Did you know that Colombia has 914,000 hectares of coffee farms divided into five regions, with varieties such as Caturra, Maragogipe, Tabi, Tipica, Bourbon, Castillo, and Colombia? Furthermore, our country is ideally located for coffee production, close to Ecuador and with mountains that reach over 2,000 meters above sea level. And that our country produces Arabica coffee, known for its pronounced aroma, acidity, medium-high body, and cleanliness, with well-balanced and smooth beans.
I was telling you that there are five coffee-growing regions in our country. First, we find the northern zone, comprised of Santander, Santander del Norte, La Guajira, Magdalena, and El Cesar. In these lands, coffee blooms in March and is harvested in November. They only have one dry season and one wet season, meaning a single harvest per year, with less acidic but more full-bodied coffee. Then there are the north-central and south-central zones, comprised of southern Antioquia, Boyacá, Caldas, Risaralda, Quindío, northern Valle del Cauca, Cundinamarca, and northern Tolima. These regions have two dry seasons and two wet seasons, meaning two harvests per year. Next comes the south-central zone, where the most acidic coffee is produced; comprised of Nariño, Cauca, and Huila. Due to their excellent production, they are said to form the new coffee triangle. Finally, we find the eastern zone, which is the smallest, comprised of Arauca, Casanare, Meta, and Caquetá. The Colombian Coffee Federation constantly invests to help its growers obtain the most suitable coffee varieties.
As you can see, our country is an excellent coffee producer, recognized worldwide for its smoothness, consistency, and unique sweetness, which evokes endless floral and fruity aromas. Given such a wealth of richness, it's important to highlight the largest coffee-producing region, known as the "Coffee Axis," located in the departments of Caldas, Risaralda, and Quindío, in addition to the northwestern region of Tolima, southwestern Antioquia, and the northern and eastern Valle del Cauca. Among these regions, we find an area of great cultural, historical, tourist, and coffee appeal, known as the "Coffee Triangle," made up of the departments of Caldas, Risaralda, and Quindío. These are connected by well-maintained roads over short distances, which captivate tourists with the similarity of the towns with colorful buildings, the friendliness of the people, and the exquisite aroma of Colombian coffee .
The routes encompass stretches brimming with landscapes of coffee plantations and dense mountains, which adorn and attract travelers with their exuberant beauty. This exciting adventure can begin in Calarcá (Quindío), a municipality of beautiful colors, distinguished by the famous and well-maintained Willys jeeps, beautiful cars used for transporting and loading coffee and other goods; considered the main emblem of this region. The journey continues through Armenia, the capital of Quindío, famous for various attractions, including walking through Plaza Bolívar, enjoying a tintico (black coffee) or a pintadito (with a little milk) in the cafes. From Armenia, you move on to Salento (Quindío), colorful and lively in its architecture, with access to the Parque de los Nevados (National Park of the Snowy Mountains). Then comes Filandia (Quindío), a town of historic houses, which will take you to Pereira, capital of Risaralda, a city with attractive places such as the Plaza de Bolívar, the Matecaña Zoo, the botanical garden and the coffee farms, which will guide you to Chinchiná (Caldas), where the Coffee Research Center operates.
Next comes Villamaría, a municipality in Caldas that will take you to the Nevado del Ruiz mountain. From there, you'll move on to Manizales, the capital of the department of Caldas, a city of steep streets famous for its imposing cathedral. To the north, you'll reach Neira, a town with guadua architecture, and finally Salamina, a town in Caldas, located on a mountain with a delicious coffee aroma. In short, the coffee triangle is the fusion of three departments where nature brings many things together: rivers, snow-capped mountains, lagoons, and scenic routes where the coffee flavor constantly bursts forth. Below, I'll share a list of thematic and tourist sites that, as a true coffee lover, you should visit.
First, there's the "National Coffee Park," located in the municipality of Montenegro (Quindío). There, you'll find mechanical and water rides, ecological trails, themed shows, and the enchanting history of coffee culture. You'll visit a museum alluding to coffee culture. You'll be able to walk along the coffee trail and encounter beautiful chapoleras harvesting coffee, as well as a typical coffee house, built in the shape of an L to protect against witchcraft. You'll observe botanical species and coffee plants from different countries, which can grow up to five meters tall. You'll enjoy the coffee show, with 22 artists on stage, who narrate the history of coffee to the rhythm of cumbias, pasillos, and bambucos. In addition to the park's entertainment, you'll love seeing the beautiful coffee landscape from the cable car, which is 33 meters high and travels 800 kilometers.
Secondly, I recommend Recuca Park, which defines itself as a coffee culture tour, where visitors can take on the role of coffee farmers. It's located on Calle Larga, in the Barcelona district of the municipality of Calarcá. You'll participate in a sensorial experience, tasting different types of coffee , learning to distinguish the good from the bad. You'll take a guided tour of the entire coffee culture, accompanied by a delicious welcome drink: panela water with coffee, known by the adjective "jaqueta."
In Pereira, you'll find "La Granja de Café don Manolo." There, you'll learn all about the coffee industry, right down to tasting the final product.
Finally, the following are other tourist sites you should visit. First, there is the "National Park of Agricultural Culture" (PANACA), located in Quimbaya (Quindío). In this park, in addition to its natural beauty, you can enjoy direct contact with farm animals. In Quimbaya, you'll also visit the "Park of the Muleteers." In Pereira, you'll find the "Botanical Garden of the Technological University of Pereira," famous for having the most important and richest orchid garden in the country. Also noteworthy is the "Quindío Butterfly Garden" in Calarcá, which boasts the largest butterfly exhibition in the world. In the Cocora Valley (Quindío), you'll find the wax palm, Colombia's national tree; and on that road, the entrance to the snow-capped mountain park.
It is my best wish, dear reader, that this information satisfies you and encourages you to explore the beautiful coffee-growing regions of our country, including the northern and southern regions, also filled with beautiful landscapes and friendly, welcoming people.