Quimbaya, Quindío

Quimbaya is a town and municipality in the western part of the department of Quindío, Colombia. It is located 20 km northwest of the departmental capital Armenia. The name of the city is derivated of the name of the precolumbian culture that inhabited te area, the Quimbaya civilization.

Quimbaya is bounded to the north and west by the department of Valle del Cauca, with La Vieja River forming the western limit. To the south, the Roble River forms the limit with the municipalities of Montenegro and Circasia. The eastern boundary is with the municipality of Filandia.

Quimbaya was founded in 1914 by Juan de J. Buitrago, and became a municipality in 1922. In 2005 it had an estimated population of 43,700, of which 31,300 live in the main urban zone.

The National Agricultural Park (Spanish: "El Parque Natural De La Cultura Agropecuaria"), PANACA, is located 7 km west of the maintownship. The 47 hectare park contains a variety of interactiveexhibits, including more than 200 species of animals. Along withthe National Coffee Park in Montenegro, the theme park is one of major tourist attractions ofthe department.The most important cultural event is the Candles and Lanterns Festival (full name in Spanish: "Fiesta Nacional del Concurso de Alumbrados con Velas y Faroles"), which began in 1982 and is held each year on 7 and 8 December (Día de las Velitas). Each of the barrios in the township compete to produce the most spectacular lighting arrangements, and many visitors come from throughout Colombia to admire the displays. The festival is held in honor of the Catholic holy day, the Feast of the Immaculate Conception, on 8 December.