LEYVA COFFEE STAY

The Origin of Colombian Coffee · El origen del café colombiano

Coffee fermentation at Finca Casa Blanca in Santander Colombia

Where Colombian Coffee Truly Began

Long before the Coffee Axis, the first seeds arrived through Santander — between Leyva and Puente Nacional.

Leyva Coffee Stay connects travelers with the true finca cafetera experience near Villa de Leyva — where Colombian coffee was born, in the mountains of Santander.

A forgotten beginning

Most people associate Colombian coffee with the modern Coffee Axis — Caldas, Quindío, and Risaralda. But the crop’s journey began far earlier and much farther north. In the 18th century, coffee plants entered the country through the roads connecting Villa de Leyva and Puente Nacional, in Santander.

The Spanish founder Andrés Díaz Venero de Leyva established these towns as strategic agricultural centers, making the region a natural entry point for new crops and trade. When the first Arabica beans arrived from the Caribbean, this route became the cradle of Colombian coffee.

Coffee harvest in Puente Nacional Santander
“Colombian coffee didn’t come from the Coffee Axis — it came through Santander.”

From history to living tradition

Today, in these same hills, Finca Casa Blanca continues the original process — handpicking, natural fermentation, and solar drying. Visitors can walk the plantations and experience how geography and culture shaped the coffee we know today.

Every sip connects past and present — the true flavor of Colombia’s original coffee land.

Coffee fields at Finca Casa Blanca near Villa de Leyva

Visit Our Coffee Farm

Leyva Coffee Stay is not only part of Colombia’s coffee history — it’s also an active finca cafetera where guests can stay, relax, and learn. Just one hour from Villa de Leyva, you can walk through our coffee plantations, explore the drying patios, and enjoy an authentic coffee farm stay experience in Santander. This is real turismo cafetero — without crowds, flights, or long drives.

Continue your journey by visiting our Coffee Tour or learn more About Our Origins.

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