In the heart of Colombia’s Coffee Cultural Landscape lies Chinchina, a town in the department of Caldas known as the country’s coffee emporium. This town has become one of the most representative destinations of coffee culture. Renowned for its high quality coffee production and for being home to the largest coffee cup in the world, Chinchina is the perfect destination for those who want to experience the essence of Colombia’s coffee heritage.
Where is Chinchina and why visit it?
Chinchina is located just 20 kilometers from Manizales, the capital of Caldas, and equidistant from other key cities such as Pereira and Armenia. Thanks to this privileged location, it has established itself as a central meeting point within the coffee triangle.
Its temperate and fertile climate is ideal for coffee cultivation, and its landscapes are dominated by lush green mountains covered in coffee plantations. These not only generate economic prosperity but also shape the cultural identity of its people.
The municipality is part of Colombia’s Coffee Cultural Landscape, declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site, making it a treasure for both rural and cultural tourism. Visitors who explore its rural areas will find coffee farms that open their doors to showcase the entire process from planting to the final cup offering an immersive experience that connects travelers with the heart of Colombian rural life.
Colombia’s largest coffee cup
One of Chinchina’s most iconic symbols is its giant coffee cup, the largest in Colombia, inaugurated in 2009 as a tribute to coffee culture and to the municipality’s vital role in coffee production.
Standing 5.6 meters tall and 7 meters in diameter, this monumental cup has the astonishing capacity to hold 22,000 liters of coffee, equivalent to about 374,000 small cups. Located in the town’s main square, it has become a must-see attraction for tourists, who often gather around it to take photos.
In 2019, Guinness World Records officially recognized Chinchina as the home of the world’s largest coffee cup, further strengthening its title as Colombia’s coffee emporium and filling its residents with pride. However, in december 2022, Chinchina’s prestigious word record was beaten by Leon, a city in Mexico’s Guanjuato state.
Chinchina: land of coffee and tradition
Chinchina is considered one of Colombia’s main coffee-producing towns. Its geography, with altitudes ranging between 1,300 and 1,800 meters above sea level, provides the perfect conditions for cultivating smooth, high-quality coffee beans that are exported worldwide.
The municipality is also home to key institutions and research centers such as the National Coffee Research Center (Cenicafe), one of the most important in Latin America. From here, groundbreaking studies and innovations are developed to improve cultivation techniques, protect the environment, and ensure the sustainability of Colombian coffee, recognized globally as one of the finest.
The national coffee festival
Every year, between June and July, Chinchina proudly celebrates the National Coffee Festival, one of the most important festivities in the Coffee Region, coinciding with the harvest season. For several days, the town comes alive with parades, cultural exhibitions, horseback rides, barista competitions, and concerts — all paying tribute to Colombia’s most iconic beverage.