Spread out over time, I’ve spent a total of about 10 months in Colombia. The pure greenness of this South American land still strikes me from time to time. Jardín and the surrounding areas perfectly exemplify the lushness I’m referring to.
Located about 4-5 hours driving from Medellin and nestled in the hilly landscape of the department of Antioquia, it’s an ideal getaway from the hectic life of the neighboring major city. For the sake of comparing it to another Colombian town, I’d say It’s like a smaller and cuter version of Salento.
WHAT TO DO
For me, what makes Jardín so appealing is the fact that you don’t have to go far to do anything. Even the vast majority of the hikes are easily accessible because they start right from the town.
One of first places I visited, and also in town, was the Reserva Natural Jardín de Rocas. It’s an open-air reserve, essentially part of the forest, where you’ll witness a group of Gallito De Roca, a beautiful (and very noisy) bird indigenous to Antioquia, inhabiting mainly the forested areas around Jardin. I chilled there for about an hour or so just watching them fly around and talk to each other. There’s a cafe onsite as well if you want to have a nice coffee or tea and try some homemade cookies. One thing to note is the reserve is not free and is only open for 3-6pm.
HIKING & VIEWPOINTS
Bringing it back to the hiking again, Jardin has plenty of it. The most well known hike in the area to the Cave of Splendor, La Cueva del Esplendor, which you can literally find on Google Maps. It’s best to take a tuk tuk to the starting point of the trail instead of walking all the way there from Jardin down a not-so exciting path.
The 7 Waterfall Hike is another popular one, which takes place partially on private property. It’s known to be strenuous with several river crossings, and I’ve heard some accounts of people not finishing the hike due to private property being closed. Keep that in mind. I had already seen great waterfalls fairly recently so I wasn’t interested in going on that mission at the time. I would consider consulting guide if you’re interested.
In Jardin it’s pretty easy to combine trails and kind of wander on your own. I thoroughly enjoy wandering so my one hike there went a little something like what you see below.
(You see my phone dying….another reason why I didn’t make it all the way to the cave)
I used Alltrails as a reference and started with the Cerro de Cristo Rey Loop. The route originally began in the forest, taking me to the Mirador de Cristo Rey.
As I kept going I came across other trails and did my own thing, venturing onto the ‘Start of the cross hike’ and eventually switching again towards the Cave of Splendor. Due to my lack of water and food I didn’t make it all the way to the cave, which at that point was at a distance I wasn’t prepared for, nevertheless the hike was still very satisfying in a gorgeous landscape. I ended up petting a cow actually, which was pretty awesome. I really enjoyed passing through so many pastures. It was difficult enough to feel tired from ascending, but not too hard either. Don’t get it twisted though. It was a work out!
Along the way there were several closed gates that give off the appearance that trails were closed, but that wasn’t the actual case. On a separate note, if you’re ever entering what seems to be private property there will usually be some type of sign. Generally speaking though, the trails aren’t very well marked.
As far as viewpoints are concerned, Mirador de Cristo Rey and Café Jardín are the way to go. Enjoy a nice cup of coffee overlooking the town. After that you may want to consider touring a coffee farm.
COFFEE FARMS
I personally didn’t do a coffee tour in Jardin because I had already visited a farm in Salento during a previous visit to Colombia, but my favorite coffee actually comes from this finca here, Jardin Natural Sede La Naturaleza, a very short ride outside of Jardin. The owner offers tours of her property and a range of glamping accommodation.
A friend of mine from Medellin used to order the coffee all the time. I have never been there, but I’m sure it’s a beautiful place and the owner is extremely knowledgeable.
WANDERING THE TOWN & CABLE CAR
Besides exploring the nature, you can spend some time walking around town and admiring the colorful houses, main plaza, and cathedral. As far as food is concerned, there is a nice collection of restaurants to choose from. You also have the option to ride the cable car over the town for a nice view if your hiking wasn’t enough.
All in all, Jardin is definitely worth a visit, and the route back to Medellin passes through a beautiful landscape to make a nice end to the trip.
GETTING THERE
It’s simple to go to Jardin from the surrounding cities and towns by bus. I took the bus from Terminal Del Sur in Medellin with Rapido Ochoa. It was a pretty easy ride that takes roughly 4-5 hours generally speaking. If you come across a lot of road construction it may take a bit longer.
Good luck!
