Consisting almost entirely of mountain landscapes covered in tropical rainforest and bamboo forests, the Quindío (keen-dee-o) department in west central Colombia is part of what is known as Triángulo del Café, “the coffee triangle” or “coffee axis.” This zone is formed by the Caldas, Quindío, and Risaralda departments (states), and known the world over for quintessential coffee flavor.
The Quindio region is also home to the towering Nevado del Quindío, (Snow Mountain of Quindío), rising 16,896 feet above the sea. Famous for its quality coffee plantations and colorful architecture, the region is blessed with lovely weather, hotel accommodations, and many sites of interest for travelers. Here you can visit the National Coffee Park, a theme park based on--you guessed it--coffee! And at the end of June, if you show up in the town of Calarcá, you can join the National Coffee Party, a day of celebration that includes a beauty contest of coffee.