Sugar Cane Farm and Hacienda El Paraiso Day Tour Experience

Take a tour from Cali to visit the renowned haciendas that inspired Latin American romance novels and are significant to the sugar cane industry.

Just one hour from Cali, escape the city and journey into the heart of Valle del Cauca, where vast sugarcane fields stretch toward the mountains and centuries of history come alive.

Your adventure begins at Hacienda Piedechinche – Museo de la Caña, a beautifully preserved estate surrounded by working sugarcane plantations. Walk along shaded rural paths, explore historic mills and machinery once powered by water and steam, and discover how sugarcane transformed the region into one of Colombia’s most important economic engines.

This is not just a museum visit — it’s an immersive look at the agricultural, technological, and social forces that shaped Valle del Cauca. Many visitors consider it one of the most authentic cultural experiences near Cali, as it blends open-air exploration with interactive exhibits.

From there, continue to the legendary Hacienda El Paraíso, one of Colombia’s most iconic colonial estates. Made famous by Jorge Isaacs’ romantic novel María, the hacienda stands as a symbol of 19th-century aristocratic life. Wander through its elegant corridors, flower-filled patios, and panoramic gardens overlooking the valley.

Your guide will bring the estate to life with stories of love, literature, and colonial society — revealing how this setting became a cornerstone of Colombian literary heritage.

After exploring both historic estates, enjoy a traditional lunch featuring regional flavors of Valle del Cauca — a well-deserved culinary pause before heading back to Cali.

Things to bring for our tour:

  • Walking Shoes

  • Comfortable and lightweight clothing suitable for hiking, including long sleeves and pants to protect against insects and sun exposure

  • Hat and sunglasses for sun protection

  • Lightweight backpack to carry essentials

  • Sunscreen and insect repellent

Level of difficulty: Easy, perfect for families

Duration: 9 hours, Approximately

Availability: Year-round, We ask, however, that you email us or WhatsApp us to verify availability before making your purchase.

Meeting point and end point : Hotel Intercontinental Cali, Av. Colombia #2-72, Normandia Sebastian de Belalcazar, Cali, Valle del Cauca, Colombia

We offer pick-up service if you're staying in the San Antonio, Granada, or Peñon neighborhoods. If you're outside these areas, please arrive at the meeting point 15 to 20 minutes before the tour begins.

The guides appreciate tips for great service, and you are sure to leave with many great memories!

Book your Mountain Coffee Tour and Birding Expedition today!

Day tour from $139 us

Hacienda El Paraiso near Cali, Colombia, with colonial architecture surrounded by tall trees
Guided tour at Hacienda El Paraiso near Cali, Colombia, showcasing colonial architecture and cultural heritage.
Beautiful view of Hacienda El Paraiso tour near Cali, Colombia, featuring lush gardens and colonial-style architecture surrounded by nature.
Entrance of Hacienda El Paraíso main house surrounded by beautiful lush nature

Highlights

✓ Stunning Scenery

✓ Discover the haciendas that inspired timeless romance novels

✓ Enjoy the serene landscapes of the sugar cane fields

✓ Explore the traditional techniques of sugar cane cultivation

✓ Experience the flavor of Guarapo, a traditional sugar cane drink

✓ Stroll through the elegant grounds and home of El Paraíso Hacienda, feeling like you've stepped back into colonial times.

✓ Short visit to Santa Elena Town

Includes

  • Bilingual Guide

  • Pick up and drop off from your place of accommodation

  • Entrance fee to the haciendas

  • Lunch (menu of the day and drink).

  • Artisanal wine tasting

  • Medical insurance and assistance.

  • Photographic registration

  • Scenic views

  • Taste of local sweets

  • Water

Duration: 9 hours Approximately

Minimum Group Size 3 people

Maximum Group Size 8 people

Departure time: 8-8:30 am depending of pick up location

Return time: 2:30 pm

A rustic bedroom with a four-poster bed, a portrait of a man on the wall, a small side table with a cross, wooden furniture including a chair with an upholstered seat, a chest at the foot of the bed, and a cowhide rug on the tiled floor.
A vintage industrial steam engine with large orange wheels, mounted on stone supports in an outdoor park setting, surrounded by green grass and trees.
A garden with colorful roses, a large tree, and a small house in the background, under a partly cloudy sky.
A lush green yard with various trees and plants, including hanging Spanish moss on large oak trees, and a decorative sculpture in the foreground.
A historic bedroom with a wooden four-poster bed, dark wooden furniture, a white crocheted bedspread, vintage chandelier, framed religious artwork, and a tiled floor.
Ornamental orange tractor sculpture placed outdoors on grass, surrounded by green plants and cacti.

Important to know!

A dirt path alongside a fence, with green grass and trees on the right, overlooking a flat landscape with fields and clouds in the sky.
Framed religious portrait of a young woman with dark hair, wearing a lace-collared dress and a cross earring, set against a dark background, with decorative wooden border and a banner reading '¡María! ¡María! ¿Cuánto te amé! ¿Cuánto te amaré!'

Minimum participants :

Most of our group tours require a minimum of 3 people to run the tour. If we do not hit this minimum, we reserve the right to cancel the tour, in which case we will contact you to offer an alternative tour or send a refund.

Cancellation:

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund. For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the experience’s start time. 

If you cancel less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded. 

Any changes made less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time will not be accepted. Cut-off times are based on the experience’s local time. 

This experience requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund.