Climate of Quindío

The department of Quindío is the smallest in Colombia and one of the most representative of the Coffee Axis. Armenia, its capital, at 1,500 meters above sea level, enjoys an average temperature of 21 °C with moderate humidity, considered one of the most pleasant in the country. The Coffee Cultural Landscape, a World Heritage Site, extends across the slopes of the Central mountain range with coffee plantations, guadua bamboo groves and century-old haciendas. The municipalities of Salento (1,895 meters above sea level) and Filandia are cooler at 17–18 °C, and the Cocora Valley —home of the wax palm, Colombia's national tree— presents humid and cloudy microclimates. Los Nevados National Natural Park, accessible from Salento, has glaciers at 5,200 meters above sea level.

THERMAL FLOORS OF QUINDÍO

Temperature in Quindío varies by altitude. These are the department's thermal floors:

Thermal Floor	Altitude	Temperature	Municipalities
Temperate coffee-growing	1,000 – 2,000 m	17 – 24 °C	Armenia, Calarcá, Montenegro, La Tebaida
Cold	2,000 – 3,000 m	12 – 17 °C	Salento, Filandia, Cocora Valley
Páramo and snowy	> 3,000 m	< 12 °C	Los Nevados Park (Nevado del Quindío 5,150 m)

RAINY AND DRY SEASONS IN QUINDÍO

Bimodal regime: rainy March–May and September–November, dry December–February and June–August. Armenia receives 1,800–2,200 mm annually. Salento and Cocora are more humid and cloudy. The main coffee harvest is October–December (mitaca harvest in April–May).

TEMPERATURE BY MUNICIPALITY IN QUINDÍO

Average annual temperatures of the main municipalities of Quindío:

Municipality	Average Temperature
Armenia	21 °C
Calarcá	18 °C
Montenegro	20 °C
Quimbaya	22 °C
La Tebaida	23 °C
Salento	17 °C
Filandia	18 °C
Buenavista	18 °C

BEST TIME TO VISIT QUINDÍO

December–February and June–August: dry seasons, ideal for the Coffee Axis. For the Cocora Valley and hiking: July–August (drier although there is always fog). For the coffee harvest season and farm visits: October–December.