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April 28, 2024
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You’ve probably never heard of Kasaguadua before and neither did I before I arrived in Salento. Nevertheless, this was one of the most memorable experiences I had during my whole trip through Colombia. Kasaguadua is a small natural reserve located in Colombia’s coffee region and it’s a lovely place to visit for ecotourists and nature lovers. In this post, I’ll tell you all about Kasaguadua, where it is, and how to visit!
Arial view of Kasaguadua Natural Reserve
Kasaguadua is a small nature reserve of 12 hectares consisting of Andean rainforest and five natural springs. It was founded by three lovely people, Nicholas, Carlos, and William, three environmentally conscious individuals who are passionate about conservation and sustainable living.
Their mission is to create a place that not only preserves the biodiversity of this region but also serves as an educational platform for visitors to learn about sustainable practices, the protection of natural habitats, and environmental conservation.
Through their efforts, Kasaguadua has become a model for eco-tourism now that attracts visitors from all over the world who want to learn about the complexity and beauty of the Andean rainforest ecosystem!
Quindio, Colombia
Kasaguadua is located in the Quindio department of Colombia near the popular tourist town of Salento. This area is well-known for its breathtaking landscapes like the Cocora Valley and is a UNESCO-protected region due to its coffee culture.
Kasaguadua is only a 40-minute walk from the center of Salento and is situated along the Ruta Cafecito, a road that passes by the region’s most famous coffee farms, some of which have been around for centuries.
There are several things to do at Kasaguadua. You can opt to take a tour of the premises, stay in one of the eco pods they built, or visit the reserve as a part of a Zen Buddhism retreat.
Here are the websites I use when I travel to Colombia:
Booking.com: For the best guesthouses, homestays, or small hotels
Hostelworld: To find the best hostels located in the cities
Homestay: For a unique immersive homestay experience in the big cities or the countryside
Busbud and Redbus: The best transport websites for long-distance buses in Colombia. Note that 12Go also works in Colombia but the tickets they will buy for you are open-seat tickets and don’t guarantee a seat on the bus you book online.
Uber: Uber is a convenient and cheap ride-hailing app that can be used in the bigger cities of Colombia. Other apps are Cabify or Didi.
Skyscanner: For affordable flights to Bogota and intercity flights in the country.
Viator and Get Your Guide: book all kinds of activities from the Ciudad Perdida trek to a guided private tour of Comuna 13 in Medellin.
Citizens of many countries, including the United States, Canada, the European Union, Australia, and New Zealand, do not require a visa for short tourist stays (typically up to 90 days). However, this can vary, so it’s always best to check iVisa for the specific requirements for your nationality.
If you’re looking for travel insurance, the one with the best benefits online is undoubtedly Heymondo! It’s very easy to ask for a quote on the website and, if you book with this link you’ll get 5% off!
Access mobile data immediately when entering the country with a Colombian E-sim or a Latamlink E-sim when traveling through multiple countries. If you are already in Colombia, the best local prepaid sim card is Claro.
Kasaguadua Reserva Natural bird life, Salento
First of all, Kasaguadua is a private property. It is gated and you can’t just walk in to explore the natural reserve. The only way to enter is by taking a tour, booking a stay, or as a part of a zen Buddhist retreat.
If you want to deepen your understanding of the rainforest’s delicate ecosystem then taking a tour is a wonderful experience. Tours go every day at 10 A.M. and you need to send a message to Carlos (+57 3204258075) the day before you want to visit.
The tours are organized both in Spanish and English and are led by Carlos, an Argentinian expat who has settled down in this area, and William, a local who has been born and raised in this area.
The tours are very fun and informative and you will learn a lot about the ecosystem of the area. The most mindblowing thing that I learned, and this is also the reason why I recommend to visit Kasaguadua before going to the Cocora Valley, is that the Cocora Valley is actually a graveyard.
Wax palm trees need dense forests to reproduce so that their seedlings don’t get eaten by cows or burn in the sun. This is not possible anymore since the Cocora Valley has been manicured and the earth beneath the trees has been turned to pasture land.
So be aware that in 50 years, the Cocora Valley as it is today will probably cease to exist.
Furthermore, these educational tours offer insights into the unique fauna and flora of the area, the importance of conservation efforts, and the sustainable practices they use to organize the reserve.
The tour lasts approximately two hours and there is a short break in the middle to use the toilet. At the time of my visit, the cost was 40.000 COP/per person.
Sleeping pods in the middle of the nature reserve
If you are keen to sleep under the stars in Kasaguadua Natural Reserve, that is also a possibility! I didn’t know about this when I came to Salento and already had my accommodation booked but I would stay here for sure if I would even return to Salento.
In the middle of the reserve, Nicholas, William, and Carlos have built an eco-friendly house and various dodecahedrons that are made solely using recycled materials and the local bamboo “guadua”.
Ecolodge Kasaguadua
The accommodation is self-service so there are no breakfasts are other meals available but there is a large communal kitchen where you can find everything you need to cook a lovely healthy meal yourself.
We were allowed to have a look inside one of the sleeping pods and they have everything you need for a comfortable stay! I believe it is a great experience to sleep in one of these sustainably constructed dodecahedrons, especially waking up to the sound of the forest and fully immersing yourself in ethical living for a while.
It also gets raving reviews on booking.com!
Palestina area, Salento, Colombia
I’m not sure that this was already constructed at the time of my visit but Kasaguadua has built a small Zen Buddhist temple on its property and you can participate in zen meditation sessions every weekday at 6 A.M. and 7 P.M. and 7 A.M. during the weekend.
This only enhances the experience further for conscious travelers who like to explore natural environments, and engage in sustainable practices but love holistic experiences that nurture the body, mind, and soul.
The center of Salento, Colombia
Salento is the main town near Kasaguadua and this will probably be your base if you stay in the area or the place where you will go grocery shopping if you want to stay at the lodging facilities inside the nature reserve.
Note that, although Willy Jeeps ply the route to and from the reserve, it might come in handy to rent your motorbike if you don’t want to be dependent on the Willy Jeeps. There is no exact timetable so you’ll never know when you will be able to catch one.
While there are a lot of activities on offer around Salento that require transport, here are some of the things nearby the natural reserve that you can do on foot.
Kasaguadua is located along the “Ruta Cafecito” which is a scenic hiking trail that passes by the region’s most popular coffee farms.
The trail is of moderate difficulty and is suitable for beginning hikers as well as experienced ones. Just prepare yourself to walk up and down a lot along the rolling hills!
Some of the most popular coffee farms are located only a short walk away from Kasaguadua. On the other side of the road from Kasaguadua, you can find the entrance of Finca Entre Bosques and my favorite Salento coffee tour is only half an hour’s walk away.
Luger Coffee Farm is the place you should visit if you are interested in sustainable coffee farming. It’s a family-run organic coffee farm that offers traditional and personal small-group tours of the farm in English and Spanish.
Kasaguadua is located pretty far away from the center of Salento where all the restaurants and grocery shops are located. Luckily, there is one amazing restaurant just a 10-minute walk from Kasaguadua called El Rincon de Lucy.
The terrace of the restaurant offers amazing views over the surrounding mountains and valleys and you can get a cheap menu del dia here that includes a drink, soup, and a main dish for only 15.000 COP.
I can’t remember it from seeing the menu, but they open at 9 A.M. and I’m pretty sure you can also swing by for breakfast!
There you have it! I hope you enjoyed this post about Kasaguadua Natural Reserve and that it has inspired you to visit this wonderful place!
Let me know in the comments below if you have any questions or feel free to drop me a message through my contact page.
Also, don’t forget to check out my resources page with my favorite booking platforms and tips to start planning your trip. Additionally, have a look at my favorite travel gear if you want to pack more consciously!
ENJOY!
Disclaimer: This post may include affiliate links. If you click on them, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.
Hi! I am Annelies and this is Travelers & Dreamers, a blog about conscious travel which means traveling in a more mindful way, with a positive impact on the world and yourself!
On this website, I cover different topics like slow travel, plant-based food guides, responsible travel, sustainable packing, eco-travel, and more!
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