In order to contribute with knowledge and mitigation of the mass movements in the Colombian coffee zone, the relation between direct shear and 22 physical properties and 11 chemical properties of some coffee soils in Caldas, Quindio and Tolima, in 11 cartographic soil units were studied. In horizon B of each site, measurements in situ of shear strength and penetrability by the vane, Torvane and resistance to penetration methods were carried out. Samples with minimum disturbance were taken to determine the direct shear strength in laboratory and disturbed samples were taken to evaluate physical and chemical properties. In plastic soils the properties that showed the closest relationship to direct shear strength were aluminum (r= 0.52), organic matter (r = 0.51), pH (r =-0.50), plasticity index (r =- 0.51) and penetration resistance (r= 0.44). The in situ method that showed the highest correlation with the direct method to determine shear strength in plastic soils was resistance to penetration (r=0.44), while in soils without plasticity it was the vane method (r = 0.55).