Pitalito

Pitalito Guacacayo (River of the tombs)
Municipality and town
Flag Seal
Nickname(s): Valle de Laboyos
Motto: "A better town, a municipality for everybody"
Location of the municipality and town of Pitalito in the Huila Department of Colombia.
Pitalito Location in Colombia
Coordinates: 01°52′N 76°02′W / 1.867°N 76.033°W
Country	Colombia
Department	Huila Department
Founded	June 13, 1818
Government
• Mayor	Miguel Rico
Area
• Municipality and town	666 km^2 (257 sq mi)
Elevation	1,318 m (4,324 ft)
Population (2012)
• Municipality and town	118,677[1]
• Metro	69,395[1]
Demonym(s)	Laboyano
Time zone	Colombia Standard Time (UTC-5)
Area code(s)	57 + 8
Website	Official website (Spanish)

Pitalito is a Colombian town and municipality located to the south of the Department of Huila, Colombia over the Valley of the Rio Grande de la Magdalena, 188 km from its capital, Neiva. It is referred as "The Valley of Laboyos". It is also the second most populated municipality in the Department of Huila, with approximately 150 000 inhabitants, and is considered the largest producer of coffee in Colombia, in whose land are cultivated coffee beans of very high quality, therefore has become the new Coffee-growing region of Colombia, being epicenter of production the District of Brussels. On several occasions it has been awarded with the "Cup of Excellence", for being the best coffee in the country. ^[2]

Boundaries - North: Timana, Elias and Saladoblanco; South: Palestina; West: Isnos and San Agustin; East: Acevedo.

History

José Hilario Sierra, priest and doctor, was appointed priest of the vice-parish of "Los Laboyos' in the year of 1818. This year, some of the residents of the vice-parish decided to build their houses on the site they called Pitalito, located two miles northeast of the Laboyos, a picturesque region, attracted by the fertility of the soil, the mild climate and the abundance of water, as well as construction materials. Others and others followed those in the same year, resulting in the depopulation of the village of Laboyos in a very short time, because almost all of its inhabitants moved to populate the region of Pitalito in the Cálamo estate, and contiguous to Solarte estate, where there were already more than two thousand cattle and horses.

The progressive doctor Sierra, seeing that his parishioners were dispersed, decided, under his Ministry, follow them, as good shepherd who was, and he had to move to the newly populated place, where he built a hut little chapel to administer the Holy sacraments and celebrate mass. This Chapel, the first in that place, was located where today stands the Temple of San Antonio; in front of the chapel, doctor Sierra demarcated the square and the streets of the new town, which took place in the year 1819.

After three years and having increased considerably the neighborhood, the new village requires a mayor, being appointed to that post Don Jorge de Cuéllar, son of Don Luis de Cuéllar, someone important in the town of Timaná, one of the owners of the region and person of noble lineage, son of Don Jerónimo de Cuéllar originating in the kingdoms of Spain, in Andalusia's rich as well as his son Luis Cristobal. ^[3]

Coffee

Colombia Supremo 17/18 Pitalito

Colombia is the second largest producer of coffee in the world and the largest producer of washed and Arabica coffee. They are well known for their high quality coffee and about half of their exports come to the United States. Colombia exports approximately 12.5 million bags and internal consumption is about 2 million bags annually.

Colombia only produces washed Arabica coffee. There are three primary varieties grown in Colombia and the coffee is referred to by the region in which it is grown. There are many coffee producing regions in the country. Colombia is proficient in producing an abundance of truly delicious and sought after coffee.

This coffee comes from the small town of Pitalito, which lies in southern Huila in the Valley of Laboyos. This southern area of Colombia is at the foot of the Andes mountains. This massive mountain range is the birthplace of the Magdalena River, which travels north all the way to the Caribbean coast.

The valley itself lies at about 1,300 meters above sea level. All the surrounding mountains grow coffee with the average farm having about 6 hectares and about 5,000 trees per hectare. The soil is volcanic, providing lots of organic nutrients for this high altitude coffee.

Cup Characteristics

Colombia Pitalito is recognized for having high acidity, medium to good body, and stone fruit notes.

Arabica variety: Caturra and Castillo

Harvest period: October-February

Aroma: Caramel

Flavor: Sweet, Stone fruit, Caramel

Body: Medium body

Acidity: High citric acidity ^[4]

Tourism

San Agustin Archaeological Park is located 30 miles from Pitalito. This site was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1995. The site contains the largest collection of religious monuments and megalithic sculptures in Latin America and is considered the world's largest necropolis.^[5]

Hotels

Pitalito has several hotels, including Hotel Grand Premium Plaza, Hotel Timanco, Hotel Napoles, Hotel Hostal Ullumbe, Hotel Calamo, Hotel Interescorial, and Hotel Guaitipan Plaza.

Restaurants

Pitalito has a variety of restaurants, including Arte Burger - Pitalito, Burger restaurant; Pure Love, Bar; La Casa en el Aire, Bar & Grill; Le Bistro 450, restaurant; Restaurante El Caporal; Salu, Restaurant/Cafe; and Sufy, Ice cream & restaurant.^[6]

References

1. [http://pitalito-huila.gov.co/sitio.shtml?apc=myxx-1-&x=2760314&als[ESTADO__]=myxx-1-#poblacion Población]. pitalito-huila.gov.co
2. Translated from Wikipedia en español
3. Translated from http://pitalito-huila.gov.co/informacion_general.shtml#historia
4. Translated from http://www.interamericancoffee.com/colombia-supremo-1718-pitalito/
5. http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/744/
6. Things to do in Pitalito in Facebook.com

External links

• Official government website

Coordinates: 1°53′56.09″N 76°02′30.73″W / 1.8989139°N 76.0418694°W