The coffee zone of Colombia - on the trace of the best coffees in the world

The Andes mountain range splits itself in three different ranges in Colombia, they spread through the country and depending on the geographically position they are named West, Central and East Cordillera. On the west side of the Central Cordillera lies the coffee zone of the country. Characterised with typical haciendas, snow-capped volcanoes and traditional villages. From Caldas to Risaralda and Quindío extends over the green and fertile land the best-known coffee brand in the world, which entered last year to the official UNESCO - World Heritage List as a "cultural landscape of coffee".

Nutrient-rich volcanic soils and mountainous landscapes of 1000 to 1800 meters above sea level offer ideal conditions for growing coffee. In this region grows about 10% of the world produced and consumed coffee.

 Since the early 1990’s many small coffee farmers discovered in the Agrotoursim an additional source of income, including tours and visits to the romantic Coffee Haciendas with their playful architecture of rural fincas, the visitor experiences how the farmers only harvest the red coffee beans. Then, by pressing peel and flesh, the jelly-like film that breaks down the nuts covered will be in a fermentation process undermined. After the beans are washed and dried in the courtyards or on the roofs of the houses, the chosen coffee beans will be in the typical coffee bags packed and traditionally transported on mules or in little Willy jeeps to retail outlets.

Another scenic highlight is the Cocora Valley, where the "Palma de Cera" (wax palm) grows. It is the highest palm tree in the world and also the national tree of Colombia. After an idyllic visit to Salento, a town with a beautiful plaza and a typical architecture, you will reach the Cocora Valley.

Finally, don’t miss the opportunity of hiking in the National Park "Los Nevados". This is the highest point of the Central Cordilleras, its territory covers an area of ​​580 square kilometers. The two highest mountains, namely Nevado de Ruiz (5,400 m.) and the Nevado del Tolima (5,200 m.) of the range are also volcanoes; they have during the whole year snow-and are ice-capped. Below the ice line, which starts at 4,700 meters, begins the typical Páramo landscape with Frailejones, ferns and mosses.