Five Beautiful Colonial Towns in Colombia
Colombia is no longer a well-kept secret travel destination in South America. With huge improvements in safety and the country’s tourism board spending millions of dollars in promotion, Colombia is emerging from its haunting past to be on the bucket list of many wanderlusters.
There are many reasons why Colombia is drawing visitors from all over the world; with fairytale-like Cartagena, wild exotic beaches of Parque Tayrona, cool coffee country, ancient ruins of San Agustin, and the warmest people you will ever meet.
For travelers with a bit more time to venture off the major touristy route, they will encounter a true authentic Colombia in the small towns and villages, some of which are really beautiful and well worth a visit.
Here are five beautiful colonial towns in Colombia not to be missed.
Villa de Leyva
It is therefore not surprising that visitors, both national and foreign, have been flocking to this village only 3-4 hours away from Bogota. Tourism infrastructure goes beyond the village of its size; from cheap hostels to boutique hotels, from gourmet restaurants to street-side eateries, bike rentals, museums, etc.
–See hotel deals for Villa de Leyva—
A variety of fossils have been found around Villa de Leyva. Their size and age (about 110 million years ago) have also drawn many curious visitors.
Whether you seek a place to rest or look for some activities, Villa de Leyva offers them all. It is easy to stay longer than you have planned.
Guatapé
However, the town of Guatapé, 2 hours from Medellin, is not to be missed. Unlike most villages in Colombia the houses here are very bright and colorful. Some have strange combinations: yellow, blue, pink, orange, and brown; but somehow they work.
–See hotel deals in Guatape—
On weekends peaceful Guatapé transforms itself from a laidback village into the centre of activities. Residents from Medellin and nearby towns come here for a nice Sunday meal. Most of the people also congregate at the waterfront for some fun activities: boat rides, kayaking, canopy zipline, etc. Stalls selling local delicacies and handicrafts mushroom around these activities .
Mompox
Mompox doesn’t get many visitors. Getting here from anywhere in Colombia is an adventure and requires patience and tenacity. But that is about to change as the news from the grapevine is that the airport will be reopened soon, to resurrect Mompox from the land of the forgotten. The suffocating heat that permeates the town is another deterring factor.
There are not many things to do but enjoy the leisure pace that Mompox provides. During the day, locals go about their business and donkey-carts ply the dusty roads. In the evening, they hang out at the plazas for food and the riverfront while light breezes cool the town down.
Mompox is charming and magical; if you can see beyond the tired façades and old colonial buildings holding on to their former beauty. Wandering its deserted streets lit by yellow street lamps will transport you to the fictional town of Macondo, in Gabriel Garcia Marquez’s One Hundred Year of Solitude.
El Jardin
The village is declared a National Monument by the Colombia Ministry of Tourism in 1985. A peaceful and agricultural village during weekdays El Jardin comes alive on weekend when visitors from Medellin and other cities descend upon it, in search of beautiful nature and cooling weather.
However the main plaza is the main attraction here. Dwarfed by the gothic Basilica the plaza is packed with colourfully hand painted tables and chairs. Under the shades of the tress, residents and visitors sip locally-produced coffees while watching old men in cowboy’s hat riding their horses to and from the plaza.
Barichara
The town was founded in 1702 and seems untouched by modernity. Its white-washed houses and grey stone lanes seemed unchanged for 300 years. The rustic earthy-colour-tiled roofs blend in so well with its surrounding that the village seems to have risen itself from the earth.
The spectacular Camino Real to Guane, a small village frozen in time, is a good distraction if and when one is needed.
–See hotel deals in Barichara—
beautiful piece. thank you.
Thank you Joanna! Glad you like it 🙂
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Hey Noel,
I loved your photo of JardÃn so much that I used it in this blog: http://tintotinta.wordpress.com/2015/09/07/vamos-a-tintear-vs-coffee-breaks/
I’m glad I’ve had the opportunity to live in JardÃn and Guatape and to visit Villa de Leyva, but Barichara has long been waiting on my list. I’d say, after living in Colombia for 5 years, that you nailed this top 5 list!
Where are you wandering now?
Gorgeous pics, keep it up!
Tinto Tinta
Thank you Tinto Tinta! Thanks for the ping back. I loved these small beautiful towns in Colombia. You should definitely visit Barichara and Mompox!
Noel