Coffee, cannabis and color in Colombia

Ignoring my family’s warnings and that inner fear monster that only comes from movies about drug dealers, I board the plane for an adventure in Colombia. From the moment I see Santi’s welcoming smile as I leave the baggage area, I feel my fear fade. It’s going to be a fantastic weekend with Wind Hill Tours, the brainchild of Damian Holman, a Maine cannabis grower. He, his wife Sonja, and their business partner Santi brought along two other “cannabis influencers” (Mary Pryor and Ace King) to review the tour and offer advice on how to make the experience as amazing as possible.

Damian gets our luggage and drives us to Finca El Huerto. As we drive up, I look directly at the Andes through the open-air foyer. My mouth drops open as I enter the sprawling ranch property. Bougainvillea and other flowering trees and shrubs form a semicircle around the infinity pool. The rooms of the house surround the trees and I immediately feel wrapped in a cocoon of nature’s luxury.

High Times Magazine, March 2023.

We relax, smoke some pre-rolls provided and chat while the chefs prepare our first dinner. Damon tells me his vision for Wind Hill Tours as the first all-inclusive resort experience focused on wellness through the lens of cannabis. I advise him that once his own cannabis cultivation is established, he will be able to offer his guests the best possible experience. There is nothing better than providing one-stop quality in the form of flower or hashish. Although the industry is still nascent – personal use is decriminalized in Colombia and a proposal to legalize adult-use cannabis is currently in the works at the time of my visit in fall 2022 – there are no growing conditions comparable to Colombia’s fertile volcanic soil and consistent 12/12 photoperiod. I open the pre-rolls and roll them again, smearing rosin on the paper.

That’s better.

The next day at dawn I put on a light hoodie, grabbed my already packed chillum and headed to the pool. I appreciate the lightly scented breeze that whispers songs of contentment through the valley. Overlooking the Maravelez Valley, I take a deep drag and surrender to the thick smoke that takes over my airways, enters my lungs and expands into a pleasant warmth before passing through my lips again. Almost immediately I feel the tension on my face ease. I slept very well, but sometimes I need THC-charged moments like this to really let go. The sun had just started to clear away the thick fog that had covered the mountains as I finished the last part of my chillum. I tap it firmly into my palm and let the ash fall before it disappears into the fragrant wind.

Our first stop is a coffee finca, La Pradera. We begin with a short hike to the property, crossing bamboo bridges over rushing streams, wild coffee bushes lining the path, and other tropical plants. Santi takes us on a coffee tour and picks unripe but still strong berries for our sweet sipping pleasure. Up on the coffee terrace we sip perfectly prepared coffee, take in the mountains and enjoy the sweet sounds of salsa and merengue.

Coffee galore.

Freshly charged with caffeine, we head to the cannabis farm IQ&A. We receive a warm welcome and the team, sensing our haste, rushes us into blue gowns and headgear before leading us into the greenhouse. My face lights up with joy when I see these wonderfully healthy plants. Although each household in Colombia can grow up to 20 THC plants, this legal cultivation is exclusively of CBD. We stroll through the rows; Admire the lush life and delight in the various terpene-rich strains. The crop is as impressive as any in California’s Emerald Triangle. We end the tour on a high seat, smoking chillum and chatting about the breathtaking views of the Andes.

On Sunday morning I lie by the pool and snort flowers and rosin in my chillum before it’s time for yoga with Jimy Betancurt. I glide through poses with ease because I’m in the zone; regardless of the little things in life. Jimy assures us that with proper breathing and technique we can achieve the same state of unity and stillness that we achieve through our cannabis. I believe him, but take another drag just to be on the safe side.

A cannabis-infused yoga class starts the day.

A few hours later we pass chunks of Cholado, Bubblegum and Bubba Kush and make our way to Salento, a small town known for its wild colors. as if a larger-than-life artist had selected all the doors, shutters, tiles and window sills and splashed each surface with a different hue. We stroll through the city and climb 242 steps directly to the Alto de La Cruz viewpoint, which offers us the best view of the city. The combination of the bright pigments, the sun shining from above, and the effect of multiple joints makes my head spin in surreal, slightly off-kilter awe.

After a much-needed lunch and under persistent fog, we set off for the nearby Valle de Corcora. We are looking for the tallest wax palms in the world. As the jeep races steadily along the road, trees and grasses with the most lush leaves stretch out to tantalize our senses even more. Among the magnificent flora we catch glimpses of wild horses running around with wild abandon. without paying attention to our big eyes. Some waterfalls underline the magnificent landscape.

We reach the valley under incessant rain and I look doubtfully at the proposed hiking trail as the soaked ground smacks with every step. I slip and slide awkwardly along the fairly steep track, and just as I’m exhausted from the hamstring workout (and mentally exhausted from the lack of THC), I see the turn for the loop. It’s a beautiful view of the valley and the wax palms, some 200 feet tall, stand tall and completely defy gravity. We were advised against flying with a drone, but the view is just too tempting. Honestly, I too am ready to throw all worries to the wind and pick up a vape pen to replenish my endocannabinoid system. I settle at the feet of a Groot statue and shake my head in wonder at the deliciousness of the whole endeavor. Colombia was good.

The landscape of Colombia includes many beautiful flora and fauna.

This adventure was an exhilarating expression of the beauty and bounty of nature. As THC coursed through my body, my mind skyrocketed; Inspired not only by the cannabinoids, but also by the feeling of wonder when Colombia reveals its next fascination. I spent my time in Colombia enjoying the psychedelic experience of smelling, tasting, hearing, feeling and seeing everything in a larger than life way. In one weekend, Wind Hill Tours made significant progress in its mission to provide a safe haven for personal recreation through cannabis and nature immersion, contributing to a new narrative of all that Colombia can be.

This article was originally published in the March 2023 issue of High Times Magazine.