Cesar, one of Colombia's 32 departments of which Valledupar is the capital, lies in the north-east of the country, at the junction of the Andean and Caribbean regions. It is home to indigenous settlements in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, home to the Arhuacos, Arzarios, Kankuamos, Koguis and Chimilas, as well as the Serranía del Perijá, the territory of the Yucos and coffee growers.
Serranía del Perijá, located in the north of Colombia on the Venezuelan border, is of major biological importance to the country and to humanity, thanks to its environmental services. It is also home to reserves protecting the Yuko-Yupkas and Baris Indians, ethnic groups that are now virtually extinct.
The economy of the Cesar region is based mainly on the primary sector, with palm oil, coffee and cocoa farming. Of the 25 municipalities in the department, 19 produce coffee, which is concentrated in two mountain systems that give this crop its unique characteristics: the Serranía del Perijá and the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta.
In 2022, the department had 20,604 hectares devoted to coffee growing, with production of 15,830 tonnes, or 2.36% of the national total.