Community Trip

Colombia

February 15-19, 2026

Experience the impact you help create!

From February 15–19, 2026, we’re organizing a community trip to Colombia to visit some of the social enterprises you help support. Together, we’ll travel to Bogota and Pereira to meet borrower partners, learn about their work with smallholder farmers and local communities, and see firsthand how your capital helps them grow.

Below is the work-in-progress information and itinerary for the trip. Each participant is expected to arrange their own flights and accommodations.

We will continue to update this page as details are finalized. For any questions, feel free to reach out to David Barragan (david@beneficialreturns.com) or Ted Levinson (ted@beneficialreturns.com).

RSVP for the trip
 
AIR TRAVEL

A visa is not required for U.S. citizens traveling to Colombia for short stays (up to 90 days) for tourism or business.

Arrival – Bogotá
All participants are expected to fly into Bogotá (BOG), where the program of our trip begins.

Bogotá – Pereira
Participants will need to book their own domestic flight from Bogotá (BOG) to Pereira (PEI).
The recommended flight from BOG to PEI is with Avianca Airlines, departing Bogotá at 08:15 am on February 18th (Wednesday). One-way ticket costs around USD 50.

Departure – Pereira
The trip will end in Pereira. Participants are expected to organize their own return travel from Pereira.

 
ACCOMMODATIONS

We encourage you to book your hotel rooms once your participation in the trip is confirmed. We have provided hyperlinks for your ease.

You should book three nights in Bogotá, as we’ll arrive on February 15th (Sunday) and leave for Pereira on February 18th (Wednesday). The Bogotá accommodation options are:

You should book two nights in Pereira, as we’ll arrive on February 18th (Wednesday) and the trip will end late on February 19th (Thursday). The Pereira accommodation options are:

We strongly encourage participants to stay at one of our recommended hotels so we can stay together as a group and keep transportation and meeting points simple.

COSTS

Participants are responsible for arranging and paying for their own:

  • International flights to and from Colombia
  • Domestic flight from Bogotá to Pereira
  • Hotel rooms in Bogotá and Pereira

Beneficial Returns will cover shared group expenses during the program, including:

  • Local group transportation during official trip activities
  • Group meals indicated on the itinerary
  • Costs related to site visits with our borrower partners
  • Travel and participation costs for non-local social entrepreneurs joining us
  • Other shared program-related incidentals

These shared costs will be divided among all participants.

We are still finalizing the detailed budget and will share an estimated per-person amount once logistics are confirmed.

WEATHER AND ATTIRE

In February, we’ll experience two different climates in Colombia. Bogotá is at a high altitude and tends to be cooler, especially in the mornings and evenings. Pereira, in the coffee-growing region, is warmer and more humid, with the possibility of rain showers.

We’ll be visiting farms, agro-processing sites, and rural communities, often walking on uneven or unpaved paths.

Please bring:

  • Comfortable, closed-toe shoes that can get dirty
  • A light rain jacket or poncho
  • Sun protection (hat, sunscreen, sunglasses)
  • A warm layer or fleece for cooler evenings in Bogotá
  • Lightweight clothing suitable for warm, humid weather in Pereira
  • A small daypack for site visits
  • Optional: a flashlight or headlamp for low-light areas

Electrical outlets in Colombia are generally the same type and voltage as in the United States (Type A/B, 110V), so most U.S. travelers do not need an adapter

TENTATIVE ITINERARY
Day Description

Day 0

Sunday, Feb 15

Arrival in Bogotá

  • Optional morning tour of Bogotá city center, including Monserrate, the Gold Museum, the Botero Museum, and playing the traditional game “tejo.”
  • 5:00 PM - Welcome drinks and dinner.
  • Overnight accommodation in Bogotá.

Day 1

Monday, Feb 16

Bogotá→ Zona Franca de Tocancipá

  • 7:30 am -  Depart after breakfast.
  • 10:30 am to 6:00 pm -  Visit two Heincke panela (traditional unrefined sugarcane) producers at different locations and stages of their growth. Tour the Heincke plant to see how they improve the quality of small-scale panela producers by enhancing local mill infrastructure.
  • 7:00 pm -  Return to accommodations in Bogotá.
  • 7:30 pm -  Dinner and cultural activity (details TBD).
  • Overnight Accommodation in Bogotá.

Day 2

Tuesday, Feb 17

Bogotá→ Zona Industrial Mosquera

  • 7:30 am -  Depart after breakfast
  • 9:30 am - Visit Amapuri’s açai ice cream processing and packing facility.
  • 11:30 am - Visit Ciklo’s recycling facility and waste pickers to hear their stories (enterprise TBD)
  • 1:00 pm -  Lunch (Location TBD)
  • 2:30 pm to 5:30 pm -  Visit the Gold Museum and take a walking tour around Bogota’s downtown.
  • 7:30 pm - Dinner at Wok, a social enterprise.
  • Overnight Accommodation in Bogotá.

Day 3

Wednesday, Feb 18

Bogotá→ Pereira→Armenia→ Pereira

  • 8:30 am to 9:30 am -  Flight to Pereira.
  • 11:00 am to 2:30 pm - Visit Mesa Baja in Armenia, a coffee, cacao and panela processing social enterprise, serving restaurants, supermarkets, and coffee shops. Tour of the plant. Visit coffee producers that supplies to Mesa Baja and hear their stories. Sample several varieties of coffee.
  • 2:30 pm to 6:00 pm - Walking tour and free time in Salento.
  • 6:00 pm - Dinner in Salento (Location TBD).
  • 8:00 pm -  Return to accommodations in Pereira.
  • Overnight Accommodation in Pereira.

Day 4

Thursday, Feb 19

Pereira

  • 8:30 am - Depart after breakfast.
  • 9:30 am - Visit DelPla, a plantain processing social enterprise, serving restaurants and food distributors with frozen and pre-fried products. Tour of the plant.
  • 11:30 am - Meet DelPla’s plantain producers and hear their stories.
  • 2:00 pm -  Lunch (Location TBD).
  • 4:00 pm - Return to accommodations in Pereira.
  • 6:30 pm - Closing Dinner (Location TBD)
  • Overnight Accommodation in Pereira.

Day 5

Friday, Feb 20

Free time and return.

Discover Bogotá

Set high in the Andes, Bogotá is a vibrant capital where colonial history and contemporary culture coexist in harmony. In the historic neighborhood of La Candelaria, colorful facades, cobblestone streets, and centuries-old churches tell the story of the city’s past, while nearby museums—like the renowned Gold Museum and Botero Museum—showcase Colombia’s artistic and cultural heritage.

Beyond its historic core, Bogotá is a city of distinct neighborhoods, each with its own energy: bustling plazas, leafy parks, street art-lined avenues, and cafés that reflect Colombia’s rich coffee culture. Visitors can sample traditional dishes, explore local markets, and take in sweeping city views from Monserrate, a hilltop sanctuary overlooking the capital.

Bogotá offers a dynamic introduction to Colombia’s history, creativity, and resilience.

Explore Pereira and the coffee region

Located in Colombia’s famed Coffee Region (Eje Cafetero), Pereira serves as a lively gateway to rolling green hills, coffee farms, hot springs, and small towns known for their warmth and charm. As the capital of the Risaralda department, Pereira is a modern, well-connected city that makes it easy to access nearby rural landscapes and coffee-growing communities.

From Pereira, it’s a short journey to some of the region’s most iconic destinations, including Salento, a picturesque town of brightly painted balconies and artisan shops, and the nearby Cocora Valley, home to Colombia’s towering wax palms. This UNESCO-recognized coffee landscape invites visitors to walk among coffee fields, learn about cultivation and harvesting, and experience everyday life in the countryside.

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