Quindío

Quindío is a department of Colombia located in the Andean region. It is part of the Coffee Cultural Landscape and its capital city is Armenia. The department is bordered by Risaralda to the north, Caldas to the east, Tolima to the south, and Valle del Cauca to the west. It is one of the smallest departments in Colombia by both area and population.

Geographically, Quindío lies in the central Andes and features mountainous terrain with rolling hills and valleys shaped by coffee cultivation. The region has a temperate climate favorable to coffee growing, with distinct wet and dry seasons.

Historically, the area was inhabited before Spanish colonization, and coffee emerged as the dominant economic activity from the late 19th century onward. The modern administrative unit of Quindío was formed in the 20th century.

Coffee production remains central to the economy, complemented by agriculture, processing, and services. Tourism attracts visitors to coffee farms and to picturesque towns such as Salento and Filandia. The region is recognized as part of UNESCO's Coffee Cultural Landscape.

Armenia is the capital and largest city; the department comprises several municipalities. The landscape supports biodiversity and rural communities that maintain traditional farming and crafts.