As the bus wound its way up the mountain towards Jardin Colombia, my nose was pressed to the window. I was the only person left on the bus so I shuffled seats to catch the best views over the valleys below. The Andes are unforgettable. I’ve been running into them on this South American journey and breathtaking doesn’t even do them justice.
On arrival in Jardin Colombia, (in Spanish, there is an accent on the i – Jardín Colombia), dusk had fallen and I knew I had hit the jackpot. Men were spilling into the narrow streets chatting, drink in hand. I made my way to the hotel, passing the main plaza filled with Colombians, food stalls and live music. It was Friday night in Jardin, Colombia. What I didn’t know was that the horses hadn’t arrived yet.
Travelling in Colombia? Don’t miss Jardin, Antioquia
Antioquia, one of Colombia’s 32 departments or regions, is located in northwest Colombia. While Medellin is its capital, Jardín is the darling of Antioquia. Tell a Colombian you are headed to Jardin, Antioquia and a palpable sense of pride emanates, without fail.
5 Reasons To Visit Jardin Colombia
1. Jardin Colombia | It’s The Real Deal
Did someone say authentic? Sombreros and ponchos slung over a shoulder. Locals sipping coffee on brightly coloured wooden chairs in the main plaza. Colourful two-story houses. Cascading blooms. All nestled into the Andes. Visit Jardin, Antioquia, and step back in time.
Breathe deeper. That Andes mountain air is good for the soul. S- L- O – W right down. It’s not hard to do in Jardin Colombia.
You just never know who will come riding into town.
2. It’s Kinda Pretty (Understatement Of The Year)
Apparently, it rarely rains in Jardín but it poured while I was there. The mist rising from the Andes unveiled verdant green landscapes, spectacular enough to consider a permanent move here.
The aluminium spires of the church gleam as they watch over the main plaza. Jardin Antioquia keeps schedule with the clanging bells that can be heard right to the town’s edge.
And an array of brightly painted houses line every street.
Kinda pretty – right?
3. Things To Do In Jardín Colombia
Don’t worry about having everything organized before you arrive. There are plenty of tour operators in Jardin Colombia that can find exactly the activity you are seeking, including ziplining and paragliding. Here are a few suggestions for what to do in Jardin Colombia.
Parque Natural Jardin de Rocas In Jardín Antioquia
Add these guys to your list of things to do in Jardin Colombia. Even if you are not a bird nerd (closet one over here), seeing the flash of crimson red and grey flitting through the cloud forest is a quite the sight. The male gallitos de las rocas (Andean cock-of-the-rock) appear every day at the same time to strut their stuff for the females, who are more difficult to spy.
Time: 4:00 – 5:30 pm; Ring the bell at the gate.
- The Parque Natural is also open early in the mornings but the owner did not encourage this visiting time as much
Getting There: Follow Calle 9 to just past the edge of town. Pass the bar turn right down a country lane. Do not cross the yellow bridge. From Jardin, it is less than a 10-minute walk.
Cost: COP$10000 ($7 Cdn)
Bird Expert: Like birds? Call Guillermo at Aramacao Tours. I met him while watching the gallitos de las rocas. He had taken a small group of people birdwatching that day and seen over 40 species. The ladies in his group raved about him. Jardin Colombia is a small town so I ran into him again the next day and we talked… yep…about birds!
Trek To Cueva del Esplendor From Jardín Colombia
What to do in Jardin Colombia that involves a full day trip and a little adventure? Other travellers I met raved about the waterfall at this cave. It is a full day trip involving hiking and/or horseback riding to arrive at the gorgeous site. Some trips offer a jeep ride part way.
Visit A Coffee Farm In Jardin Colombia
I visited a coffee farm in Salento but coffee farms abound around Jardin Antioquia also. Colombia produces some of the best coffee in the world. Take a tour of a coffee farm to see how it gets from the plant to your morning cup of Joe!
Ascend Cerro Cristo Rey In Jardin Colombia
Another thing to do in Jardin Colombia is visit Cerro Cristo Rey. From this lookout point, the enormous white Christ statue watches over Jardin Colombia. It is clearly visible from the main square. Get to Cerro Cristo Rey by cable car, hiking or on horseback to take in the marvellous views.
People Watch In Jardín Colombia
People watching is the absolute classic thing to do in Jardin Colombia. The plaza in Jardin is the perfect place to people watch. Pull up a colourful wooden chair and just tune in.
School children, in their blue tartan uniforms, saunter home at lunch to a chorus of clanging church bells. Men clad in checkered shirts, rubber boots, sombreros and a poncho tossed over their shoulders share a drink together. Fresh fruit is cut precisely at the food stalls in the plaza.
Stay still and watch what unfolds.
While I was people watching, I was also being observed. I saw him coming towards me as I ducked under the eaves in the pouring rain. The checkered shirt, the wound rope in hand, the rubber boots. A true Colombian. I couldn’t understand a word he said, but a girl knows when a man is asking her for a drink. He really tried to make himself understood but at ten in the morning, I graciously declined with my smile and “No, gracias.”
Small town Colombia: Should I visit Jardin or Salento? Read this post to help you decide.
4. Jardin Colombia | The Perfect Getaway From Busy Medellin
Jardin Antioquia is a 4-hour bus trip from Medellin. It is an easy weekend getaway and is the perfect antithesis to Medellin’s hustle and bustle.
Read More | Going to Medellin? Don’t miss Comuna 13.
5. Where Else Do Horses Line the Main Plaza?
Still wondering what to do in Jardin Colombia? The prancing horses are a must.
Prancing horses clipping into the square on a Saturday night is a regular event if you live in Jardin Colombia. But as a foreigner the spectacle was memorable. Horses danced down the cobblestone streets in their high stepping prance carrying their riders to the bar. Young boys held the reins of the horses lined up waiting for the return trip.
On Sunday morning, a few of the horses return while their sombrero-clad owners sip coffee with a friend.
Is Jardin Colombia for real? It’s so dreamy, you’ll think you’ve stepped into a fairytale.
FAQ About Jardin Colombia
How Do I Pronounce Jardin?
Jardín is pronounced like this “Har-deen.” Don’t forget to roll the “r!”
Are There ATM’s In Jardín Colombia?
Yes! For me, the handiest one was by the coffee shop on the corner of Calle 10 and Carrera 5.
How Do I Get To Jardin Antioquia?
Medellin to Jardín Antioquia: The buses to Jardin leave from Terminal del Sur. I took the bus line Rapido Ocho. It costs COP$27000 ($8.75 Cdn) and takes 4 hours.
On the return trip, ask the driver to drop you at a metro station en route (for example, it goes right by Poblad0). I took the 1:30 bus and arrived in the middle of Medellin rush hour.
Salento to Jardín Colombia: This is a 3-bus trek! I left at 9 am from Salento and arrived at 6:30 pm in Jardin.
This is how the bus route works from Salento to Jardin Colombia:
Salento to Pereira: (45 minutes) Pay the driver COP$8000 ($2.60 Cdn)
Pereira to RioSucio:
In the Pereira Station find the ticket booth for bus line Flota Occidental. Cost COP$2000 ($6.45 Cdn) You need your passport number to purchase the ticket. The bus ride is pumping with Spanish music and we pass roadside stalls with oranges hanging in green net bags and trucks overflowing with green plantains.
RioSucio to Jardin Colombia:
The station is in a dirt parking lot with a few stalls to purchase tickets. Yes, there is a bathroom. I waited an hour for my bus which left at 2:20 p.m. There is also a bus at 3 p.m. which is the last bus of the day to Jardin. This is a 9-seater van and there are numerous stops along the way and tons of construction.
If you travel from Jardin to Salento (the opposite direction), it is possible to arrive taking only two buses.
Where Should I Eat In Jardin Antioquia?
Truth be told I was sick in Jardin so it wasn’t until the last night that I felt like a meal. La Parilla de mi Pueblo on Calle 9 served a great meal! Other travellers loved Café Europa de Jardin. Be sure to try the fabulous food stalls in the main plaza.
Like this post? Pin it!
Now This place has some Real appeal. I agree, can it be for Real? You had me with the horses in the streets, but your shot of the kid holding that beautiful horse outside the bar in Incredible, that says it All! Step back in time. One heck of an adventure Alison!
Seeing all the horses in the plaza at night was an incredible sight. It was a very special town.
so quaint and breathtaking!
Isn’t it just the perfect place?!
I want to sit in one of those colorful chairs (I’ll take a blue one) and watch people walk by. With or without the horses. It looks like a very laid-bad town. I’ve only been one place in Columbia, on a whirlwind trip, but it was charming enough to make me want to return. It seems like the country is becoming a more popular destination.
You are right about Colombia becoming more popular with travellers. There were lots of travellers around and away from the big centres like Cartagena and Medellin. It still feels really authentic and I can’t wait to return and explore more. I travelled around for three weeks and came back with a long list of where I would still like to visit!
Never mind 5 reasons, I was 5 photos in and I was sold!! It looks like such a beautiful place to visit not only the incredible nature but the culture too. I just love the colourful buildings and how authentic it seems.
LOL – yes Jardin grabs you right away and doesn’t really let go. I can’t wait to return and sit in one of those chairs again and watch the world go by.
You have definitely peaked my interest with Jardin! It looks really charming and relaxing.. And you are right, it does bring you back in time! Prancing horses at the square sounds lovely. Good to know they still maintain this mode of transportation. 🙂
It makes me so happy that the horses come to town. i just love rural Colombian life!
Ahh….serious case of wanderlust here! What a beautiful beautiful town! I’d love to spend some time there, roam around the plaza, hike in the hills, see some birds, drink some freshly brewed coffee…sounds perfect, doesn’t it?
It really is just the perfect place to kick back and push the reset button on life!
OH my gosh i love this town! I’ve never been, but will definitely visit on my next trip to colombia. I’ve been to cartagena and fell in love with the city. Thanks for sharing these lovely photos!
I absolutely loved Cartagena too! I spent three weeks travelling around Colombia and felt that I barely scratched the surface. Definitely hit up Jardin on your next trip.
I love a town where you can take your horse to get a drink. I love the mists from the rain too. It looks like you had a real treat from mother nature there. I couldn’t agree more that Jardin is the perfect antithesis to Medellin. It feels like you would be missing half of your Columbian experience if you didn’t go.
Jardin is definitely a special place. I could have stayed a lot longer and just slowed right down! There are quite a few gems around Colombia like Jardin and I would like to go back and discover a few more!
OMG Jardin looks so pretty (yeah… probably an understatement!)!! We haven’t been to Colombia yet, but it’s on our bucket list. Ever since we’ve traveled to Peru and Bolivia last year, I’m completely in love with South America (well Kerstin fell in love with both South America and travel already 18 years ago…), so we’ll certainly return to South America next year. We’d like to go to Argentina and Chile first, so we’ll return to South America again another time to visit Colombia. And when we do, I think we’ll spend a few days in Jardin, taking it REAL SLOW as you suggested! Thanks for your inspiring post!!
You are welcome. It was my first time to South America and I totally fell for it too! Two thumbs up for Peru, Bolivia and Chile! And then there’s Colombia! Yes, definitely add Jardin to your list. It is a little gem where you can just kick back and watch life go by!
Riding your horse on cobblestones to the bar? With kids on hand to hold your horse while you quench your thirst? How much cooler can a town be than that. And the people watching looks and sounds divine! We have yet to visit Colombia but will for sure add Jardin to that list now … looks like you did discover a true fairytale place in a world desperately in need of fairytales.
It’s always cool to find the places the locals know about but the rest of us might be clueless. It looks like a great hideaway to find relaxation and culture. Great photos by the way. The Basilica looks incredible.
Travellers are definitely finding their way to Jardin but, right now it is still very unspoiled and so authentic! Glad you like the photos.
This place looks beautiful. It great to know you can book things to do after you arrive. The ziplining and paragliding sould like tons of fun.
I’ve never heard about this place and looking at your photos alone have me convinced enough that I need to visit! I love horses too and used to go horseback riding as a kide so the fact that they have a regular event on Saturdays is totally my kinda fun!
It is very cool seeing all the horses in the main square. It is a very unique town! Well worth the visit.
Jardin just evokes this romantic ideal of a town forgotten by time and it is so amazing that not much would have changed over the years. I am particularly intrigued by the striking color palette used on the doors and windows of houses and shops.
Jardin is an amazing little town. As you said, it seems (to the casual observer) quite untouched by the 21st century. And yes, the brightly coloured buildings add to its charm! Well worth a visit!