Finca Hotel El Manantial

Last weekend my family and I enjoyed a delightful stay at this wonderful finca hotel near Quimabaya in Colombia's Coffee Axis. El Manantial Finca Hotel is situated in a rural area between the towns of Quimbaya and Montenegro, and is conveniently located to all the major tourist attractions like the National Coffee Park, the Panaca Wildlife Reserve and the capital of Quindio, Armenia. It is a family-owned finca hotel, and is an active farm in addition to being a quaint B&B in Colombia's coffee country. Nubia Restrepo, the owner-manager, is at the helm of El Manantial. She runs a class operation, and makes her guests feel like they are part of her family. The grounds and rooms are as neat as a pin and well-maintained. The finca consists of multiple buildings including the guest quarters, outdoor kitchen and dining area. In the middle of the gardens is an outdoor pool and jacuzzi. The grounds are impeccably landscaped. Fruit trees provide a source of fresh fruit for hotel guests. Expansion and improvements to the hotel facilities are on-going, and when complete, the hotel will offer a number of recreational options for its guests. Overall, El Manantial Finca Hotel is an ideal spot for a family vacation or romantic getaway. The grounds and area around the hotel are beautiful and serene. Service at the hotel is second to none. Nubia and her staff cater to the needs of the guests, and no request goes undenied. The hotel coordinates transportation and tours to the various attractions throughout Quindio. I was impressed by the quality of meals offered at the hotel. The food was fresh and delicious... among the best I have eaten at a finca hotel. Our plan included breakfast and dinner, but for an additional 10,000 pesos, a home-cooked lunch was available. Four of us shared a 120-square foot room in the main building. At times, it felt a bit cramped. Our room was new and immaculate, and included "quiet" air conditioning, Direct TV and mini-refrigerator. I was delighted to be able to take a hot shower... because in many finca hotels, hot water is not an option. Our room was tastefully decorated (as well as our private bathroom). A back door led to a private balcony with a beautiful view of a lush green valley. The beds in our room were very low to floor... making it difficult for those of us with bad backs to get out of bed. I was also disappointed with the quality of the mattresses... I found them too hard. We paid a nightly rate of 55,000 pesos ($16.50 US) per person. This rate included breakfast and dinner. This is an excellent value in my book. Based upon my recent experience El Manantial, I highly recommend it... and have plans of returning for our next vacation in the Coffee Axis.