medellín to Jardín by Bus

Buses run several times a day from Medellín’s Terminal del Sur to Jardín’s main plaza. Rápido Ochoa advertises the journey at three hours — realistically, it’s closer to four (this is Colombia, after all). The buses are generally comfortable, with some offering Wi-Fi and charging sockets. The ticket price includes one suitcase stored in the hold (you’ll be given a luggage tag), plus a 10kg carry-on. Overhead space is limited, so expect your bag to sit at your feet.

A note of caution: despite the option of overnight buses, the roads are twisty and bumpy. You may save on a night’s accommodation, but you’re unlikely to sleep much.

Tickets need to be printed, as mobile versions aren’t accepted. I had no trouble getting this done at my hotel.

Salento to Jardín by Bus

This is a more adventurous undertaking, as there is no direct bus. You have two options:

Option 1 – Via Medellín

Take the seven-hour bus ride to Medellín, then the four-hour service to Jardín as described above. The last departure is at 18:45, meaning you won’t arrive until around 11pm. When I did this route, I broke the journey with a cheap hotel in Medellín near the bus station.

Option 2 – Via Riosucio

This is the adventurous choice. First, take the daily morning bus to Riosucio (about 45 minutes). It’s the only departure, and it fills quickly, so book at least a day in advance.

From Riosucio, things get interesting. The onward bus doesn’t leave until 3pm, so you’ll need to linger in town. I say “bus,” but there’s a strong chance it’ll be a chiva (Colombia’s colourful chicken buses), making the onward journey across rough roads a real adventure.

When’s the Best Time to Visit Jardin

When you visit Jardín, you’ll spend most of your time outdoors, so aim for the driest months in the Andes. Typically, these are December to March, and August through September. Dry weather isn’t guaranteed — this is the mountains — but your chances are better in these months.

December and January are peak season, with an appropriate rise in prices.

Visitors in early August will find the already beautiful town dressed in its finest for the Fiestas de las Rosas. Colombia is the world’s second-largest flower exporter (after the Netherlands), and this festival celebrates its biggest floral export: roses. Expect parades, music, and elaborate floral displays.

Best Things to Do in Jardín

Explore the Central Plaza & Basílica

Jardín’s central plaza is the heart of this beautiful pueblo. In the daytime, the square’s coffee shops are filled with older locals chatting over strong black coffee. In the evening, it becomes the venue for social gatherings. Families sit with their children on the hand-painted chairs, listening to music and watching the skills of the Paso Fino horse riders.

The backdrop to this is the Basílica, seemingly too large for a town of this size, but worth visiting in its own right. An unusual (for Colombia) Neo-Gothic church, its grey stones and white mortar gleam when lit up at night.

Ride the La Garrucha Cable Car

The government-installed, European-built cable car to Cerro del Cristo Rey hasn’t worked for some time. There is a rewarding hike to the top, but daredevils seeking a cable car fix should ride La Garrucha instead.

When a local businessman needed to get his staff across the valley, he strung a couple of cables over the chasm, fixed a horsebox to it, and powered it with a van engine. Ingenious!

Many visitors hike to the restaurant on the other side, enjoy a drink for Dutch courage, and then ride La Garrucha back into town.

Visit Coffee Farms (Fincas)

Jardín sits in Colombia’s coffee triangle, and what better way to spend a day than visiting one of the area’s fincas to see how your favourite brew is grown, processed, and eventually makes its way into your cup.

Several coffee farms in the surrounding countryside offer tours.

Discover La Cueva del Esplendor

What makes the “Cave of Splendour” so special, and very much worth including in any Jardín travel guide, is the 210-foot waterfall that plunges through a hole in the cave’s roof into a pool below.

The cave can be reached on foot from town, but it’s a long walk and parts of the route aren’t particularly inspiring. A better option is to join one of the many tours that run there, or simply take a taxi or tuk-tuk to the finca near the cave and start the 4.5km return hike from there. I didn’t do the hike myself, but reviews say it’s not technically difficult, just quite steep.

The cave is on private land, and an access fee of 20,000 Colombian pesos is payable.

Birdwatching & Nature Photography

High on the list of things to do in Jardín is birdwatching. The area is a hotspot for birders. Not only does it boast an extraordinary number of colourful species, easily seen in the countryside, it also offers three unique birdwatching experiences.

Andean Cock-of-the-Rock

Just outside town, a private reserve offers one of the best opportunities in the world to see this spectacular scarlet bird. Even better, they display at a very civilised 4pm.

Oilbird Colony

Also walkable from the square is a chance to see a colony of oilbirds. These birds are incredibly difficult to spot elsewhere, as they are nocturnal and usually roost in caves, using a bat-like echolocation to navigate. At Reserva Los Guácharos, however, a colony roosts on the walls of a deep river gorge. Owners Arley and Samantha guide you down a steep path before strapping you into a harness and leading you across a rope bridge to the colony.

Afterwards, you can relax for an hour at their feeders, with chances to see the endemic Red-bellied Grackle, several species of oropendola, and numerous hummingbirds.

Yellow-eared Parrot

This rare endemic species can be seen at a reserve about an hour’s drive from town. It’s best observed at dawn as it leaves its roost. You’ll likely need a local guide to help you find the spot, which is near a farm.

Enjoy Waterfalls & Nature Trails

Jardín and its surroundings are a paradise for hikers, with rewarding trails suitable for all abilities. Many lead to spectacular waterfalls, such as Cascada La Escalera and Salto del Ángel — 5.5km and 8km hikes respectively, both rated as “hard” by hiking site AllTrails.

The condition of these paths varies dramatically depending on the weather, so don’t attempt them alone unless you’re a very experienced hiker. Local guides are available.

Where to Eat and Drink in Jardín

No Jardín travel guide would be complete without recommendations on the best places to eat and drink.

Coffee

Given Jardín’s location in Colombia’s coffee triangle, let’s start with the obvious. The main plaza is both beautiful and the hub of local life, perfect for people-watching. Grab a tinto and one of the multi-coloured chairs (each café has its own colour scheme) and watch the world go by.

My favourite spots on the plaza were Café Europa del Jardín and Cafe La Manchuria. A little further afield, Collectores Café del Jardín is great for breakfast, good Wi-Fi, and plenty of power sockets.

Bandeja Paisa

Try this gut-busting Antioquian speciality at La Parrilla de Mi Pueblo. The “peasant’s platter” dates back to when locals needed to eat just once a day, so everything was piled onto a single plate. Expect beans, rice, eggs, minced beef, pork crackling, black pudding, sausage, avocado, plantain, and arepa. If you’ve any appetite left afterwards, La Parrilla also serves a decent breakfast.

Trout (Trucha)

Perhaps Salento does it slightly better, but with so many fast-flowing mountain streams around town, Jardín’s trout is still superb. Try trucha a la plancha or trucha al ajillo at Oleo Bistro Restaurante.

Recommended Restaurants

Two more places that stood out for me:

Mambrú Jardín – a trendy spot just off the square. Don’t miss the 14-hour slow-cooked San Luis ribs, which fall off the bone.

Artesana Cocina Gourmet – excellent stir-fries, a refreshing change from the heavier traditional fare.

Where to Stay in Jardín

Here are this guide’s recommended accommodation options in Jardín, to suit all budgets.

Budget

Magic Jardín Hostel – Located just outside town, this hostel is surrounded by nature.

Sergeant Pepper’s Hostel – A highly rated hostel in a traditional colonial building, just off the main square. Free breakfast and an on-site bar.

Mid-range

Jardín by Bernalo Hotels – A quaint colonial building overlooking the plaza. A joy of a location, though it can be noisy — request a quiet room.

La Casa de Ana – A small, friendly hotel a short walk from the square. Ideal for solo travellers and couples. Rooms come with balconies, and there’s a shared kitchen.

Luxury

Cabaña Manantial del Turpial – A beautiful cabin run by Reserva Los Guácharos. Hot tub, bird feeders, and discounted trips to the oilbirds. Perfect for nature lovers.

Casa Passiflora Hotel Boutique by HMC – A beautifully appointed boutique hotel in the centre of Jardín. Excellent on-site restaurant (Oleo Bistro, mentioned above) and a pool.

Jardín Travel Guide’s Perfect 3-Day Itinerary

I fell in love with Jardín while researching this travel guide and wanted to stay longer — but Colombia is vast, and there’s always more to see. Here’s a three-day itinerary to ensure you experience the best of Antioquia’s most beautiful pueblo.

Pro tip: Plan to be in Jardín for a Saturday night. It’s magical.

Day 1

Morning – Explore the colonial architecture around the plaza and Parque Principal El Libertador de Jardín. Visit the Basílica Menor of the Immaculate Conception, sip a tinto in one of the cafés, and soak in the atmosphere.

Afternoon – Brave the La Garrucha cable car and enjoy a thirst-quenching beer at the restaurant on the other side while watching the sunset.

Evening – Try the local trout at Oleo Bistro Restaurante.

Day 2

Morning – Visit a coffee farm to learn how your morning pick-me-up goes from plant to cup, and taste some of the best coffee in the world.

Afternoon – Hike to one of Jardín’s many waterfalls, taking in the scenery. Note: while not as high as Bogotá, Jardín is still at 6,000 feet. Altitude can affect some people — take it slow.

Evening – Refuel with a hearty Bandeja Paisa at La Parrilla de Mi Pueblo, then head to the plaza for a Club Colombia or Águila beer and some people-watching.

Day 3

Morning – Take the short walk along the historic Ruta del Herrera to Reserva Los Guácharos. Descend the steep paved path, cross the rope bridge in a harness, and marvel at the Oilbird colony. Afterwards, linger at the bird feeders.

Afternoon – Wander Jardín’s streets in search of unique locally made souvenirs.

Evening – Head to Reserva Natural Jardín de Rocas at 4pm to witness the lekking display of the Andean Cock-of-the-Rock.

Saturday Evening – After dinner, grab a seat outside a bar near Hotel Jardín to watch local cowboys and cowgirls parade around on their prancing Paso Fino horses.

Jardin Travel Guide – Final Thoughts

Hopefully, this Jardín travel guide has whetted your appetite for visiting this undiscovered gem of a pueblo. While many travellers flock to Salento (which is lovely), be one of the few to come to Jardín.

Jardín isn’t just a pretty colonial town — it’s a snapshot of a way of life. This is authentic Colombia, not a version polished up for tourists.

The surrounding landscapes are a hiker’s dream: towering Andean mountains, cascading waterfalls, and trails, for all ability levels. Wildlife encounters here are extraordinary too, offering some of the best opportunities worldwide to see rare species up close.

If you’ve got a few days spare in your Colombia travel diary, I hope this Jardín travel guide has inspired you to spend them here.