A small city on the eastern edge of Armenia, only about 10 kilometres from the centre and effectively continuous with it by road. Calarcá's main square is more colonial in feel than Armenia's, with palms and older brickwork around the church. Its claim to fame is the Reinado Nacional del Café — the national coffee beauty pageant — which has been held here every June for decades and is the busiest event on the Quindío calendar.
A few kilometres up the road toward Cajamarca is the Jardín Botánico del Quindío, with mariposario (butterfly house) and a small museum. Easy to combine with a half-day in Armenia.