Pijao

Pijao refers to an Indigenous people of Colombia and to a municipality in the Quindío Department. Historically, the Pijao inhabited parts of the central Andean region in what are today several departments of Colombia, including Tolima, Caldas, Huila, Quindío and Risaralda. They were encountered by Spanish explorers during the 16th century and are often described as having spoken a language now long extinct or poorly documented, with classification uncertain. Their social organization centered on village communities led by local leaders, and their economy included agriculture—such as maize, tubers, and beans—along with metalworking and mining. The colonial period brought disease and violent conquest, contributing to a severe population decline and widespread assimilation into neighboring groups. In contemporary Colombia, descendants identify as Pijao and are recognized as an indigenous people; ongoing cultural preservation efforts focus on crafts, dress, and festivals, alongside broader national integration.

Pijao is also the name of a municipality in the Quindío Department, situated in the central-western part of Colombia within the Coffee Cultural Landscape. The area comprises rural and agricultural lands, with the local economy oriented toward crops such as coffee, fruit production, and dairy farming. The municipality originated in the 20th century as part of regional settlement and development, and it functions as an administrative unit within Quindío, contributing to the region’s cultural heritage and rural tourism.