Hostels in Armenia, Colombia

Armenia is a city in the mountainous, coffee-growing region of Colombia, on the northwestern coast of South America. It is the capital of the Quindio Department, between Medellin, Bogota, and Cali. The city was devastated by an earthquake in 1999 and has seen quite a bit of rebuilding in the last seventeen years; it is now one of the top tourist destinations in Colombia. Many travellers pass through Colombia on their way to coffee plantations or the Los Nevados National Park, where snow falls year round. There are also two agricultural theme parks near Armenia. The first is the Colombian National Coffee Park, where you can see each precise step of the coffee-making process, and the second is Panaca, where you can learn about and interact with the region’s agriculture and animals.

Budget hostel accommodation in Armenia can be found on the north side of the city, where most businesses moved post-earthquake, or on the road out to the airport. There are also a few hostels in the foothills of the Los Nevados mountains as well, which are perfect to use as a base for hikers. The hostels in Colombia are traditional backpacker hostels, with shared rooms and facilities; don’t expect luxury settings or air-conditioning in most places though.

After the earthquake, Armenia built a new airport, El Eden International Airport (near La Tebaida), which has direct flights from Bogota, Medellin, and Fort Lauderdale. The city is about a six hour drive from Bogota, Medellin, and Cali. Transport within the city is relatively easy as there are city and regional buses as part of the Friendly City transport initiative.

The main attractions in Armenia are the city centre. Don't miss the modern, post-earthquake Catedral La Inmaculada Concepcion and the Plaza la Bolivar, or the El Parque de La Vida, near the city centre. In the north end of the city, where most shopping, dining, and nightlife are, check out the Museo del Oro de Quimbaya.