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Roldanillo is a hot town in the Valle del Cauca department of southwest Colombia. It’s a popular spot for paragliding.
Overview of Roldanillo
Roldanillo was founded as Villa de Cáceres on January 20, 1576, by Francisco Redondo Ponce de León. Due to fierce resistance from the indigenous population, the town was relocated in 1602 to its present site, which was then a farm known as Estancia de Roldanillo.
Roldanillo is a mostly flat town with very hot weather, and there’s not a whole lot to see. The mountains outside town are popular for paragliding, attracting visitor from all over the world.
Parque Elías Guerrero
The main plaza of Roldanillo, Parque Elías Guerrero, is typical of the region, with many trees and a fountain in the center. It’s surrounded by several historic buildings.
The street along the east side of the plaza is pedestrianized and lined with benches and planters. On the southeast corner, you’ll find the Stairs to Nowhere (Las Escalas a Ninguna Parte), which you can climb for nice views.
Church of San Sebastian
On the plaza is the Church of San Sebastian (Iglesia de San Sebastián), which has a modern design. It contains some gorgeous stained glass windows.
The original church was made of wood and burned down in 1651. It was rebuilt in brick and suffered damage over the years from earthquakes. The current structure was built around 1965, following earthquake damage in 1962.
Calle 8 in Roldanillo
Calle 8, known as the Street of the Poets (Calle de los Poetas), runs off the southeast corner of the plaza. This pedestrianized street contains a few cafés, restaurants, and shops.
Rayo Museum
If you’re passing through the area, the Rayo Museum (Museo Rayo) may be worth the detour. This small art museum opened in 1981 and was founded by Omar Rayo (1928–2010), a Colombian abstract artist known for geometric works. He was born in Roldanillo and also died there. The museum sits a block off the main plaza along Calle 8. Admission is COP$15,000 for foreign adults, COP$9,000 for seniors, and COP$8,000 for kids under 12 (as of March 2025). It’s open daily.
The museum is housed in a unique building topped with domes, with short hallways linking them to the lobby. In the permanent galleries, Rayo’s work features geometric shapes in both color and black and white.
In another gallery, temporary exhibitions displaying works by other artists are on display. Featured during my visit were Feliza Bursztyn (1933–1982), who made sculptures out of scrap metal, and textile artist Olga de Amaral. Both artists are Colombian.
An outdoor space includes a small amphitheatre and a few sculptures by various artists.
A final gallery features Rayo’s works on paper and a short video about his life.
Omar Rayo’s grave is also on the museum grounds, flanked by two tall palm trees. Even the headstone was designed with a beautiful geometric optical illusion.
Chapel of the Hermitage
A few blocks west of the main plaza is the Chapel of the Hermitage (Capilla de La Ermita), a national historic landmark. It dates to the 17th century and is dedicated to Our Lady of the Rosary of Chiquinquirá.
Parque La Ermita
The chapel sits on Parque La Ermita, which features many trees and benches, along with a monument in the center. During the Christmas season, there’s often an impressive Nativity scene on the west side next to the chapel.
Planning Your Trip to Roldanillo
Here’s some practical info to help you plan your trip to Roldanillo:
How to Get to Roldanillo
There’s no central bus terminal in Roldanillo. Instead, buses leave from each company’s office. We arrived from Pereira using De Occidente. There are also frequent buses heading to Cali, Armenia, Cartago, and nearby La Unión.
Where to Stay in Roldanillo
We’ve visited Roldanillo a few times, mostly to see Marisol’s cousins. They’ve all been short trips except for a couple of overnights.
Magiko Suites
Magiko Suites, a few blocks from Parque La Ermita, is a fantastic place to stay in Roldanillo. Check-in is remote — the owner sends a code to enter through the front door, then another to retrieve your key from a lockbox outside your room. The common area includes hammocks and a swimming pool.
Rooms feature a fully furnished kitchenette and good air conditioning. We had a good night of sleep, and it was completely silent except for a moment when other guests returned extremely late.
Campos Verdes
The lovely Campos Verdes is a short drive (or long walk) from the center of town and includes a few private cabins as well as a larger building with a handful of rooms.
We stayed in a spacious cabin that could sleep up to eight, but it seems like it would be comfortably suited for four. The cabin was very clean and comfortable, with a loft and plenty of fans. We slept very well that night.
Facilities include a pool, jacuzzi, and a restaurant. Unfortunately, the restaurant only opens on weekends and holidays, so we had to go into town for dinner. Breakfast was extra and worth the cost.
Where to Eat in Roldanillo
While we usually eat home-cooked meals prepared by Marisol’s cousins, we’ve eaten out a few times in Roldanillo.
Roldán y Yo
For an incredible breakfast and coffee, head to Roldán y Yo. It’s located on the southeast corner of the plaza along Calle 8. Marisol had a simple breakfast with scrambled eggs, arepa, and cheese, while I tried the pandebono waffle topped with cheese and jam, plus a fried egg, bacon, and avocado. Service is good and prices are fair.
Heladería Frutalia
I grabbed an ice cream at Heladería Frutalia, across the street from Roldán y Yo. In addition to cups and cones, they offer a good selection of creations like banana splits, sundaes, and more.
Macondo
You’ll find excellent coffee at Macondo, a few steps farther down Calle 8. It’s a beautiful space with outdoor seating and great service.
L’Roma
We found a nice outdoor spot near the main plaza called L’Roma, which has since moved to a new location on the east side of town. They specialize in pizzas and burgers, as well as a few fast food dishes. I had a delicious brick oven pizza. Service was a little slow, but the pizza was worth the wait. (Note: the photos below are from the old location.)
