A Culinary Journey Through Colombia’s Cloud Forest

Six nights of harvests, markets, coffee, cooking, and slow hospitality at Araucana Lodge.

September 26, 2026-October 2, 2026

Join us for an intimate gastronomic journey designed for travelers who want to experience Colombia through food, landscape, culture, and connection. Set on a working farm in the cloud forest outside Cali, Araucana Lodge offers a deeply rooted stay where every meal tells a story of place.

Where Food Becomes a Way Into Place

Colombia is one of the world’s most fascinating culinary destinations — a country shaped by dramatic mountains, fertile valleys, tropical forests, Pacific coastlines, and extraordinary biodiversity.

At Araucana Lodge, gastronomy becomes a lens into this richness. Over the course of six nights, guests will explore the flavors, ingredients, and traditions that make Colombian cuisine so deeply tied to land and culture.

This is not simply a food tour. It is an invitation to slow down, gather at the table, walk through gardens, harvest from the land, cook beside a chef, taste coffee at its source, and experience Colombia through the generosity of its people and landscapes.

What You’ll Experience

Harvest From the Garden
Walk through Araucana’s vegetable gardens, citrus plantings, coffee, herbs, and edible landscape, gathering ingredients that will later appear at the table.

Cook With Fire, Masa, and Tradition
Join hands-on culinary sessions with Chef Jainer Arango, exploring Colombian ingredients, wood-fire cooking, masa, regional flavors, and the techniques behind soulful, place-based food.

Discover Colombian Coffee at the Source
Visit a local coffee farm for an intimate look at one of Colombia’s most iconic crops, followed by tasting and conversation.

Explore Markets and Local Food Culture
Spend time in Cali exploring ingredients, vendors, flavors, and the everyday food traditions that shape the region.

Experience the Landscape
From natural springs to forest paths, botanical gardens, and the San Cipriano River, the journey moves through the ecosystems that make Colombian food so diverse.

Gather Around the Table
Each day ends with the warmth of shared meals — welcome dinners, picnics, cooking-class meals, and a final tasting menu rooted in local ingredients.

September 26 – October 2, 2026

This six-night journey is designed as an intimate small-group experience, with limited availability to preserve a sense of connection, ease, and depth.

Details

Location: Araucana Lodge, outside Cali, Colombia
Duration: 6 nights / 7 days
Dates: Saturday, September 26 to Friday, October 2, 2026
Group Size: Limited to 8 people
Starting Price: From $2,950 per guest, double occupancy
Single Supplement: $595

Itinerary at a Glance

Each day is designed to balance discovery, hands-on learning, beautiful meals, and time to settle into the rhythms of the lodge and surrounding landscape.

Day 1 — Arrival & Welcome Dinner

Arrive at Araucana Lodge and settle into the property. The journey begins with a warm welcome reception and dinner, where guests meet the tour leaders, lodge staff, and fellow travelers.

Day 2 — The Farm, Fire & Cloud Forest

Begin with a farm tour at Araucana Lodge, exploring the gardens, plantings, and ingredients that shape the kitchen. Later, join Chef Jainer for a wood-fire cooking experience. The day also includes birdwatching and a hot chocolate experience at Km 18.

Day 3 — Colombian Coffee & Natural Springs

Discover the world of Colombian coffee with a farm visit and tasting, followed by a picnic at the natural springs.

Day 4 — San Cipriano & Hands-On Cooking

Travel to the San Cipriano River, ride the traditional brujitas, and experience one of the region’s most memorable landscapes before returning for a hands-on cooking class.

Day 5 — Cali Market & Dining Experience

Explore Cali through its city life, market culture, ingredients, and flavors, followed by a thoughtfully curated dining experience.

Day 6 — Botanical Garden, Masa & Final Tasting Menu

Visit the Dolmetsch Arboretum, a botanical garden with more than 2,000 species of plants. Later, discover the foundations of masa in a hands-on class, followed by a tasting menu with Chef Jainer.

Day 7 — Farewell Breakfast & Departure

Gather for a final breakfast before departures.

Note

Itinerary may be adjusted slightly based on weather, seasonality, local conditions, and the freshest ingredients available.

Stay at Araucana Lodge

Araucana Lodge offers an intimate and deeply rooted stay where comfortable accommodations, natural beauty, and warm hospitality come together.

Set across 20 acres — most of it protected forest — the property includes vegetable gardens, coffee and citrus plantings, flowers, and nearly two miles of paths winding through the woods. Here, birdsong, forest air, garden harvests, and the rhythms of the land shape the experience.

Guest rooms are designed for comfort and simplicity, offering a peaceful place to rest between excursions, meals, and moments of connection.

Meet Your Hosts

Anna Calonje
Owner of Araucana Lodge, Anna brings a deep knowledge of the property, the region, and the vision behind the experience. She guides the journey with a focus on warm hospitality, meaningful connection, and a deeper understanding of Colombia through food, landscape, and culture.

Chef Jainer Arango
Chef Jainer is a lifelong teacher and trainer of chefs. He brings the culinary heart of the experience to life through hands-on classes, wood-fire cooking, and tasting menus rooted in local ingredients and tradition. His deep knowledge of Colombian foodways and technical skill give guests an intimate window into the flavors of the region.

Why This Journey Is Special

This is not simply a food tour. It is an immersive journey into Colombia through landscape, culture, and flavor.

Rooted in Place
Experience Colombia through its landscapes, ecosystems, ingredients, and regional food traditions.

From Source to Table
Stay on a working farm where ingredients grown on the property shape the culinary experience.

Intimate and Immersive
A small-group journey designed for meaningful access, connection, and depth.

A Deeper Cultural Lens
Explore the intersection of geography, agrobiodiversity, history, and culinary heritage through food.

Warm, Personal Hospitality
Experience the comfort and care of Araucana Lodge, where every detail is designed to feel thoughtful, welcoming, and deeply connected to place.

Pricing & Inclusions

From $2,950 per guest based on double occupancy
Single supplement: $595

Included

• Six nights of accommodation at Araucana Lodge

• All meals and snacks

• Culinary workshops and hands-on cooking experiences

• Coffee farm visit and tasting

• Bilingual guided excursions

• Transportation and transfers during the journey

• Welcome reception and farewell breakfast

Not Included

• Airfare to Colombia

• Alcoholic beverages

• Travel insurance

• Gratuities

• Laundry

• Personal expenses

To inquire about availability or reserve your place, please contact Anna directly.

Who This Journey Is For

This experience is designed for curious, thoughtful travelers who love food not only as something to taste, but as a way to understand place.

It is especially well suited for guests who enjoy:

• intimate boutique hotels

• garden-to-table cooking

• cultural travel

• markets and local ingredients

• coffee, biodiversity, and landscape

• slow mornings and beautiful meals

• meaningful conversation around the table

This journey is not designed as a fast-paced checklist tour. It is immersive, sensory, and personal — with time to cook, taste, explore, rest, and connect.

Frequently Asked Questions

What airport should I fly into?

Guests should fly into Alfonso Bonilla Aragón International Airport, which serves Cali, Colombia.

Are transfers included?

Yes, transportation and transfers during the journey are included. Final arrival and departure logistics will be shared with confirmed guests.

Do I need to be an experienced cook?

No. The culinary experiences are designed to be welcoming, hands-on, and engaging for curious travelers of all levels.

Are all meals included?

Yes, all meals and snacks during the journey are included.

Are alcoholic beverages included?

Alcoholic beverages are not included unless otherwise noted.

Can dietary restrictions be accommodated?

Many dietary restrictions can be accommodated with advance notice. Please share any allergies or dietary needs when inquiring.

Is this a physically active trip?

The journey includes walking through gardens, markets, forest paths, farms, and natural areas. Guests should be comfortable with light to moderate activity and uneven terrain.

Will the itinerary change?

The core experience will remain as planned, but small adjustments may be made based on weather, seasonality, local conditions, and ingredient availability.

Reserve Your Place at the Table

Join us for a six-night culinary journey through Colombia’s landscapes, ingredients, and traditions — rooted in the gardens, kitchen, and hospitality of Araucana Lodge.

For availability, questions, or reservations, please contact:

Anna Calonje
info@araucanalodge.com
+1 415-971-8693