Green hills of coffee farms and giant wax palms
The Eje Cafetero, Colombia's coffee axis, is a landscape of steep green hills planted with coffee and plantain, recognised by UNESCO. Salento is the favourite base, a small town of brightly painted balconies with good walking all around. The Cocora Valley nearby is home to the quindío wax palm, the national tree, which grows up to 60 metres tall. Visit a finca to follow the bean from plant to cup, and try Filandia and Jardín for more quiet towns. Many farms offer rooms among the rows.