Tourists wishing to visit the central Colombian coffee growing department of Risaralda will be able to do so more safely in the coming months, with a scheme to run police-escorted ‘caravans’ touring the region’s historically and cultural interesting areas.
The scheme, organized by Risaralda’s secretary for Economic and Competitive Development and tourism agency D’paseo, will allow tourists to travel to numerous destinations within the department as part of a police protected caravan, or group of vehicles, to reduce the risk of danger en route.
The scheme will run various tours throughout the months of June, July and August, each leaving at a specified time from particular location and will stop in the department’s most popular areas such as the Santa Rosa thermal springs, as well as some of Risaralda’s less visited destinations.
Each tour will have a particular focus, for example visiting the area’s bio-diverse regions or archeological sites.
According to representatives of the department, the scheme aims to boost tourism in the municipalities of Risaralda and generate income for their residents.
Those wanting to take part may pay COP45,000 to ride in government-provided cars or COP30,000 to travel the route in their own vehicles alongside the official cars. Caravans will leave on Sundays and have a maximum capacity of 200 passangers.
To find out more about Risaralda’s tourist caravans, click here.
