The Coffee Route is a day trip from Cusco to the high jungle of La Convención province. You cross the Abra Málaga pass, at 4,315 metres (14,157 ft), and drop to Huayopata, at about 1,500 metres (4,900 ft), where a farming family shows you their farm, the whole specialty coffee process and a guided tasting. It takes twelve to thirteen hours, with no demanding walking, and in a single day you go from the cold of the high plateau to the heat of the jungle edge.
Where it is
La Convención is the Cusco province that runs down from the Andes to the jungle. Its capital is Quillabamba, the “city of eternal summer”, at just over a thousand metres. Huayopata lies halfway and is one of Peru’s specialty coffee areas; cocoa and tea are also grown in the province. We tell you more about the region in Quillabamba and Cusco’s high jungle.
The journey: from the plateau to the jungle
You leave early, between five and half past five. The road climbs to Abra Málaga, with viewpoints over the snow peaks, and then descends through cloud forest to the coffee farms. Over the day the temperature goes from about 5 °C (41 °F) on the pass to about 28 °C (82 °F) at the farm, so dress in layers. The mountain road has many bends: if you get carsick, take something before you leave.
At the farm: from bean to cup
The visit is led by the farming family. You walk the plantation and see every step of the process:
- Varieties and growing: what is planted, at what altitude and why it matters.
- Harvest: picking the ripe cherry. Depending on the season, you can join in.
- Pulping, fermentation and washing: how the bean is separated from the fruit.
- Drying and roasting: what decides much of the final flavour.
Then comes the guided tasting, where you learn to tell aroma, acidity and body apart, and lunch with local produce. At the end there is free time at the farm and the chance to buy freshly roasted coffee directly from the people who grow it.
When to go
It can be done all year. Joining the harvest depends on the season; the rest of the year you see the rest of the process. In the rainy season, road conditions may mean adjusting the itinerary. We compare it with other trips in the best time to visit Cusco.
Altitude and who it is for
There is no demanding walking, and the highest point, Abra Málaga, is crossed by vehicle. Even so, spend a couple of days in Cusco first (how to acclimatise). It is the ideal trip for coffee lovers, for anyone who already knows the classic circuit and wants to see another side of Cusco, and for photographers: the change of scenery from the mountains to the jungle is spectacular.
What to bring
- Layers: the day starts cold and ends hot.
- A rain jacket in the rainy season.
- Comfortable shoes with good grip.
- Sunscreen and insect repellent.
- Cash in soles to buy coffee from the farmers.
Price and what is included
Our private Coffee Route starts at 270 USD, which covers private transport with a driver, with pickup and return to your hotel; the price per person drops the more of you travel. When booking you add the private bilingual guide, breakfast and the regional lunch and, if you like, a professional photographer. Coffee purchases are extra.
What else there is in the area
If you want to stay longer, La Convención has the Cocalmayo hot springs in Santa Teresa, the Siete Tinajas waterfalls and the river beaches of Sambaray, near Quillabamba. It is also the gateway to the alternative route to Machu Picchu via Hidroeléctrica, which we explain in how to get to Machu Picchu.
Frequently asked questions
Where is the farm?
In Huayopata, in La Convención province, on the jungle edge of Cusco, at about 1,500 metres.
How long does it take?
About twelve or thirteen hours: departure between 5:00 and 5:30 am and back in Cusco between 6:30 and 7:00 pm.
Is there much walking?
No. Only the walk around the plantation, at an easy pace. The highest point is crossed by vehicle.
Can I join the harvest?
It depends on the season. During the harvest, yes; the rest of the year you see the rest of the process.
Can I buy coffee?
Yes, directly from the farmers. Bring cash in soles.
Book
- Private Coffee Route, with hotel pickup.
- All Quillabamba tours.
