Just a few hours south of Medellin, the vibrant town of Jardin lies nestled in the mountainous coffee region of Colombia. Rich with culture and natural wonders, the small town of Jardin is worth the stop for any traveler in Colombia!

Hike to Some Waterfalls

When it comes to waterfall hikes in Jardin, you have no lack of options. Pretty much every road you take out of town will lead to a waterfall!

But here are a few to get you started:

La Cascada Del Amor y el Chaco Corazon

Take the Camino La Herrera out of the south side of town and continue on the road. La Cascada del Amor is a 20-minute walk from town, mostly uphill (it’s not very steep). You’ll find this waterfall on the left side of the road.
If you continue down the road in a few minutes you’ll cross a river. Just past the bridge is a path that leads to el Chaco Corazon, which is a popular spot to take a dip.
*Note: Swimming in any body of water, especially a fast-flowing river, can be dangerous. Swim here at your own risk and never go in alone.*

La Cascada Escalera & the 3 Waterfall Hike

Take the Jardin-Tamesis route off of Calle 13 and Carrera 2. You’ll walk down a very steep hill and cross a river just as you exit town. Walk along the road for about 25 minutes and you’ll arrive at La Cascada Escalera. This is probably the most popular waterfall in Jardin, so It’s unlikely you’ll have it to yourself.
But if you’re brave (and have some hiking experience)…
You can follow the path past La Escalera and begin the long trek to the Waterfall of the Dragon. You start by taking the road through a banana farm and then you’ll reach a farm gate which you may pass through. After this point, you’re on private property, so stay on the path and leave all the gates as you find them!

The trail is muddy and difficult and can be hard to follow. The only other hikers you’ll pass will probably be cattle. You’ll pass in and out of forest cover, so make sure you have plenty of sunscreen. As you work your way up into the mountains, don’t forget to turn around and take in the beauty of the valley behind you.

Nearly all the way up the mountain you’ll reach the next waterfall, the waterfall of the dragon. This is a great place to take a dip and refill your filtering water bottle.

If you continue along this route, you’ll reach two more waterfalls.

This trail can also be done with a guide, which I would recommend if you’re not comfortable navigating poorly marked trails on your own!

See the Iconic Cueva Del Esplendor

This waterfall is such an adventure, I have a whole post about how to get there! Basically, it involves paying for transport out of town and then paying an entrance fee to access the private property where Cueva Del Esplendor is located.
This waterfall adventure will take you the better part of a day, but if you’ve got time and a love for unique natural wonders, Cueva Del Esplendor is worth the trip!

Take the Scenic Route to Café Jardin

If you’re up for another short hike, you can head up to Café Jardin, which is part way up the mountain and stands next to the iconic Jardin sign that you can see from town.

You’ll start on the same route that leads to La Escalera & 3 waterfalls, but then take a left at the fork. You’ll pass a La Argelia Restaurante- a café with a huge waterwheel- and then continue up the stone footpath through a farm.

The footpath ends at another road. If you take a left, you’ll reach the Mirador Cristo Rey (a Christ statue) in about 5 minutes. If you take a right, you’ll reach the café in about 5 minutes. The views on the road and from the café span the whole valley and are absolutely BEAUTIFUL.

But if you’re not in the mood for walking…

You can easily grab a tuk-tuk from the center of town to the café. They take a slightly longer route back to town which you can walk down as well if you’re interested in a change of scenery.

And enjoy a Malteada there

Café Jardin is totally worth the stop. Don’t just stand and take a few photos in front of the sign.
Find a table, sit down, order something delicious (the prices are about the same as in town!), and take in the beautiful mountain views.
I highly recommend trying the Maracuya Malteada (Passionfruit milkshake) and the Pan con arequipe y queso (bread with caramel and cheese) I know that sounds a little weird but trust me on this one!

And another in the town square

When in Rome…Jardin is a small farming town in the coffee region of Colombia. Even though tourism has sprung up there in the past decade, Jardin has held onto its authentic self.
Every afternoon you’ll find locals lounging at the tables and benches scattered throughout the main square, slowly sipping a coffee or beverage.
Take one from their book and relax for an hour or two just immersing yourself in the atmosphere.
Café Macanas -just to the left of the cathedral- has delicious food and drinks (once again I recommend the malteada maracuya) and Café Cuchillas to the right of the Cathedral has been recommended as well.

Go Bird Watching

Did you know that Colombia is one of the most biodiverse countries in the world and has 1,958 species of birds? As a small town in the mountains, Jardin is perfect for birdwatching. You’ll end up doing it even if you’re not trying to!
But if you really want to see some cool birds, walk to the west side of town, toward the big yellow bridge. From the bridge itself, you can see plenty of birds in the Canopy which is just below you.
If you’re looking for even more, You can head to Parque Natural Jardin de Rocas. Right before you get to the bridge, take the path on the right-hand side of the road. The park is just a few meters away.

This park is on private property and is known for just one species of bird, which in English is called the Andean Cock of the Rock. You’ll probably see 5 or more of them during your time at the park. The entrance fee is 10,000 COP (about $2.85 USD) and you get 40 minutes to admire the birds.

If you’re an avid birdwatcher, the path that leads to this park is a treasure trove as well. Stand there for just a few minutes and you’ll start to see birds all around. This is where I took my favourite hummingbird photos!

Take a Wander Around Town

Nearly every small town in Colombia holds historic charm. Jardin is no exception and boasts some of the most brightly colored buildings in the area. Just walking around town and taking in the vibrantly painted walls and doors is a treat for the eyes!
Jardin is a very safe town and I felt perfectly comfortable walking around by myself during the day!

Try Paragliding

What could be more fun than hiking in a beautiful mountain valley? Flying through it.
Paragliding is such a popular activity in Jardin you’ll likely see Paragliders cruising over the valley any time you’re at Café Jardin.
Paragliding is affordable here too, with most experiences costing around $50 USD!

Face your fears in La Garrucha

As a mountain town, Jardin is built on uneven ground, and one of the challenges of that can be getting to the other side of town! On the southwest side of town, there is a river that has cut a deep but narrow valley.

But the locals have come up with a way to cross it in just a few minutes. A precarious cable car (la Garrucha) strung across the ravine. Ride it if you dare!

You’ll find La Garrucha at the very end of Calle 12 on the Southwest side of town (the opposite side of town from Café Jardin)

Relax with some Helado and friends

Because what else is there to do on a hot afternoon after you’ve jumped in a few waterfalls?

Jardin has good helado (ice cream) and great prices. I recommend Los Alpes, right next to Hotel Jardin just off the corner of the square!

How to Get to Jardin

From the North:

Jardin is a 3+ hour bus ride from Medellin, assuming there’s no traffic. Rapido Ochoa is the most popular company and the bus is very comfortable and air-conditioned. You can buy your ticket at Terminal de Transportes del Sur in Medellin. There is a bathroom stop about halfway between Medellin and Jardin.

From the South:

Recommendations for Visiting Jardin:

I highly recommend you download maps.me

…and download the area of Jardin for offline use. (it’s part of the download when you download the Colombia map). maps.me shows where the waterfalls are, notably the waterfalls on the 3 waterfall hike mentioned above.

Bring plenty of sunscreen and bug spray.

Even though Jardin doesn’t get hot, it’s sunny and the bugs on some of the hiking trails are no joke. Because Jardin is a small town and many locals in the area don’t use sunscreen and/or bug spray, your options in town will be limited! I highly recommend bringing plenty with you!

Bring a filtering water bottle.

I don’t recommend you drink the tap water if you can avoid it. Some hostels have a big bottle of filtered water for you to use but bringing your own filtering water bottle is best! (especially to refill on any hikes you take)

Have a raincoat or a poncho on hand.

It rained almost every afternoon I was in Jardin. Most days it was a drizzle that lasted for 30 minutes or an hour, but the rain can come down hard. Best to have a raincoat handy for any adventures!

Pack some warm clothes.

Jardin is quite high up in the mountains. During the day it’s hot enough for shorts and a t-shirt, but at night it can get pretty chilly!

Bring some good shoes for the hiking trails.

Even the roads out of town can get a little rough for regular sneakers, and all of the footpaths are muddy. Whichever shoes you wear, prepare to have them soaked in mud.

Vegetarian Food:

Every Vegetarian knows the struggle of trying to find a decent meal abroad. Especially in a small town. While most restaurants in Jardin cater to those who eat meat, Café Artesana and Realismo Magico offer good & affordable vegetarian options! Realismo Magico also has a great & cheap breakfast! (The veggie burrito at Café Artesana was my FAVORITE. I probably had it 5 times in the week I spent in Jardin!)

**Café Artesana doesn’t show up on Google maps but it’s there!

Where to Stay in Jardin

There are so many little hotels and guesthouses in this town that you’ll have no trouble finding a bed for the night even if you don’t book in advance (unless it’s a holiday weekend!)

For the Budget Backpacker:

Jardin Eco-Hostel

A little hostel just a few minutes from the main square. The staff are welcoming and friendly and the view from the roof is beautiful! I stayed here the first few nights I was in Jardin and it was great! My only complaint was the dorm bed wasn’t the most comfortable and the shower kind of sucked. But for about $8 USD/night it’s a pretty sweet deal.

Sgt Pepper’s Hostel

The most popular hostel in town for backpackers. Just 30 seconds from the main square! A few of my friends stayed here and said it was pretty nice but the rooms are on the small side

For the Group:

Hostal Madre Tierra

A small hotel right next to Jardin Eco-hostel, just a short walk from the main square. The staff is really nice and the hotel is laid-back. Most of the rooms are made for a group of 3-5, but there is one private room for one.

I stayed here for a few days and really loved it. It was the perfect place to relax and get some work done!

Hotel Madre Tierra isn’t on hostelworld or booking, so you would either have to call or just show up and hope there’s room!

For the Luxury Experience

Hotel Jardin

Hotel Jardin is the flagship hotel of town right in the main square. This colorful building boasts a huge atrium and a luxury experience-all for as low as $22 USD/night!

I found that the best budget hotels in Jardin weren’t listed online but rather found wandering around town. If you’re up for spontaneity, I recommend arriving early and walking around to find a place you like!

Jardin was my absolute favorite town in Colombia and I absolutely recommend you visit it to take in all the beauty that Jardin has to offer!

I recommend you stay there for at least 2 nights / 3 days to really experience the beauty and charm of this little pueblo.

Have any questions? Comment below!

Have you been to Jardin? What did you think?

The Best Things to do in Jardin Colombia