Get your caffeine fix in Chachapoyas.
A cup of coffee only takes a few minutes to down, but the people at Café Fusiones have discovered ways to link beans with long-term altruism. The genesis for the café began as an idea in November 2008, and by April 2009 they had opened their doors to the public. The mission for founder Marilyn was simple. She seeks to help people “enjoy and experience the flavors, aromas, beauty and quality of the products from this region.”
The verdant town square in the capital of the Amazonas region.
Located deep in the northern Andean highlands, the colonial city of Chachapoyas, Peru is the capital of the Amazonas region. Mountainous and covered in jungle, it is an ideal base for exploring myriad historical and natural sites. Ruins and relics dot the rugged landscape. The town itself has a colorful market and relaxing town square shaped like a perfect quadrilateral.
A Diverse Menu and Relaxed Restaurant in Chachapoyas
Tea at Cafe Fusiones is a visual and aromatic treat.
Hot drinks abound on their menu. They offer many coffee variations including spiked versions like Irish coffee. You can choose from fourteen tea selections or sample fresh fruit juices and shakes. Regional specialties include humitas, tamales and juanes. Hungry guests can ingest filling breakfasts and salads. The sandwiches are available for dining in or to go for a long overnight bus ride to the coast. One client ordered a dessert that only lasted seconds on her plate.
Café Fusiones partners with responsible organizations that provide them with ecological-minded products such as coffee and sugar. They support fair trade and utilize the services of talented locals. The handiwork of carpenters, artists, and weavers is evidenced by the design of the café. Artwork adorns the walls and colorful purses make unique souvenirs.
Information, Book Exchange, WIFI, and Alternative Tourism
When Melissa and I first met Marilyn, we already had a coffee spot in town. After two minutes of friendly chatting, we knew we would never be returning there. She provided us with detailed information about several regions in Peru and spoke longingly of the coast. Ensuring that we would not be ripped off by taxis, she quoted us fair prices for when we hit Trujillo. She even recommended great vegetarian options hundreds of miles away.
Marilyn blends local coffees and highlights regional specialties.
Café Fusiones offers a phenomenally diverse book exchange and guidebooks to use as references. I caught up on several posts with their speedy, complementary WIFI and noticed that more than half of their clients had brought laptops along. One woman was even giving a multi-media English lesson on a comfortable corner couch. As the day turned to night, I looked up and noticed that the tables were packed with sated chompers and sippers.
The Cafe offers alternative tourism to sites like Kuelap.
Not content with filling stomachs, Café Fusiones also offers alternative tourism packages. Partnering with an agency called Nuevos Caminos, they assist travelers in reaching special destinations and interacting in meaningful ways. Tours offer the choice of volunteerism and focus on responsible tourism, which helps to protect both the cultural and natural landscapes of Peru. Options include interacting with local artisans, visits to organic farms and plantations, expeditions into forests, and adventure sports such as sand dune surfing. Tours bring travelers to the waterfalls at Gocta, ruins of Kuelap and Chan Chan, the Leymebamba Museum, and beach town of Huanchaco.
Visit the Amazonas region of Peru
To visit Café Fusiones and dine over your touring options go to Jr. Chincha Alta 445. They are open every day from 7am until 9:30 pm. From the main plaza in Chachapoyas, the café is only a five minute walk from the town square. Settle in amongst the dark wood fixtures, have a proper coffee, and enjoy the WIFI.
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