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.
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.
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:
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.
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!
If you have questions or comments about Bucaramanga or Colombia in general, post them on the South America for Visitors Forum. If you're not already a registered user, you'll need to register, but it is easy and free.
