Retiro(Colombia) Travel 2026: Cheap Flights, Hotels & Top Attractions

The best area to stay in Retiro is around Plaza Central and Calle 12, where you'll find charming colonial-style buildings, local artisan shops, and cozy cafés. Stay at Hotel Campestre El Retiro, a boutique hotel with Andean-inspired architecture and a tranquil garden setting—perfect for immersing in the region's rural charm.

For a more authentic experience, try Hotel Las Palmas de Retiro, located steps from Parque Principal and near traditional markets selling handwoven textiles and regional coffee. These neighborhoods offer ideal access to local festivals, folk music performances, and family-run restaurants serving arequipe and tamales antioqueños.

Hotel Campestre El Retiro delivers the most authentic countryside experience in Retiro. Housed in a restored 19th-century farm estate, it features original stone walls, wooden beams, and handcrafted furniture reflecting Antioquian heritage. Guests can participate in guided tours of nearby coffee farms, visit the Iglesia de la Asunción, and enjoy home-cooked meals using locally sourced ingredients like fresh corn, plantains, and regional cheese.

The hotel also hosts seasonal cultural events, including traditional parrandas (folk music gatherings) and craft workshops, making it a true gateway to Antioquia’s rural soul.

Families should stay near Plaza Central in Retiro, where walkable access to Parque Principal, a children’s museum, and local eateries makes daily exploration effortless. The Hotel Las Palmas de Retiro is ideal for families, offering spacious family suites, a playroom, and complimentary shuttle service to nearby farms and markets.

The hotel runs daily cultural activities tailored for kids—such as weaving workshops, traditional dance classes, and storytelling sessions about Antioquian folklore—ensuring both fun and education during your stay.

Visitors to Retiro shouldn’t miss the monthly artisan market held at Plaza Central, where locals sell handwoven baskets, woolen shawls, and freshly baked arequipe cookies. Explore the Iglesia de la Asunción, renowned for its stained-glass windows and historic bell tower.

Join a guided coffee farm tour to harvest beans using traditional methods, then learn to roast them over an open flame. At night, enjoy live performances of Antioquian folk music, accompanied by warm chocolate con churros—a beloved local ritual that captures the town’s heart.

Yes, several hotels in Retiro offer immersive culinary experiences. Hotel Campestre El Retiro and Hotel Las Palmas de Retiro run a program called "Taste Retiro," featuring a 3-hour market tour through local vendors selling tamales antioqueños, fried pork croquettes, and hot chocolate wine.

Afterward, guests join a hands-on cooking class led by a local matriarch, learning to prepare traditional dishes like Changua soup and arequipe-filled pastries using ingredients sourced from nearby farms. These experiences highlight the region’s rich gastronomic heritage.

The best time to visit Retiro is from October to April, when temperatures range between 16–22°C and rainfall is minimal—ideal for hiking, visiting farms, and exploring outdoor sites. This period coincides with major local festivals, including the Christmas Market and Agricultural Fair, where hotels often offer special packages with guided tours, food tastings, and folk performances.

Spring brings vibrant blooms—especially bougainvillea and jacaranda trees—transforming the town into a living canvas perfect for photography and leisurely strolls.