Medellin: Horseback Riding Coffee Farm Tour with Coffee Spa

The best part of this Medellín day trip is the unusual mix: you ride a calm horse through mountain country, learn how coffee moves from cherry to cup, then lie down for a coffee scrub and massage. The cable-car journey to Arvi is part of the setting, not just a way to reach it.

I especially like the hands-on coffee work, including picking beans, trying brewing methods, and, when arranged, planting a tree with your name on it. I also like the small-group size, capped at 10 people, and the friendly guides who have included Angelo, Julio, Will, and others. The main caution is simple: the horseback ride can feel longer and rougher than the short description suggests, and the full day may run beyond the advertised five hours.

Key points to know before booking

• A 35-minute horseback ride: You follow an old muleteer path with wide mountain views, but the uneven route calls for sturdy shoes and comfortable clothing.
• A working coffee farm: You see cultivation, picking, processing, roasting, and brewing, with chances to handle the beans yourself.
• A genuine wellness stop: The coffee spa includes a steam room and full-body massage, with some schedules also including a natural cold plunge.
• Arvi is part of the experience: You meet at the metro cable station and travel into the hills, with the cable-car ride offering memorable views.
• Small groups and bilingual guides: English and Spanish guiding is available, plus an English audio guide.
• Good value at $150: The price covers transport from Arvi, horseback riding, the farm visit, spa treatment, and tasting, but not hotel pickup or meals.

From Medellín’s metro to the Arvi hills

Your meeting point is Arvi Metro Cable Station, where the guide holds a coffee tour sign. Some arrangements have the guide meet you earlier in Medellín, including near El Poblado, and accompany you through the metro and cable-car system. The stated meeting point, however, is Arvi, so confirm the exact instructions before you set out.

The cable car gives this excursion a strong opening. Medellín spreads below you, and the views change as the city gives way to the wooded hills around Arvi. If you are not used to Medellín’s public transport system, meeting a guide makes the trip easier. Several guides, including Angelo, have been singled out for clear English and steady help with the route.

Once you reach Arvi, you may walk a short distance to the pickup area. From there, a small vehicle can take you partway toward the riding point. The exact sequence has varied: some schedules begin with the horse ride, while others use a vehicle for part of the route before you mount up. Treat the day as a rural outing rather than a tightly timed city tour.

Bring a jacket. Arvi and the farm can feel cool, especially during the cable-car ride, in the open-air spa, or during the massage. Hiking shoes are a better choice than smooth-soled sneakers, and long, comfortable trousers will serve you well in the saddle.

Riding the old muleteer path

The horseback portion lasts about 35 minutes according to the activity details, though the total riding time can feel longer depending on transfers and the route used. You ride toward Don Leandro Coffee Farm along an old muleteer path, with the city and hills opening up around you.

The horses are described as calm and easy to handle, which matters if you have never ridden before. Horse guides such as Edgar and Freddie have been praised for giving clear instructions and keeping the pace manageable. Still, this is not a short photo stop beside a stable. The path is unpaved and bumpy in places, and one particularly enthusiastic description called the ride intense.

If you are an experienced rider, you may find the pace gentle. If you are new to horses, you should still expect saddle time, uneven ground, and the need to follow instructions. Wear clothing you can move in, skip delicate fabrics, and do not plan a polished city outfit for later that day.

The ride is valuable because it gives you a slower view of Antioquia. You are not passing through the hills behind a car window. You are moving at walking or trotting pace, with time to notice the path, the trees, and the high views toward Medellín. That said, the route is not suitable for everyone. The activity is not recommended for pregnant women, wheelchair users, people with mobility impairments, people recovering from recent surgery, babies under one year, or people over 70.

Don Leandro Coffee Farm, from fruit to cup

At the farm, the pace changes. You leave the saddle and walk through the coffee-growing area while the guide explains the work behind a morning cup. You learn about coffee varieties, cultivation, harvesting, and the steps that turn beans into something you can brew.

The most useful part is the hands-on approach. You may pick coffee cherries, practice parts of the process, and plant a coffee tree with your name attached to it. Some visitors have also received personalized coffee bags, making the visit feel more connected to the farm than a standard tasting room stop.

Coffee farming rewards patience, and the tour gives you a better sense of why. The drink in your cup depends on growing, selecting, processing, and brewing. The guide explains these stages in plain terms, then lets you see or try some of them. You can also ask questions in English or Spanish, depending on your guide.

The farm setting adds to the experience. There is a small village-style area on the plantation, comfortable places to sit, and broad views across the hills. Staff have been praised for taking photos and helping with small requests, which is useful if you want a record of planting your tree or preparing coffee.

Food is not included in the listed price. Some outings have included lunch or food purchased at the farm, but you should not count on a full meal. Eat before leaving or bring something suitable if you need regular food. The farm also sells coffee and coffee-based products, so carrying some cash is sensible if you want to take home beans, soap, shampoo, or coffee oil.

Brewing methods and the final tasting

The tasting is more than a quick sip of the farm’s house coffee. You are shown different ways of brewing and can compare how the method changes the drink. This is a useful finish to the farm visit because you have already seen the bean’s journey.

Fresh coffee can taste very different depending on how it is prepared. The point here is not to turn you into a coffee specialist in one afternoon. It is to help you notice aroma, strength, texture, and balance, then understand why Colombian coffee has such a strong place in the country’s culture and economy.

You may also get to prepare a few cups yourself. The tasting is relaxed, but coffee lovers should budget time and money for the small shop. One of the practical pleasures of this tour is leaving with a clearer idea of what you like, rather than simply being handed a souvenir cup.

The coffee wellness spa

The spa is the tour’s most unexpected feature. After the farm walk and coffee activities, you move to a wellness area built around the same ingredient. The listed treatment includes a coffee steam room and full-body coffee massage. The experience can also include a coffee scrub, sauna, and natural cold plunge, depending on the day’s sequence.

The steam room is a good way to warm up after the ride. The massage takes place in a peaceful open-air setting on some visits, with mountain views, birds, and a breeze. That sounds idyllic, but the open setting can also mean you feel cool during treatment. Bring your jacket and tell the therapist if you need more warmth or pressure.

The massage has been a major highlight for many people, especially after the saddle time. The coffee oil and scrub give it a clear connection to the farm rather than making it feel like a separate hotel spa appointment. If you prefer a very firm massage, say so early. At least one person found the pressure too light and the oils not warm enough.

The cold plunge is optional in spirit, even if it forms part of the spa routine. Cold water is not for everyone, and you should not feel obliged to use it. The appeal is the contrast: warm steam, cool water, then a massage in the mountain air. For some, that is the most refreshing part of the day. For others, the steam room and massage will be plenty.

One practical point is the order of activities. The advertised outline begins with horseback riding, followed by the farm and spa. On some days, the spa has come before the final ride. That change can affect how you feel. A massage and steam room may leave you very relaxed, which is not ideal if you still need to sit comfortably on a horse. If the order matters to you, ask the guide at the start.

Is $150 a fair price?

At $150 per person, this is not a low-cost coffee plantation visit. It includes several separate experiences: the trip from Arvi to the rural property, horseback riding, a guided farm tour, coffee tasting, a steam room, and a full-body massage. That combination makes the cost reasonable for someone who wants a full day rather than one focused activity.

I would compare it with booking the parts separately. A horse ride, coffee farm visit, spa treatment, and transport into the hills could easily become a complicated day, especially if you do not speak Spanish. Here, the guide handles the transitions and the group is limited to 10 people.

The value is strongest for couples, families with older children, and friends who want different kinds of activity in one outing. One person can enjoy the coffee details while another focuses on the views and spa. It also works well as a break from Medellín’s city streets.

The value is weaker if you only want a serious coffee lesson. The tour gives you a useful introduction, but it also spends time on horses, transport, and the spa. It is also a poor fit if you dislike horseback riding, cold water, or long rural transfers. You will pay for parts of the day you may not want to use.

Timing, comfort, and what to pack

The official duration is five hours, but I would not schedule anything important soon afterward. The trip involves cable cars, vehicle transfers, a rural ride, a farm visit, spa treatments, and a return to Arvi. Some outings have finished later than the posted time, with one ending around 5 p.m. instead of 3 p.m.

Pack light, but bring the right items:

• A warm layer for Arvi and the open-air sections
• Hiking shoes or firm walking shoes
• Comfortable trousers and clothes suitable for riding
• Cash for coffee and farm products
• A willingness to get wet if you use the plunge pool

Alcohol and drugs are not allowed. Hotel pickup and drop-off are not included, so arrange your own way to the meeting point unless your specific booking instructions say the guide will meet you elsewhere.

The activity offers free cancellation up to 24 hours before departure, and you can reserve now and pay later. Those policies are useful if your Medellín schedule is still shifting, but they do not change the need to confirm the start time and meeting instructions.

Who should book this experience?

I would choose this for someone who wants a full, varied day in the hills rather than a single attraction. It suits first-time riders because the horses are generally calm and the guides give instructions, but you still need to accept a bumpy rural route.

Coffee fans will get the most from the farm visit and tasting. Spa fans will appreciate the steam, scrub, massage, and possible cold plunge. First-time visitors to Medellín also benefit from the metro and cable-car journey, which adds a useful look at how the city connects with its hills.

I would hesitate if you have limited mobility, are pregnant, have had recent surgery, or are over 70, since the activity specifically excludes those groups. I would also skip it if you need a strict finish time or want a polished luxury spa day with no dust, uneven paths, or schedule changes.

Should you book the Don Leandro coffee spa tour?

Yes, if you like variety and can handle a half-day that may stretch longer. The combination of horseback riding, coffee craft, and a mountain spa is unusual, and the small group plus bilingual guides makes the logistics easier.

Book it with realistic expectations. The horse ride is not merely a short add-on, food is not included, the weather can feel cool, and the timing may move around. If those points suit you, $150 buys a full and memorable day well beyond the usual Medellín city tour.

FAQ

Where does the tour meet?

Meet your guide at Arvi Metro Cable Station. The guide will be holding a coffee tour sign.

How long does the tour last?

The stated duration is five hours, but the day may finish later because of transfers, the horse ride, the farm visit, and spa treatments.

Is hotel pickup included?

No. Hotel pickup and drop-off are not included. Pickup and return to the Arvi Metro Cable Station are included.

What languages are available?

The live tour guide is available in English and Spanish. An English audio guide is also included.

How long is the horseback ride?

The activity includes a 35-minute horseback ride. The route follows an old muleteer path, which can be uneven and bumpy.

What does the coffee spa include?

The listed spa visit includes a coffee steam room and full-body coffee massage. The experience may also include a coffee scrub, sauna, and cold plunge.

Who should not take this activity?

It is not suitable for pregnant women, people with mobility impairments, wheelchair users, people with recent surgeries, babies under one year, or people over 70.