Quindío Department, Colombian administrative department in western Andes
Quindío sits on the western slopes of the Cordillera Central, spreading across mountainous terrain between green valleys and forested ridges. The capital Armenia forms the center of this landscape, surrounded by coffee plantations and smaller towns along the roads.
This administrative area was created in 1966 by separating from the larger Caldas region and gaining its own political structures. The founding marked the beginning of independent development for this area in the central Andes.
The region carries the name of a pre-colonial chief whose memory lives on in the landscape and in the stories people share. Visitors will find small coffee farms throughout the area, where families process their harvest and preserve the coffee tradition in everyday life.
Roads connect all major towns, though the mountainous topography means some routes can be winding and steep. Travelers will find Armenia serves as a starting point for trips into the surrounding valleys and plantations.
Among Colombian departments, this is the smallest by area yet holds deposits of gold, silver and copper beneath the surface. Limestone also appears in several areas, giving the region a geological diversity one might not expect.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
