Region: Chinchipe, Zamora Chinchipe
Elevation:
1200-1650 masl
About: In Ecuador’s southern province of Zamora Chinchipe, the town of Zumba sits at the centre of a coffee-growing region shaped by trade, migration, and generations of smallholder farming. Unlike many towns established during Spanish colonisation, Zumba developed naturally as a meeting point between Ecuador and Peru, a history that continues to influence the region’s strong sense of exchange and community.
The producers behind Tesoros de Zumba are locally known as “Charapanos”, a name drawn from a resilient species of ant and used to describe the determination of the people who farm these mountains. Many families have cultivated coffee here for three or four generations, preserving traditional varieties such as Typica and Bourbon alongside diverse agroforestry systems that include shade trees, fruit crops, and beekeeping.
Coffee remains central to life in Zumba, supporting families across generations while shaping the region’s agricultural identity. Through ongoing refinement in fermentation, drying, and farm management, producers continue to build coffees that reflect both the biodiversity of Zamora Chinchipe and the longstanding traditions carried through the community.
