Last updated on December 20, 2023.

Nothing really stands out about the town of Guática except for its dramatic setting among green mountains of the Colombian Coffee Region.

View of Guática, Risaralda, Colombia
View of Guática

 

History of Guática

Guática was founded on March 5, 1537, by the indigenous chief Guática of the Anserma people. It was declared a municipality on April 22, 1921. The economy is based on agriculture and it’s part of the UNESCO World Heritage listed Coffee Cultural Landscape of Colombia.

Looking towards the mountains in Guática, Risaralda, Colombia
Looking towards the mountains
Guática, Risaralda, Colombia
Guática

 

Getting to Guática

Getting to Guática can be difficult unless you’re coming from Pereira. Cootransbel offers one direct bus a day to and from the bus terminal in Pereira while Flota Occidental offers two in the morning from Guática to Pereira and two in the evening from Pereira to Guática. The ride takes 2 ½ hours.

Alternatively, you can take a Medellín or Riosucio bound bus from Pereira or Anserma, get dropped off at El Tigre, and either walk or take a taxi the rest of the way to town.

You can also take a shared taxi from the bus station in Anserma. They leave when filled up with three people and it only takes 20 minutes.

From the town, it’s possible to visit two rural villages – Santa Ana and San Clemente.

 

Plaza

The main plaza has a church and a few cafés, shops, and bars around it. Off to one corner is a bust of Simón Bolívar (1783-1830).

Plaza in Guática, Risaralda, Colombia
Plaza
Plaza in Guática, Risaralda, Colombia
Plaza
Bust of Simón Bolívar
Plaza from the steps of the church

 

Church of Santa Ana

The Church of Santa Ana de Guática (Iglesia Santa Ana de Guática) sits on the plaza. It’s a very simple building and not much to write home about.

Church of Santa Ana de Guática in Guática, Risaralda, Colombia
Church of Santa Ana de Guática
Interior of the church

 

Priest’s House

The Priest’s House (Casa Cural) sits on the corner of the plaza to the left of the church. It’s a historic building in the colonial style that houses a café.

Priest’s House

 

Patio

One corner of the plaza has a patio with a few stores selling greasy treats such as empanadas. There’s a great view from there where you can look at the mountains and see the nearby village of Santa Ana.

Patio in Guática, Risaralda, Colombia
Patio
View from the patio in Guática, Risaralda, Colombia
View from the patio

 

Around Town

Guática a very sleepy town. The streets are typically quiet with not much going on until Monday, which is Market Day.

A street in Guática, Risaralda, Colombia
A street in Guática

Wandering around, you may find coffee beans sitting out in the sun, which is a common sight in many towns in Colombia’s coffee country.

Coffee drying in the sun in Guática, Risaralda, Colombia
Coffee drying in the sun

There’s a small Botanical Garden (Jardín Botánico) on the road that leads to the stadium but it was undergoing maintenance when we visited because of unusually dry weather.

 

Where to Eat in Guática

There’s not much in the way of food or entertainment, but there are a few decent places if you’re thinking about passing through.

 

El Maderero Campestre

El Maderero Campestre is probably our favorite place in Guática. It sits down a narrow gravel road hidden of the main road to Santa Ana.

El Maderero Campestre in Guática, Risaralda, Colombia
El Maderero Campestre
View at El Maderero Campestre in Guática, Risaralda, Colombia
View
El Maderero Campestre in Guática, Risaralda, Colombia
El Maderero Campestre

While the food isn’t the best we’ve had, it has a great atmosphere, good service, and fantastic views of the countryside. It’s a nice place to go with a group of friends or family and spend a few hours. There’s a playground, games, and comfortable little booths and cabins for your group.

Playground
Playground
Cabin at El Maderero Campestre in Guática, Risaralda, Colombia
Cabin
Booth

We had snacks and dinner. For a snack, we ordered salchipapas. For dinner, I had a burger. It was the first time I’ve ever seen peaches on a burger and it wasn’t too bad. The meat could have been a better quality, but overall it was decent.

Salchipapas
Salchipapas
Burger at El Maderero Campestre
Burger

 

Risaralda Diversidad de Perfiles (Permanently Closed)

If you’re looking for a nice place to have coffee in Guática, try Risaralda Diversidad de Perfiles. It’s located on the corner of the plaza across from the police station in a historic colonial home. To be honest, the coffee isn’t that great, but the setting is wonderful. We tried it on a visit in March 2018.

Risaralda Diversidad de Perfiles in Guática, Risaralda, Colombia
Risaralda Diversidad de Perfiles
Risaralda Diversidad de Perfiles in Guática, Risaralda, Colombia
Risaralda Diversidad de Perfiles

Each room can fit a small group of people, making it a bit more intimate than a normal café. The rooms are decorated with antique furniture. There’s also a balcony where you can sit outside.

Risaralda Diversidad de Perfiles in Guática, Risaralda, Colombia
Risaralda Diversidad de Perfiles

Author

Owner of Paisadventure. World traveler. Chicago sports lover. Living in Colombia.

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