Nestled high in the cloud forests of Henri Pittier National Park, the Las Trojas region is home to a unique community of coffee growers. They produce organic, mountain-grown coffee under challenging yet deeply rewarding conditions. These producers include families who work small farms, such as Félix Rojas at Hacienda San Rafael.
The Henri Pittier National Park, the oldest national park in Venezuela, spans over mountainous terrain with lush forest, cloud-forest, and steep slopes. Because this is a protected area, the use of chemical fertilisers or agrochemicals is strictly prohibited, which means coffee cultivation here is inherently organic and benefits from a “virgin soil” largely undisturbed by intensive agriculture. This status also influences daily life for producers: motorized vehicles are not allowed, so coffee cherries, parchment, bags must often be carried on mules. In some cases, descending to the town ( Turmero) takes about 2.5 hours one way; a round-trip can take a full day. During harvest, many back-and-forths are needed because mule loads are limited, and every journey counts. The remoteness also means that producers must descend roughly every 8 days to buy supplies or provisions, since little is available in the highlands. These constraints, far from being burdens, also imbue Las Trojas coffee with its character as a tribute to tradition, resilience, and respect for nature. In Las Trojas, the dominant variety cultivated is classic Typica, reflecting the region’s heritage and suitability for this cultivar. Because chemical fertilisers are banned, growers rely solely on the richness of natural soils a commitment to organic, “forest-friendly” coffee.
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