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Guática is a small town with a dramatic setting among green mountains of the Colombian Coffee Region.
Introduction to Guática
Guática was originally inhabited by the indigenous Anserma people under Cacique (Chief) Guática. The first Europeans passed through in 1537 under Ruy de Vanegas, a lieutenant of Spanish conquistador Sebastián de Belalcázar (c. 1490-1551). It was officially founded as a town on March 8, 1627, by Lesmes de Espinoza y Saravia. It was elevated to a municipality on April 22, 1921.
The economy of Guática is based on agriculture and some rural areas are part of the UNESCO World Heritage listed Coffee Cultural Landscape of Colombia. It’s an authentic coffee town with friendly people and no tourists.
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. 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 bus bound for Riosucio 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 Principal
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).
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 with a single nave and a low ceiling.
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 colonial style building.
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.
Around Town
Guática a very sleepy town. The streets are typically quiet with not much going on until Monday, which is Market Day.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
