Medellín: Coffee Farm Tour in Barrio La Sierra — Local services in Medellín

This was one of the first things my mother and I did during our stay in Medellín and we absolutely loved it! Arturo was extremely friendly, helpful, and responsive when it came to coordinating the tour. We met our guides, Rosa and Levit, at the tranvía station where we traveled together as a group. From there, we transferred to the metro cable which provided stunning views of the city before we got to the La Sierra neighborhood.

Rosa and Levit are from the neighborhood and showed us around their home and their farm, which has been in operation for only a few months now. They showed us the process of making coffee in its entirety, from planting to shelling to roasting, and we even got to pick beans in the field! While Rosa did not speak English, there was another guide (whose name I cannot remember unfortunately) who translated everything. Since I do speak Spanish, I did enjoy getting to engage with Rosa and Levit in their native language as well as ask some questions on behalf of other members in the tour group.

Not only does the tour explain the coffee cultivation process, but they also showed us and discussed some of the social projects such as the local school and sustainable agricultural practices. We also got to enjoy several cups of fresh coffee grown on the farm along with pastries. To top it all off, they provided transportation back into town and ensured we all made it back to our hotels safely, waiting with us for our taxis/Ubers. I would highly...

This tour in Comuna 8 blew me away. I had looked up some info after hearing about Comuna 8 before, and didn't see a good reason to go. How wrong I was!

This tour is so much better than what you'll get in Comuna 13. I've been to Comuna 13 twice, and it's just so overrun with tourists and vendors that it doesn't feel like an authentic Colombian experience.

The opposite is true for this Urban Coffee Tour. We met at mid-day, took public transportation up the mountain as a group, and our amazing tour guide Arturo told us all about the area, the people that live there, where they come from, and how they have quite literally built their lives on the side of the mountain.

After making our way through the Comuna and being greeted by friendly locals, we stopped at Rosa's house where we received an entire hands-on lesson in growing and making coffee -- all the way from seed to a brewed cup o' joe! It was truly memorable (not to mention educational), and inspiring to see the way that something as simple as working on a coffee farm is transforming the community away from gang violence and giving the youth something to work for and be proud of.

I can't recommend this tour and specifically our guide Arturo highly enough. I promise you will not regret it. This could easily be the part of your Medellin trip that you remember the most fondly.

And of course, you can't miss those $15...

We had a wonderful afternoon on this tour. Arturo was an incredible guide! Knowledgeable as to the history of the neighborhood, the local landscapes, and the residents of Barrio La Sierra. The tour itself was very well organized, from the meeting point in central Medellin, the travel up to La Sierra, and the walk through the neighborhood. One thing to keep in mind: there are many stairs to climb at the higher altitude. This was not an issue for any of us on our tour. We took plenty of rests to talk and learn more. There was an opportunity to get water at the beginning from a tiny shop in the neighborhood. Also, the coffee was invigorating and refreshing, so we quickly forgot all of the stairs we climbed to get there. The host family and “little” tour guide helpers were gracious, entertaining, and fun to spend time with. We spent time exploring the neighborhood on foot, learning about the coffee-making process, and getting our hands dirty picking coffee from the plants on the farm, all while learning about the amazing transformation that is very much still happening in this part of the city. We got to taste the delicious coffee that is produced here, as well! All in all, an excellent tour that is recommended for anyone with a love of coffee, an interest in the coffee-making process, curiosity about Colombian culture, or if you just want a great half-day...