Hotel Hacienda Santa Clara

The bed was comfortable and the shower was nice. Wi-Fi kept cutting out in our room, though it worked fine elsewhere around the hotel. Felipe is attentive and speaks English fluently. The stay was beautiful and laid-back, and breakfast was excellent. Just allow time for it, since they take a while to prepare it.

For dinner, get the burger with rib bits and the picanha, it melts in your mouth. This is a lovely little hotel, with a hot tub, sauna, and a path through a bamboo forest. There are two hot springs nearby, but go early in the morning. Later they fill up with tour buses and get too crowded.

My two-year-old son and I were on the swings when a branch weighing about 200 pounds fell just a couple of meters from our heads. This was a very serious safety incident. We contacted the owners right away to explain what happened and got a very poor excuse. I said the facilities should be made safe, especially for young children enjoying the green areas, and was given the number for manager “FELIPE ECHEVERRY.” I called, got no answer, and couldn't leave a message. The staff seemed not to care about what happened or about my suggestion to inspect and cut the dry branches over the area. They chose to blame nature for something that could have been prevented. I tried to take photos to show the manager how serious it was, but was told I couldn't. Staff were called immediately to clear away the branches. I want to alert others to the danger here and to how little these people seem to care about guest safety.

The building is a lovely typical house from the 70s or 80s, and it's in amazing condition. The hotel gives you all the comfort you need in Santa Rosa de Cabal, a special place in Colombia's coffee region. The service was among the best I've experienced anywhere in the region. Pereira is about 25 minutes away, and Santa Rosa town is 10 minutes or less away, with delicious restaurants of all kinds and plenty to enjoy.