Day trip to Jardin, Hispania and Andes
Visiting the garden of Antioquia
The town of Jardin is recognized as a cultural heritage site since 2012 for its colourful colonial architecture, the neo-gothic church and the floral displays. It is one of the most visited places in Antioquia. Most visitors stay there for a night or two – which is recommended – however, Charlie went there as part of a day trip from Medellin. It was a long day that started at 5.45 a.m. and finished at 7 p.m., but absolutely worth it.
To break up the 3-hour journey from Medellin to Jardin, the tour included a stop in the towns of Hispania and Andes. During the ride, Charlie enjoyed the stunning views of the mountains, banana and coffee plantations and farmhouses in between lush greenery.
Hispania
The group arrived in Hispania just in time for breakfast. The town around the floral main square was just coming to live. The locals set up a small market and opened the shops. In the centre of the main square is a café that was built in the style of an indigenous hut, a Tambo. Charlie enjoyed her breakfast in one of the local bakeries and sat down under a tree at the square and listened to the birds. Just before the group continued their journey, they enjoyed a coffee tasting. The area is known for its coffee production.
Andes
The second stop that day was in the town that forms the heart of the coffee trade, Andes. The entire town seems to revolve around two things: coffee and colourful busses, the so-called Chivas. Charlie had taken one of these busses a week earlier for the return journey from Santa Fe. It had been an adventure. During that trip, it had been pure coincidence and Charlie wasn’t sure whether she could have taken a Chiva on purpose. In the town of Andes, that is possible. Each Chiva has a dedicated slot at the bus station that indicates the destination. If you ever want to ride a Chiva, simply go to the bus station in Andes and choose your destination.
And as the name suggests, the town is surrounded by the Andes mountains.
Jardin
The town that bears the name of a garden is different from other colonial towns in Latin America in that it had not been built as a town during the colonization. It was merely a place to pass through for coffee traders and until today, there are indigenous communities living in the area near Jardin. It is said that the region was so rich in vegetation that it looked like a garden when the town was founded. Until today, the houses are decorated with floral displays, and the street names are the names of flowers. Combined with the colourful colonial-style architecture, the town is well worth a stroll. And if you don’t want to walk, you can ride the “gusano”, a train that looks like a children’s carousel.
There are plenty of cafés and restaurants as well. The tour Charlie was on though had lunch at a trout farm a bit outside of town. In the same place, they also make “panela”, a block of unrefined sugar that Colombians use for cooking. You can watch the entire process from sugar cane to final product.
The group had about 2 hours to spend in Jardin after lunch and Charlie decided to get a tuktuk ride to a viewpoint in the mountains and a waterfall. Both places are also popular destinations for hikers. If you stay in Jardin overnight – there are a few hotels and hostels – you can enjoy multiple hiking routes and destinations. Charlie also saw a group of horse riders on the way to the waterfall. If you want to learn more about the history of the town the museum “Casa Museo Clara Rojas Peláez” is worth a visit.
The group left Jardin in the late afternoon to get back to Medellin. The return journey was marked by the beautiful twilight of the setting sun in between the mountains.
