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Introducing Northwest Colombia
For the people of northwest Colombia, the Andes provide more than gorgeous views. Their rugged, emerald-green peaks divide the region into two distinct geographies, which in turn define the warp and weave of daily life.
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To the west of the Andes lies the Chocó department, occupying the lowlands along the Pacific coast. One of the world's wettest places, Chocó logs annual rainfalls of up to 10m - three times more than the Amazon. Such conditions complicate everything from farming to road maintenance, so it's no surprise that the Chocó department is one of the poorest in Colombia. Unfortunately, this isolation has also made Chocó an ideal base for both leftist rebels and paramilitaries. Conditions are improving, but the region still poses risks for travelers.
About 100km inland from the coast, the land rises quickly, the climate grows cooler and drier, and social conditions change dramatically as well. Consisting of Antioquia as well as the Zona Cafetera, this mountainous region has an economic and cultural dynamism that is in many ways the envy of the rest of Colombia. It's also the heartland for Colombian coffee growing - the valuable bean remains a mainstay of both the culture and the economy.
You can move easily between big cities as well as around the surrounding countryside, which is stunning, with terraced farms and colonial-style towns. There are also opportunities to trek through Andean cloud forests to the snow-capped peaks of Parque de los Nevados.
Last updated: Mar 2, 2009
