Region Overview: This region includes the eastern part of La Paz and San Vicente department, since they both share the Chichontepec Volcano. This growing area covers an estimated of 1,938 square kilometers. At the Volcano base, there is one of the most fertile valleys in El Salvador, and from there one has a spectacular view of the surrounding valley.  The majestic Chichontepec Volcano, named after its two-cone shape, hosts rich soil for coffee production. To the north of the Volcano, one can see the fumaroles of the San Francisco Agua Agria, which are steam emanations and thermal waters or hot springs.

By 1880, coffee production growth in La Paz and San Vicente began very slowly, with an output of almost 70 quintals (i.e. 1 quintal equals to a 46kg bag). Before 1892, there was only a small portion of the land cultivated with coffee, those were small lots located in the municipalities of Istepeque, Tepetitan and San Lorenzo. However, there were also large properties in this region. Just the Guadalupe province alone had large estates producing above 500 quintals. A big jump in coffee growth started many years after, when new communities established on the Volcano slopes.