East of the Andes and nestled between the San Martin region to the north and Cusco region to the south is the Santipo province, part of the Junín coffee growing area. Here culture is incredibly diverse. 3500-year-old petroglyphs from Peru’s earliest inhabitants and Incan ceramics and axes of stone and gold meld with elements from people groups who moved over the mountains from the coast or at some point immigrated from Europe to become part of life in these mountains.
Coffee is an important crop here, along with cacao, bananas, citrus, hardwoods, and yucca. Farms are small—rarely larger than 2 to 3 hectares, and often remote. Other challenges include Roya (rust) is a real challenge here, and inhabitants are still recovering from the effects of the brutal warfare from guerilla groups during the 80s and 90s. In spite of many difficulties, the people are hopeful, hardworking, and incredibly welcoming.