Before stepping foot in Colombia, I’d met other backpackers highly recommending a visit to the small colourful town of Jardín, four hours south of Medellín.
I’ve loved visiting towns on this trip, especially Colombian ones, so naturally Jardín went on my places to visit list.
I arrived to Jardín from Salento. I took a night bus from Armenia to Medellín, did Medellín’s Real City walking tour and then caught an afternoon bus to Jardín. Due to roadworks, the journey took longer than expected and I arrived late that evening which was a bit annoying as I then only had one full day there.
I’d met a lovely French girl, Christine, on the bus and we met up the following morning to do a low key walk to a viewpoint. It was hot!! And the views were beautiful. So much greenery and nature!
The walking was easy (aside from uphill at the start!) and we stopped twice for food breaks. Near the Christ statue further up the hill, there’s a perfectly located cafe with great views. We had a juice in the shade and chilled.
If I’d had more time in Jardín, I can easily imagine going up there in the mornings with a book to read! So so peaceful!
We then headed back to town via a different trail so we could stop off at, La Argelia, a trout farm for lunch. Why go to a restaurant when we could go straight to the source! Trout is a popular dish in the coffee region and I was keen to eat it there!
I ordered a garlic trout which came with rice, salad, an arepa, a patacon and tartar sauce, tomato salsa and a juice on the side for 20,000COP (£5). It was really yummyy and so filling!! Having eaten a lot of good fish on this trip, I’d like to cook it more when I’m home (but we’ll see!).
Back in town, I met up with Marie, who I’d previously met paragliding in San Gil, and we had a ride on Jardín’s La Garrucha, the town’s old wooden cable car. It was more an enclosed box painted yellow and green on a wire! It went really fast and fun! That said, I was a teensy bit nervous as we sped across the valley!
Note: One way on La Garrucha is 4000COP (£1 approx) and return is 8000COP. We only went one way and walked down back to town. It was about a 15min walk!
In the evening, we went to Cafe Europa, a tiny Italian restaurant which had come highly recommended by fellow backpackers. I can see why! My margherita was really tasty and Marie’s vegetarian one looked equally as good! I also really enjoyed the atmosphere and prices were decent.
With only one day in Jardín (sad times!), there were more things I didn’t get around to doing. Some ideas are:
- Jardín is in the coffee region. There are coffee farms which you can tour and learn about the coffee producing process.
- More walking! There are lots of trails around the town and the scenery’s so pretty!
- Go to Cueva del Esplendor. It’s a waterfall dropping into a cave. You can do tours there for around 50,000/55,000COP or go independently. The hike is quite long! Most people I met who’d been, got a tuk tuk halfway and walked the remaining hour and a half. They all said it was great! Next time!
- Reserva Natural De Rocas for birdwatching.
How to get to Jardin
The easiest way to get to Jardin is from Medellin. Medellin is the closest big city and has multiple bus departures a day from Terminal Sur with the companies Rapida Ochoa and Transportes Suroeste Antioqueño.
Rapida Ochoa times: 4.45am, 8.50am, 1pm, 3pm, 4.25pm and 6.45pm.
Transportes Suroeste Antioqueño times: 5.30am (minivan), 6.50am, 7.30am (minivan), 9.15am, 10am (minivan), 10.30am, 12pm, 12.30pm, 1.30pm (minivan), 2pm, 3.20pm (minivan), 3.50pm, 5pm and 5.20pm (minivan).
The journey takes around 4hrs and costs 27,000COP (£7 approx). The minivans with Transportes Suroeste Antioqueño cost a teensy bit more, 30,000COP.
Salento is another destination backpackers arrive to Jardin from. If you’re travelling the Salento to Jardin route, I’ve written a post on how to do it and your various options.
Final thoughts
I absolutely loved Jardin! A gorgeous colourful town surrounded by beautiful scenery. It’s the perfect place to relax and embrace life in the slow lane.
My stay was short, honestly too short! I would’ve loved loved loved to stay longer. In fact, it’s the only place in Colombia, where I feel I needed more time and, the only place I didn’t have it because of a flight to catch!
In hindsight, I would’ve preferred to swap my four extra nights on the northern coast for more time in Jardin! Hindsight is a wonderful thing! I’m really glad I got to experience Jardin if only for a short time!
Next up is Guatapé, another colourful town and with a huge rock to climb!
