Cusco is unique among coffee-growing regions because it seamlessly combines world-class origins with incredible travel experiences. Visiting coffee origins usually isn't easy, as most are located in agricultural zones with minimal hospitality services. In Cusco, however, you can visit one of the New Seven Wonders of the World one day and explore local coffee farms the next. You'll find plenty of accommodation options and dining choices for dietary restrictions. If you want to avoid crowded tourist spots, it's easy to escape into nature or explore lesser-known Incan ruins. It offers an ideal blend of your work of coffee sourcing and vacation.
Quillabamba is the main hub of the local coffee industry. Most of the region's production is processed at modern, industrialized dry mills here before being loaded onto trucks bound for Lima. Located about six hours from the Cusco airport at an altitude of about 1,000 meters, it is usually hot midday and cool at night. If you've been traveling in the high altitude for days, coming down to Quillabamba offers a refreshing change of sensation with warm weather and a tropical climate. Most coffee buyers use Quillabamba as a base to visit surrounding farms and nearby tourist attractions.
Local Coffee Culture
Like most origins worldwide, local specialty coffee consumption in Peru has historically been very low. Many farmers traditionally roast their coffee in a ceramic pot with sugar and orange peel, grind it with a grain mill, and brew it using basic infusion methods. Most of the farmers rarely get to taste how their coffee performs when properly roasted and precisely brewed.
Recently, driven by the rapid growth of specialty coffee in Quillabamba, younger generations on these farms have begun learning professional roasting and brewing techniques. Most coffee shops in town are relatively new (less than 3 years), with the best ones featuring impressive vertical integration from farm to cup. They also serve unique desserts made from fresh farm ingredients. Everything is transparent: you can trace every step of the process behind the coffee you're drinking, and owners are usually happy to arrange a farm visit based on your schedule. I really enjoy the growing coffee culture here and love seeing farms earn extra income by serving great coffee to the local community.
Places to Research for Your Sourcing Trip
Cultural Focus:
- Vilcabamba
- Choquequirao
- Huyro
Nature Lovers:
- Megantoni
- Echarati
- Salkantay
What to Expect Around Quillabamba
- Climate: It's tropical, but hot water showers and air conditioning aren't necessary.
- Transportation: Hire a reliable private driver. Public transportation takes a long time, and drivers often drive recklessly.
- Insects: There are bugs, but unlike the deep jungle, you won't see too many exotic species.
- Birdwatching: It's a fantastic location to add new lifers to your birding list.
- July Travel: July is the province's anniversary month, so hotels must be booked well in advance.
- Safety: The region is generally calm and safe; I haven't felt in any danger at all.
- Food: Fresh farm meals are the highlight, everything comes straight from the chakra (farm). Find a good farm-to-table restaurant on a Sunday to enjoy fresh, delicious food (not for vegetarians though).
- Local Events: On the last Saturday of every month, a coffee and chocolate fair takes place in the main plaza. It showcases domestic brands and is the best place to find high-quality coffee and chocolate at low prices.
Unfortunately, it’s hard to find information about traveling in this part of Cusco. Most of the tourism in Cusco is controlled by the travel agencies. If they don’t offer the tour to the coffee farms, the travelers do not get the chance to learn about these places. If you need help arranging a trip to the coffee origin, feel free to contact us. We can point you in the right direction.
