Colombia’s beautiful Coffee Region (also known as the Coffee Zone and Coffee Triangle) was initially nominated to become a UNESCO World Heritage site in January 2010. On June 25^th, 2011, the region was officially inaugurated into UNESCO’s prestigious list of World Heritage sites.

The Coffee Region spans six farming landscapes, comprising of 18 urban centers, 47 municipalities, 3 major Colombian cities and countless coffee farms. UNESCO cited the region as “an exceptional example of a sustainable and productive cultural landscape that is unique and representative of a tradition that is a strong symbol for coffee growing areas worldwide”. The area joins Cartagena, Mompox, San Augustin and more on Colombia’s list of UNESCO World Heritage sites.

The Coffee Region is an extremely popular tourist destination, boasting charming pueblos such as Salento and stunning vistas such as the ones found in Cocora Valley, the most popular place to view Colombia’s national tree, the wax palm. Tourists also delight in visiting the local farmlands, which mainly consist of coffee and plantain, although many other fruits are grown in the region.

The best coffee Colombia has to offer is grown in the region thanks to its idyllic landscape and climate. The Colombian Arabica coffee, the most popular in the region, is mainly exported to the US, Germany and Japan, though it is possible to sample some coffee made of the best hand-picked beans in the area in cafes such as Jesus Martín.

If you would like to visit the Coffee Region, See Colombia Travel offers several tours that give you the opportunity to visit the fincas, farms and stunning valleys that characterize the area. Click here for more information.