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Quimbaya is a town in the Coffee Region of Colombia, located about 40 minutes from Armenia. Some rural parts of the town are included in the UNESCO World Heritage listed Coffee Cultural Landscape of Colombia.
Introduction to Quimbaya
Quimbaya was founded as Alejandría on August 1, 1914, by Juan de J. Buitrago. It was elevated to a municipality on April 5, 1922, and officially changed its name to honor the Quimbaya people who once inhabited the area.
The town’s economy is based on agriculture but it has grown into an important tourism center. One major tourist attractions is PANACA, an agricultural theme park where visitors get hands-on access to farm animals and farming as well as entertaining shows. Another great activity that departs from Quimbaya is a bamboo rafting trip on Río La Vieja.
Día de las Velitas in Quimbaya
Quimbaya is famous around Colombia for the Día de las Velitas (Day of the Candles), in which locals decorate the streets with special candles and lanterns. It’s held annually on December 7-8 to honor the Feast of the Immaculate Conception and marks the unofficial start of the Christmas season.
The Festival of Candles and Lanterns (Festival de Velas y Faroles) has taken place in Quimbaya since 1982. Each neighborhood competes for the most spectacular lighting arrangement using candles and lanterns. Visitors from around the country flock to the town to see the impressive displays.
Getting to Quimbaya
Expreso Alcalá has the only direct service to Quimbaya from the Pereira bus terminal. Buses leave roughly every 15 minutes and take a good 90 minutes. They make a quick stop in the nearby town of Alcalá and end up at Parque de la Estación in Quimbaya.
You can also get to the town on a bus from Montenegro or Armenia. To get back to either of those cities, the buses leave from a small building just a couple blocks from Plaza de Bolívar.
If you’re heading to PANACA, buses leave from Plaza de Bolívar with Coomodequi every so often. It takes about 20 minutes to reach the park.
Where to Eat in Quimbaya
There are some good options for restaurants in town, especially around the plaza.
Guanapalo
For a good traditional lunch, try Guanapalo. It’s a few steps from the main plaza and has a nice selection of meat dishes. We got the picada for two and it was a ton of food for a decent price.
Toscana
Toscana is a decent café on the southwest corner of the plaza. They have good service and a nice atmosphere. There’s also a full menu serving a variety of dishes.
Taska
Taska is on the east side of the plaza. They serve very good coffee with friendly service.
Balcón de Miramar (Permanently Closed)
For lunch, try Balcón de Miramar overlooking the plaza. The food was good. We both had chicken with melted cheese on top.
Plaza de Bolívar
Plaza de Bolívar is at the heart of Quimbaya. It’s usually full of families entertaining their children and locals enjoying a day out. On some days, there’s a farmers’ market with fresh products from the region as well as local handicrafts.
In the center of the plaza is a statue of Simón Bolívar (1783-1830), the liberator of Colombia. Along one aisle you’ll also find a memorial to the victims of armed conflict in Colombia. It was dedicated on April 7, 2017.
Church of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph
The Church of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph (Iglesia de Jesús, María y José) is the most prominent building on the plaza. It features the 9.5-meter-high sculpture Christ of Hope (Cristo de la Esperanza) on the tower, made by sculptor Buenaventura Malagón in 1982. It’s one of the tallest Christ sculptures on a church tower in Latin America.
Construction on the brick structure began in 1933 and it was inaugurated on January 10, 1937. It blends the Romanesque and Byzantine styles of architecture. The nave consists of a central aisle with two aisles separated by arched columns.
The aisles are lined with chapels and there are chapels at the end of each aisle. The interior decorations and stained glass windows are inspired by the Jesuits.
Pueblito de Artesanos
Pueblito de Artesanos is a collection of craft shops on the south side of the plaza. It’s nice to stop in and take a quick look around. Although the selection is limited, you’ll probably get better deals on the same items you’d find in more touristy towns like Filandia or Salento.
Calle 16
A block of Calle 16 south of the plaza is pedestrianized. It’s lined with a couple cafés and restaurants as well as souvenir shops. In the center is a colorful bench and a monument dedicated to the traditional holiday lanterns.
Casa de la Cultura
The Casa de la Cultura, which was founded on September 15, 1966, sits along Calle 16. The building once hosted the Quimbaya History and Art Museum (Museo de Historia y Arte Quimbaya), which opened directly to the plaza.
Today, you can enter from a door on Calle 16. Inside is an exhibition on the traditional lanterns and how they’re made. There are also historical photos of the town, murals, and profiles of community members.
Parque de la Estación
Parque de la Estación is a small park a few blocks from the main plaza. This is where you’ll find jeeps loading up to head into different villages and towns nearby as well as buses to Pereira. It has a bit of an unsavory atmosphere.
1 Comment
I can see why Quimbaya may not have lived up to expectations. While it’s part of Colombia’s Coffee Cultural Landscape, its modernity and lack of colonial charm might not appeal to everyone. Still, the church and plaza seem like nice spots for a brief visit! Perhaps the surrounding areas are more captivating.