The coffee region after the August 2026 earthquake: what is open

Updated on 1 October 2026. We review this page regularly. If you are reading it later on, some details may have changed: always check with the official sources listed below.

What happened

On 10 August 2026 at 7:34 am, a magnitude 7.4 earthquake shook western Colombia. Its epicentre was in San José del Palmar, in the Chocó department, at a depth of 103 km, according to the Servicio Geológico Colombiano, the national geological survey.

The official toll as of 3 September was 331 deaths in Colombia, 111 of them in Risaralda. In Quindío, there was one death, 330 people injured and more than 10,000 homes affected. Behind these figures are families, neighbours and friends. Our thoughts are with them, and we write this page with deep respect for everyone who lost a loved one or their home.

We live here, between Quimbaya and Filandia. Our aim is not to add to the noise, but to give you clear information so you can make an informed decision.

Airports

• Armenia (El Edén, AXM): the airport kept operating normally, and has been running normally since 11 August. To get from El Edén to Salento, everything is explained in our guide from Armenia airport to Salento.
• Pereira (Matecaña, PEI): the airport reopened at the end of August 2026. In mid September it was handling about 70% of its flights (43 a day, compared with about 60 before the earthquake), and only the ground floor was open. In September it operated from 5:00 am to 11:45 pm. Check your flight directly with your airline. Pereira bus terminal is operating normally. Routes to Filandia and Salento are covered in our guide from Pereira airport to Salento and Filandia.

If you would rather be met at arrivals, we offer an airport transfer from Armenia or Pereira, quoted on request, with a welcome tinto.

Roads

The Autopistas del Café highways are open between Armenia, Pereira and Chinchiná. Roadworks still reduce traffic to a single lane in places, so allow a little extra time. Road conditions are published and updated on the official Autopistas del Café page.

According to Invías, the national roads agency, 96% of traffic had been restored by 8 September. On smaller mountain roads, occasional works can still slow things down. It is exactly the kind of thing Daniel, our willysero, checks every morning before we leave.

What is open

• Salento: no restrictions, according to the town hall (24 August). Tourism is back to normal. See our Salento page.
• The Cocora Valley: operating normally, and the Willys jeeps go up from Salento's main square as before. See our Cocora Valley page.
• PANACA (Quimbaya): reopened on 15 August.
• Ukumarí (Pereira): reopened on 18 August.
• Parque del Café (Montenegro): reopened on 19 August.
• Jardín Botánico del Quindío (Calarcá): open every day from 8:30 am to 3:30 pm.
• Recuca: open.
• Termales de Santa Rosa: open, undamaged according to the press.

More broadly, over 90% of the region's parks were open for the October school holidays, according to Acolap, the Colombian parks association. To reach the parks without a car, see our Willys transfers to the parks.

What is still closed

These places cannot be visited for now. We mention them so you are not caught by surprise:

• Filandia: the Mirador Colina Iluminada and the Casa del Artesano are closed. Their demolition was announced, then suspended on 27 September 2026 while studies are carried out. Part of the main square remains off limits. The rest of the town is welcoming visitors: see our Filandia page.
• Quimbaya: the basilica is closed.
• Montenegro: the San José parish church is closed.

What has not been confirmed

For these sites, we have no reliable information about reopening as of 1 October 2026. Check that they are open before you go:

• The Cocora trails up to Acaime: the valley itself is open, but we have no confirmation for the climb to Acaime.
• Parque Los Arrieros (Quimbaya): reopening not confirmed, check that it is open before you go.
• Termales San Vicente: reopening not confirmed.

We would rather tell you “we don't know” than send you to a closed door.

Why coming helps the region

The earthquake also hit the local economy. According to the governor of Quindío (11 September), hotel occupancy fell from 78% to 14% after the earthquake. Here, tourism supports a great many people: hotels and fincas, but also restaurants, craftspeople, guides, willyseros and small coffee growers who sell their harvest to visitors.

Cotelco (the hotel association), Fontur and ANATO (the travel agencies association) have launched a campaign called “Viajar es sumar”, which roughly means “travelling adds up”. Their message is simple, and we share it: if your trip is planned, please do not cancel. Coming, staying in a local hotel, eating in village restaurants and buying a bag of coffee at the finca is a real, practical way to help the region get back on its feet.

For you, the trip is the same as ever: the wax palms, Salento, the coffee farms and the colourful villages are all still here.

Our advice for a relaxed trip

• Check the roads before you set off on the Autopistas del Café page, especially if you are driving yourself.
• Check each site on its official website or by phone, particularly those in the “not confirmed” list.
• Check your flight with your airline if you are flying into Pereira.
• Aftershocks remain possible. For any information about seismic activity, follow only the Servicio Geológico Colombiano, not social media rumours.
• Keep some flexibility in your plans: a spare day lets you move a visit without any stress.

With Tinto Tours, if a road or site is closed on the day of your tour, we reschedule it free of charge (weather alone does not qualify). Cancellation is free up to 48 hours before.

Our tours today

With Salento and the Cocora Valley operating normally, our tours run as usual, every day, from Quimbaya or Filandia:

• Cocora + Salento: the valley's wax palms, entrance included, then the streets of Salento.
• Salento, Filandia and Cocora by Willys: the valley, Salento and Filandia in one day, until sunset over the mountains. In Filandia we steer clear of the closed areas and show you the town as it is today.

Not sure how long to stay? Our guide to how many days to spend in the coffee region will help you decide. And if you have a specific question about a place, message us on WhatsApp: we will answer with what we see on the ground, without dressing it up.

Plan your tour in a few taps, we confirm the date on WhatsApp.