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If you’re in Guática and feeling adventurous, you can head to the small village of Santa Ana. It’s located down the road from town, well off the beaten path.
Introduction to Santa Ana
The village, which has a rich indigenous heritage, popped up in the late 19th century and took its name in 1916 after a visit by a Catholic bishop. It was officially recognized on December 19, 1964. In the 1940s, the local indigenous community led efforts to build a chapel and a school.
Getting to Santa Ana
If you don’t have your own transportation, Cootransbel offers an infrequent bus service from Pereira via Belén de Umbría. If you’re already in Guática, ask a local how to find the road to Santa Ana. Shortly after leaving town, there’s a waterfall and a nice river along the way and excellent views of Guática.
Plaza
Once you make it to the village, you’ll find a nice plaza with a couple places to get coffee or food. On one side, there’s the small Church of Our Lady of Mount Carmel (Iglesia de Nuestra Señora del Carmen). Other than that, there’s not much to do in the village itself.
Outside of Town
If you REALLY want to do some exploring, you can head out of town and up into the hills. There are plenty of dramatic views on a small road that leads up to some coffee farms just above the village. It’s a rough road to travel on with a motorcycle but the views are well worth it.
