About Bucaramanga:
Bucaramanga is the capital of Santander province, northeast of Bogota and lies in the scenic valley of the Río de Oro with roots deep in colonial history. See this interactive map from Expedia. Due to its location and the abundance of civic parks, it is called La Ciudad Bonita, the Pretty City, and the La Ciudad de los Parques. Enjoy these panoramic views of the city and its environs.In addition to its natural attractions, Bucaramanga is a university city and combines culture, commerce, agriculture and technology with tourism. Following an economic depression of the late 19th and early 20th century, Bucaramanga recuperated, growing larger and now the metropolitan area includes the towns of Girón, Piedecuesta and Floridablanca and is one of the fastest growing cities in Latin America. See this satellite view.
Getting There:
You can fly to Bogota and then continue either by air or by road to Bucaramanga. By air, By air you could choose Avianca Aerovias or Aerorepublica which will land you at Palo Negro international airport just west of downtown. By bus, the trip takes between 10-12 hours and through the mountains with great views of the countryside.
Check flights from your area to Bogota.With its tropical climate slightly moderated by the 959m plateau elevation, Bucaramanga has an average temperature of 26°C (82ºF) with an average humidity of 65%. Check today's weather and seasonal averages. The climate supports numerous outdoor activities and sports, including golf, water sports and fishing. Sports are popular in the region, and the two sports arena are busy.
Places to Stay and Eat:
Santander emjoys its regional cuisine with emphasis on local products, including coffee. You might try local favorites including fried ants, hormigas culonas, roast goat and others.
The best known hotels are:
Historical Notes:
Drawn by gold mines already established by local Indian tribes, Spanish officials created a settlement in 1772 that they called Real de Minas de Bucaramanga. They called one of the rivers the Río de Oro, but as the gold in the nearby mines petered out, agriculture and other industries came to the fore. The population became increasingly mixed with criollos and mestizosdisplacing the ethnic groups.Following the Wars of Independence, during which time Simón Bolívar, El Libertador stayed in town, the city was renamed Villa de Bucaramanga.
Things to Do and See:
Bucaramanga has 14 neighborhoods or communes. Some of the highlights are:
- la Gobernación de Santander
- Alcaldía de Bucaramanga
- Parroquia de San Laureano - one of the oldest churches, dating from 1774
- Capilla de los Dolores - the oldest church in the city and a colonial gem
Click on the thumbnails to see larger images of
Near Bucaramanga:
Whenever you travel to Bucaramanga, buen viaje!
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