Perfect climate. Local Experiences. Amazing Views

We can accommodate up to 44 people. There is an extra charge, of $ (Phone number hidden by Airbnb) COP, per person per night; for reservations of more than 10 people. Our place is more than just an Airbnb; we provide a full Colombian experience. We have the perfect and safe setting for you to get in touch with nature, interact with animals, visit the local farmers, explore any of the natural wonders nearby or you can just relax while enjoying the breathtaking view from the infinity pool. The house, which was established in (Phone number hidden by Airbnb) , is set on a hill on 100 hectares overlooking the Playas dam, making it an ideal place for adventure lovers. You can horseback ride and hike among the clouds, swim, and canoe down at the hydroelectric dam or just watch the colorful and exotic birds. The property is a farm. Although the rooms and bathrooms are functional and furnished, you should not expect the luxury of the city. The decoration is rustic and it is a property meant to be immersed in nature. You will have the chance to interact with cattle, horses, dogs, cats and plenty of birds, etc.. My love for the PAISA culture has inspired me to rebuild LA TIENDA (A Paisa is someone from a region in the Northwest of Colombia, including the part of the Andes in Colombia). This place is very close to my heart. It was built by my grandparents. My parents met here and I was born in the original house. Rebuilding the place was a way to give back to my family. I love seeing them get together, play together, cook together and share family time together. It gives me great joy to have had the chance to keep the ranch within the family and I am now happy to share my place with you and your family. We will do everything in our power to make sure that your family and friends have a memorable stay. BOOKING: We only take one booking/group at the time. You won’t have to share the property with others. The Airbnb booking grants you exclusive access to the main house; which comes with a safety deposit box; and also includes access to all amenities such as: infinity pool, Jacuzzi, steam room, terraces, patios, gardens, hammocks, TV and a Bluetooth speaker mounted on a tripod. You will have a private kitchen, fully equipped with a gas stove, grill, microwave, oven, coffee maker, refrigerator, freezer and all the utensils you may need. The beds are protected with water-proof base sheets, and we will provide sheets, pillows, blankets, towels, soap and toilet paper. NOTE: Access to other properties of LA FINCA, such as the pool house, third floor bedroom, old house or the new casita is subject to the number of guests in the reservation. However, special requests can be arranged. We have been hosting national and international guests for various years now; in fact, most of our guests are foreigners, our reviews are testimony of it. To see more photos, videos and testimonials about us, see our I-n-s-t-a-g-r-a-m page @LaTiendaDeLaFlorida EVENTS: We have plenty of experience hosting family and friends reunions, Birthday parties, Yoga retreats, Meditation retreats, Bicycling tours, Weddings, and corporate events. This could include arrangements for transportation, accommodation, food, musicians, tours and any of the optional add-ons that you may choose. For more details see the section "experiences, events and things to do below". RENTAL OPTIONS: A) Rent the property: Bring your own food and do your own cooking. B) Rent the property: Bring your own food and hire local cooks ($) C) Rent the property: Arrange with us transportation, grocery shopping, local cooks, and extra activities. See cost of optional add-ons below ESTIMATED COST OF OPTIONAL ADD-ONS: The prices shown below are intended give an idea of the cost that you may incur, based on the add-ons you may choose. This will facilitate the booking process. We can finalize arranging the add-ons after the Airbnb booking is done, at which point we will be able to see each other's contact information. Prices may vary based on the amount of guest, season, type or car available, or currency exchange. > Additional guest per night: ~$ (Phone number hidden by Airbnb) COP/~$15 USD. > Local cook per day (8h shift): COP/~$20 USD. We recommend one cook per every 10 guests. > Grocery Shopping service: ~$ (Phone number hidden by Airbnb) COP/~$60 USD. We will provide invoices and groceries upon arrival. Payment is due upon arrival. When this option is chosen, we can have a hot meal waiting for the group upon arrival, at your request. > One way trip: Airport/City to Finca or vice versa: 1-4 people ~$ (Phone number hidden by Airbnb) COP / ~$95 USD approx. > One way trip: Airport/City to Finca or vice versa: (Phone number hidden by Airbnb) people ~$ (Phone number hidden by Airbnb) COP / ~$350 USD approx. > Round trip: Airport/City to Finca or vice versa: 1-4 people ~$ (Phone number hidden by Airbnb) COP / ~$190 USD approx. > Round trip: Airport/City to Finca or vice versa: (Phone number hidden by Airbnb) people $ (Phone number hidden by Airbnb) COP / $700 USD approx. Guests will have full access to the house and its amenities, including an infinity pool, jacuzzi, steam room, terraces, patios, gardens and plenty of hammocks. There is a fully equipped kitchen with filtered water, a gas stove, hot plates, and utensils. Please bring your own oil, sugar, salt, and coffee as we cannot guarantee that there will be enough leftover from the last guests. Sometimes I won't be available in person, but I am just one click away, via my virtual office, to guide you and support you during your stay. Every member of the team will do their best to make sure your stay is pleasant and memorable. Do not hesitate to contact us. We speak Spanish, English, and Cantanese. TEAM MEMBERS: ALVARO: He is the overall caretaker of the house, swimming pool, Jacuzzi, sauna, the land, and livestock. He lives in the old house, next to the new house. SANDRA She is the person that does the check-in/check-out of the group. She will show you the rooms. She will show you how everything works at the ranch as well as walking you through the house rules. Sandra lives on the farm next to LaTiendaDeLaFlorida, 200+ meters away. Sometimes she also works as a cook for our guest. CARMEN AND OMAR: They are husband and wife. Carmen helps with cleaning the rooms, bathrooms, and kitchen. Omar helps with the gardens. You usually find them working together. Sometimes Carmen also works as a cook for our guest. ALBEIRO: Most likely Albeiro will be the one hosting the group. He is also the person that will help the arranging any of the experiences that we offer. He also helps with transportation arrangements The ranch is (Phone number hidden by Airbnb) minutes from San Rafael's main square. The neighborhood consists of local farmers that work and live off their own land. They have small sugar cane plantations, small coffee plantations, and they have plenty of other produce such as plantains, cassava/Yuca, corn, cacao, tomatoes, mandarins, mangos, oranges, avocados. They also keep pigs, chickens and farm fish for their own consumption. The road to the ranch is paved, in good condition and suited for all cars. The last 800 mts are off-road and going uphill. Automobiles that are low may have to go uphill slow. - Better to have your own car. 4x4 is recommended, especially if you plan to explore the natural wonders around the area. - Busses between Medellin and San Rafael and vice versa, run each hour. Approximatly $8 USD. - A moto-taxi from town to LaTiendaDeLaFlorida, and vice versa cost between $10 and $15 USD. Let us know in advance, we can we arrange transportation from the airport/city to LaTiendaDeLaFlorida and vice versa. We can also arrange for you to have a local car with a driver who can act as your guide, recommended if you are not familiar with the area and want to enjoy a stress-free stay; By the way, hiring a local car/driver is more cost effective than renting an AVIS or Hertz car. San Rafael is located 104 km from Medellin. The town was founded in the sixties by miners and stands (Phone number hidden by Airbnb) ft. above sea level with an average temperature of 28 degrees. Known as the hydro-energy capital of Colombia, as it is the only municipality that houses three hydroelectric plants in its territory: Guatape, Jaguas and Playas. Colombia has an equatorial climate and therefore does not have dramatic seasonal changes; however, some times of year can be better than others to visit. For the least chance of rain, the best time to visit is either between December and March or June and September. DISCLOSURE: We provide WIFI access via a mobile phone, turn into a hotspot; not intended to stream videos or for downloading large files. CHECK-IN/OUT: La Tienda De La Florida is a facility registered with the Government of Colombia. We are required, by law, to register the check-in and check out of each visitor, the same as a hotel. EXPERIENCES, EVENTS & THINGS TO DO: We have experience arranging and hosting all sorts of events; below you will see descriptions of some of the events that we have arranged in the past. If you have something in mind that we do not describe below, feel free to contacts us, we have a very diverse team that can make your event happen and make it memorable. EVENTS: Family/Friends reunion, Birthday parties, Yoga retreats, Meditation retreats, Bicycling tours, Weddings, and corporate events. In some cases we rent the property and we guide and support the group to setup up their event. Our preferred option is for you to hire us to do an all-inclusive and stress-free event, which could include transportation, accommodation, food, musicians, tours and any of the optional add-ons that you may choose BICYCLING: In Nov (Phone number hidden by Airbnb) Four-time Tour de France winner Chris Froome (Team Sky) and some of his teammates put in a few off-season kilometers in Colombia at the Giro de Rigo, a 140km recreational ride that started in Guatapé and finished there again after passing through San Rafael and San Carlos. Since then we have hosted multiple times national and international groups that come to do the same tour that Chris Froome and Rigo did. PUB-CRAWL ON HORSEBACK: Pub-crawl on horseback in San Rafael’s Main Square. We arrange the rental of the horses and they can be shared by the group. Each horse will have a handler to help you enjoy the experience. THE POT GATHERING PICNIC (El Paseo de Olla): One important custom or tradition in Colombian culture, which is particularly popular in rural areas, is the ‘Pot Gathering’. This much-loved ritual encourages Colombian families to gather beside their local river, and share the traditional Colombian dish: Sancocho. This typical stew mixes chicken, pork or beef rib with plantain, potato, corn-on-the-cob, cassava, tomato, and cilantro, served with rice and avocado. The purpose of the ‘Pot Gathering’ picnic is to reunite family and friends to share their successes, celebrate special occasions or just have an excuse to bring everyone together. You incur in transportation and hiring of the local cook cost. HIKING AROUND THE PROPERTY: We encourage our guests to hike around the property. We can provide rubber boots to make the experience safer and more comfortable. You can hike on your own or you can join our daily morning hike to keep an eye on the livestock. The property has breathtaking views that provide great opportunities to take amazing pictures. There are four small freshwater springs that can be visited. Free of charge. CAMPING: Bring your own tent, set up the tent in the gardens of the main house and share this experience with your kids or let the kids have this experience by themselves, while you keep an eye on them from the house. The surrounding of the property has plenty of places with amazing views where you can set up a proper camp. SUGAR CANE PLANTATION/PANELA MAKING: Available Thursdays and Fridays. Despite having the highest brown sugar consumption per capita in the world, it produces almost a million and a half tons per year, Colombian sugar production is still done almost all by hand in the sugar cane mills. Join the local farmers and take an active part in the Panela making process. The farmers will prepare, before your eyes, local and traditional sweets for the group to enjoy. The farmers do their productions on Thursdays and Fridays, early in the morning. The group can join the farmers and be part of the experience. If the group can’t join Thursdays or Fridays, we can arrange to do it on a different day. The farmers need a 24-hour notice to be able to collect the sugarcane. Group cost ($$) AREPA MAKING PROCESS: Traditional breakfast with Arepa, hot chocolate and fresh cheese at Carmen’s house. We arrange a visit to Carmen’s house where she will prepare a traditional breakfast on an open fire stove. You get to be part of the Arepa making process, hot chocolate preparation. Her house has beautiful gardens and is surrounded by all kinds of plants and crops. It is walking distance from La Tienda. Cost is dependent on the size of the group. COFFEE ROASTING ON AN OPEN FIRE STOVE: Seasonal experience. Visit a small coffee plantation. Learn about the coffee from picking the cherries, to processing, and be a part of the roasting process on an open fire stove. This is a morning or afternoon experience. This experience is dependent on the season. CACAO ROASTING ON AN OPEN FIRE STOVE: Seasonal experience. Visit a small cacao plantation. Learn about the cacao production and be part of the cacao roasting process on an open fire stove. This is a morning or afternoon experience. This experience is dependent on the season.   CHICKEN BUS (CHIVA) RIDE: Available Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays. Join the local farmers on their trip to/from town on a chicken bus. A chiva (Spanish for goat) or escalera (Spanish for ladder and stairs) is an artisan rustic bus used in rural Colombia. The buses are varied and characterized by being painted colorfully with local figures and arabesques. Most of them have a ladder to the rack on the roof which is also used for carrying people, livestock and merchandise. Ride is about $3 USD per person. HARVEST LOCAL CROPS / FARM TO TABLE: Seasonal experience. Local farmers produce beans, corn, plantain, sugarcane, coffee, yucca/cassava and many kinds of fruits such: mangos, oranges, limes, mandarins, avocados, cacao and many others fruits. We can arrange for the group to visit a local farmer and have the experience of picking your own crops. The group gives a gratuity to the farmer for providing the experience and the produce. We can also arrange for a local cook to prepare local and traditional dishes. COW MILKING/CHEESE MAKING: Seasonal experience. Every morning, the caretaker milks the cows and makes fresh cheese at the ranch. Talk to Alvaro (The house keeper), and coordinate with him to be part of this experience. Milking a cow looks simple but it may not be as simple as it looks, try it and let us know how your experience was. Kids will have the chance to interact and take pictures with the calves. This experience is free of charge, you just need to get up early in the morning and do it. TRADITIONAL BREAKFAST: Buñuelos, and hot chocolate. Buñuelos are a local delicacy made with white cheese, cornstarch, eggs, and milk. Buñuelos look like puffy fried dough balls. They are very popular at the ranch, we make them with our own cheese and we serve them with Colombian hot chocolate. Let us know if you would like to have them for breakfast and we can hire a local cook to prepare them for you. BASKETBALL / MINI SOCCER: The local school is about 100 meters away. The school has a basketball and a mini soccer court. Bring your own ball and feel free to use them at your leisure. Free of charge. FISHING: If you are into fishing, the Playas dam is a 5-minute drive or 20-minute walk. The Jaguas dam is a 15-minute drive and the Guatape dam is a 40-minute drive. You can do this on your own or we can arrange a canoe rental for the afternoon. BIRD WATCHING: 300+ species. San Rafael is part of Antioquia. Antioquia is one of the most diverse regions of Colombia. San Rafael has over 300 species of birds. Its natural forest, reservations and rives create a magical paradise with unimaginable importance for the survival of the species. Bring your camera to de ranch and take pictures of the birds on it is surrounding or just relax in the hammock lessening to the chirping of the birds. It is amazing! Other experiences that we can arrange include: – Day trip to Medellin. – Day trip to Guatape; Colonial town, Tourist site. – Day trip to 'La Piedra del Peñol', Tourist site. – Afternoon trip to San Carlos. – Afternoon visit to one of the many waterfalls.