Jerico, Colombia: Mini Travel Guide
You’ll find the town of Jerico in the midst of Antioquia’s valleys and only a 3-hour bus ride from Medellin. This quaint and colourful town is the perfect escape into the Colombian countryside the roads are lined with vibrant colonial architecture and striking views of the nearby mountains.
You won’t find much hustle and bustle in Jerico nor an endless list of things to do, but you will find a small town willing to show its charm. I wouldn’t say Jerico is an off-the-beaten-track destination, but it is certainly less touristic than the comparable towns of Jardin, Guatatpe or Salento.
It’s a town I believe to be well worth a visit whilst exploring the coffee region of Colombia and maybe one that doesn’t get enough praise. So keep reading to discover my mini guide to Jerico, Colombia.
How to Get to Jerico, Colombia
If you are heading to Jerico from Medellin you will find a direct bus leaving from the South Bus Terminal, it will take between 3/4 hours (buses in Colombia can be so unpredictable). The company you are looking for when you get to the bus station is Transportes Jerico and the ticket will cost 34,000 COP per person.
We actually went from Jardin to Jerico and it was fairly simple you just have to make one change in a town called Andes. So the buses to Andes leave Jardin here nearly every half an hour and it only takes 30 minutes costing 9,000 COP per person, to get off at the Andes bus terminal. Then from Andes, you need to take a traditional ‘chiva bus’ and honestly this is an activity in itself, as the bus is mostly open you get some amazing views along the way but it’s a bumpy ride through the mountains. The Chiva leaves Andes for Jerico at either 6 am or 2 pm, taking about 3 hours and costing 16,000 COP per person.
For your return or onward journey, the buses leave Jerico from here and there is also an office there that will be able to help you get wherever you’re headed next.
Where to Stay in Jerico, Colombia
The Air BnB we found in Jerico was the best accommodation we had in all of Colombia and up there with the best Air BnB I have ever found. It was a small converted cabin located a short 10-minute walk from town and the interiors were just spot on. I’m pretty sure it was newly constructed or renovated as everything was in top condition. You’ll find everything you need from tv, wifi, a coffee machine, hob, basic kitchen items, hot water and honestly the coolest fridge I have ever laid my eyes on. The cabin was giving all the cosy vibes and I couldn’t recommend this place more.
Discover the best cabin in Jerico here ——>
Things to do in Jerico, Colombia
Wander the Botanical Gardens
You’ll find the gardens just on the edge of town and it’s a lovely way to spend a few hours of your day. It’s totally free to enter and the gardens are open 6 am-6 pm daily and it joins perfectly together with my next idea.
Cristo Rey Viewpoint
As one of Jerico’s most iconic landmarks, it’s a must-see for an incredible view over the town and its surroundings. Although you can drive or get a tuk-tuk to the viewpoint, the best way is to climb up to the viewpoint through the Botanical Gardens.
Go Coffee Tasting at Cafe Saturia
You are in the coffee region after all and this quaint cafe offers coffee tastings on a cute little patio. They can also help you arrange a coffee farm tour so you can see the whole process if you wish, worth noting the cafe is closed on Wednesdays.
Visit Bomarzo
The place to visit for inspiring artists or anyone with a general curiosity in the arts, you may catch a small market on the weekends. The courtyard is also home to cafes, restaurants, artisan shops and even offers accommodation.
Stroll Through the Vibrant Streets of Jerico
I mentioned before the streets of Jerico are bursting with colour, so taking a wander through is a must-do. Don’t miss the pink church also known as Santa Laura Sanctuary. And have you even been to Jerico without climbing the stone stairs?
Live Like a Local in the Main Square
The heart of these Colombian towns is always the main square, which makes them the perfect spot for people-watching. You’ll be able to observe locals meeting, greeting, playing games and will likely see the traditional cowboy style clothing of Jerico. You’ll find plenty of cafes around the square, so take a seat, drink good coffee and observe away.
Hike Cerro Las Nubes
One of Jerico’s most well know hikes is the Cerro Los Nubes and many local guides will be willing to show you the way. You’ll have some amazing views from different viewpoints whilst on this route and will likely even see clouds passing through the valley, hence the name.
You’ll also find tour companies offering more adventurous activities in Jerico such as Paragliding and Horse Riding.
We loved our time in Jerico, the amazing cabin, tasty coffee and lovely quaint town all made it well worth a stop whilst exploring the coffee region of Colombia.
Would you like to visit Jerico? Let me know your thoughts in the comments.
*Disclaimer* This post may contain affiliate links, if you purchase through one of these links I would receive a small commission at no extra cost to you.
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Colombia Travel Tips
The national currency of Colombia is the Colombian Peso or COP. Two things about the currency you may often see it written with the dollar symbol and also if you see prices written like this ‘$25” it most likely means 25,000 COP.
You’ll find in the large cities of Colombia such as Bogota, Medellin and Cartagena you will be able to pay by card for most things. However, outside of the cities, you will most likely need to pay in cash or if you can pay on a card you may incur a fee.
We didn’t have a problem taking cash out however a lot of ATM charge a fee, this blog post shows the different banks and which ones are fee-free.
The national language of Colombia is Spanish, not only is it respectful to know the odd phrase, I also think your trip becomes a lot easier if you have a basic understanding. Whether you watch some TV shows in Spanish, take some Spanish classes or just simply download Duolingo to practice, I think it’s important.
The plug sockets in Colombia are type A and B, which is the same as in the US, so unless you have US chargers you will need a travel adaptor. I always recommend the worldwide ones as you can be ready for anything and also it allows you to charge multiple things at once.
There is a popular saying among Colombians “no dar papaya” which basically means don’t be an easy target. Don’t flash valuables or cash, keep phones and wallets secure and close to you and have a fabulous but safe trip.
The weather in Colombia depends more on location than the season. Mostly it’s a country that has 2 seasons, dry and wet. You’ll find it’s warmer in the north e.g. Santa Marta, Cartagena and the further south you go it gets a little cooler. The weather in Medellin is described as ‘eternal spring’ and the high altitude in Bogota makes for a much cooler climate.
In terms of transport around Colombia, the fastest way is normally by taking a flight, the main airlines are Wingo, LatAm and Avianca, I usually found Wingo to be the most budget-friendly. However the most affordable way is by taking buses, you’ll find many long-distance buses available, just expect nothing to arrive on time and be extremely patient with these buses.
