Santa Maria

Located in the municipality of Aratoca, in the Santander department of Colombia, part of the Guanentá province. This area is home to the
Chicamocha National Park, a major attraction, along with its local gastronomy, especially its bakery, and notable fique handicrafts. Aratoca is known as
"The City of Hills." 

Aratoca is a terroir located in the Santander region in the north of Colombia. This area is one of the new coffee producing areas, it was known to have launched a revolution (Revolución de los Comuneros) in the 18th century to free itself from Spanish colonialism. The town is situated in the Chicamocha Canyon, on the Eastern Cordillera. It has a temperate climate, with an average temperature of approximately 19°C. Its lands are traversed by the Chicamocha River and the Cantabara Stream. Its higher rural areas reach up to 2,200 meters above sea level, while the lower areas are at 500 meters. Aratoca is located in the Eastern Cordillera, at an altitude of 1,800 meters above sea level, with an average temperature of 20°C. Aratoca is recognized as the leading municipality in the country for organic and shade-grown coffee production. The municipality covers an area of 16,360 km², with annual precipitation averaging 1,400 mm, though these values vary by elevation, ranging from 16°C to 26°C.

The Santander region, in the Andes, is characterised by its river valleys and rugged terrain, including the famous Chicamocha National Park. Today, this mythical region is writing a new chapter, being recognised for its variety of speciality coffees, the fruit of the hard work of the farmers and producers who have made it one of the most internationally renowned Colombian coffees. Santander currently holds the record for the most important certification programmes, motivated by the quest for high quality, respect for the environment and the well-being of farming families and communities.

Santander is a historic department, the cradle of Colombian independence and home to hard-working families. The agricultural production system is not based on monoculture, with farmers growing a range of crops including cocoa, pine and tobacco, as well as raising cattle, poultry and goats. It is one of Colombia's leading producers of organic coffee, thanks to its shady plantations and average farm size. Despite its low altitude, the cup profile is characterised by notes of cocoa, almond and walnut, medium acidity and full body.