At the northern tip of Colombia's Orinoquia region lies Arauca, a department where the snow-capped peaks of the Cordillera Oriental plunge into expansive plains. The Arauca River, which gives the region its name, serves as a natural border with Venezuela and is part of the Orinoco Basin, a vital corridor for the spread of some of the world's most recognized cacao varieties. Cacao has deep roots in Arauca, with plantations dating back more than 70 years. The region boasts some of Colombia's most refined cacao profiles, ranging from bold, fruity expressions to complex, aged notes from the village of Caño Hondo.

Here, cacao is more than agriculture: it's a legacy passed down from generation to generation. Families like the Agudelos have spent decades promoting Arauca's position in Colombia's cacao landscape. Don Miqueas Agudelo, after whom one of our origin bars is named, was a pioneer in the research and cataloging of local cacao varieties. His daughter Elizabeth continues the family tradition as a consultant and trainer on multiple projects. She supplies Disidente with premium beans from Villa Gaby and co-manages La Manigua, a farm she runs with our director. Her experience represents just one facet of the extensive network of professionals driving the future of specialty cacao in Colombia. While the region is known for its oil wealth, cacao offers a sustainable path forward, promising prosperity rooted in both tradition and innovation.

The only boundaries the eye knows are those drawn by nature. On the northern bank of the Guaviare River, the lands of Meta come to an end. Crossing the Nowen Bridge to the south, we enter Guaviare, a region where the plains meet the jungle, home to some of the world's oldest and most biodiverse ecosystems, such as the Serranía de Chiribiquete and La Macarena. These landscapes are also rich in anthropological treasures, with sites like Cerro Azul offering glimpses of ancient civilizations through their cave paintings.

Cacao arrived in Guaviare as a symbol of transition, following a turbulent period marked by coca cultivation, deforestation, and cattle ranching. The department's cacao is a blend of clones from across Colombia, each adapted to the local environment to produce a distinctive flavor profile, ranging from floral notes to intense minerality.

This same adaptability defines the people of Guaviare, a community shaped by waves of migration, from the indigenous Nukak and Guahibo tribes to farmers seeking opportunity in untamed lands. During the height of the Colombian conflict, Guaviare was a global center of coca production. But in the wake of peace efforts, many residents embraced sustainable agriculture. Leading this transformation is Víctor Cómbita and ASOPROCACAO, a collective of farmers who now focus not on deforestation but on positioning Guaviare as the birthplace of world-class specialty cacao.

The department of Meta offers excellent conditions for the cultivation of specialty cacao. Located between the eastern Andes and the Serranía de la Macarena mountain range, the Ariari River flows from the Andes and joins the Guayabero River to form the Guaviare River, which eventually merges with the Orinoco. Along the Ariari River, cacao is emerging as one of the region's most promising crops.

Cacao cultivation has shaped life here since the mid-20th century, but the 1980s and 1990s brought devastating pests, forcing farmers to switch to disease-resistant hybrids. Unfortunately, these new varieties lacked the quality needed for premium cacao. In the mid-2000s, efforts to replant with aromatic varieties began to bear fruit: Meta cacao has garnered recognition and awards in recent years.

In this region, our partner farmers stand out as conservationists, resisting pressure to switch to rice, palm oil or cattle. Instead, their cocoa thrives alongside fruit trees, creating farms that are as rich in biodiversity as they are a sensory delight.

Thanks to the resilience and passion of these llanero producers, the Orinoquía has become one of the most stylistically diverse cocoa regions in Colombia, reflecting the diversity of its people: some are multi-generational locals, while others are newcomers who have embraced the land as their own.