La Chacana

In the Loja area, coffee plantations extend from 1200 m to 2100 m and are built around an ancient volcanic system, crossed from north to south by the Real de los Andes mountain range. The region is humid: it rains all year round, with heavy rainfall between October and May. This area has the greatest biodiversity in the region. It is home to the Podocarpus National Park, which covers an area of 1,140,080 hectares, a Unesco World Heritage Site.

Coffee cultivation began in the region 200 years ago. It has had a significant economic and social impact in both rural and urban areas. The coffees from the Loja terroir are renowned for their quality. The main variety grown in the region is Typica (over 35%). The area also produces Bourbon, Caturra, Pacas, San Salvador and Castilla. Harvesting traditionally takes place from May to September, with a peak in July.

The Loja region is located in the south of Ecuador, at the foot of the Andes, on the border with Peru, near the Piura Forest. For the people of Loja, coffee is more than a product, it's a heritage. Coffee has been grown in the region for almost 200 years. 

Loja has a well-defined dry season from July to November, which is ideal for farming. At lower altitudes there are valleys and plains where sugar cane and corn are grown. In the mid-altitude zone, there are mountains with coffee plantations, traditionally grown using wet methods, and cattle ranches, while at highaltitudes cattle are the mainstay. 

The extraordinary longevity of its inhabitants has earned Vilcabamba the nickname of the Valley of the Centenarians. This has given rise to a myth of an idyllic valley, which has led many retired Americans to invest in the coffee plantations, particularly in Malacatos, in search of 'eternal youth'.