For one of the most well developed touristic coffee farms in the region, Hacienda Venecia should definitely be on your itinerary.
Visitors can learn about “chocolate, from bean to bar”, participate in the “Barista and Cupping Workshop” and do some self-guided bird-watching. The most popular tour is the coffee farm tour where visitors learn everything from seed to harvest about the growing, preparation, processing and commercialization of Colombian coffee. Their bilingual experts will guide visitors through the world of coffee in a personalized and unique experience.
They are dedicated to sustainable practices, which include a UTZ certification. They were the first in Colombia and one of only four farms in the world which applies the cultivation and commercialization processes required to achieve this certificate. They are currently exporting to Japan but have previously exported to Switzerland, Holland and Belgium.
Hacienda Venecia is a working coffee farm with 100 years of tradition and extensive experience in the cultivation, production, marketing, roasting and exporting of Colombian coffee. It is located in the countryside, 20 minutes away (10.5 Km) from down town Manizales, on the Autopista del Café, towards Pereira. Its vast coffee fields have a large canopy of native trees and water springs. The region is rich in flora and fauna. The ambient temperature (between 17 deg C and 24 deg C all year round) makes a stay here very pleasant for the visitor.
In 2009, Hacienda Venecia decided to open its doors to foreign visitors, mainly to share a learning experience about the coffee culture. We offer lodging, restaurant, touristic activities, and transportation.
This year was my fourth visit as a volunteer, and sadly probably my last; I have thoroughly enjoyed my stints at this wonderful coffee finca. The family and staff at this traditional working coffee farm have always been welcoming and the projects they have presented me with always incredibly interesting. This year was no different – I have painstakingly put together a ‘carpeta de información (information folder) about the various accommodation options available, general guest information, and places to visit nearby.
It is also a super good place to practice my developing Spanish language skills.
