Among the tourist sites of Valledupar recommended to visit are the Hurtado spa, the La Pedregosa recreational center or the Valledupar Archaeological Museum.
Valledupar is a rural municipality, capital of the Cesar department located in Colombia, in the north of South America.
Valledupar central square statue
Its full name is Ciudad de los Santos Reyes del Valle de Upar and its history extends far beyond the Columbian period.
Later, the city was founded in 1550 by two Hispanic conquerors: Hernando de Santana and Juan de Castellanos.
Today, it is known for its outstanding agricultural, agro-industrial and livestock production.
Its location on the fertile banks of the Guatupurí and César rivers contributes to this economic activity.
With a tropical climate and an altitude that varies from 168 to 246 meters above sea level (masl), the temperature ranges between 23 and 33º C.
Due to its natural, cultural and historical wealth, Valledupar offers visitors a varied tourist offer throughout the year.
In the area it is possible to visit natural spaces, monuments, parks and churches.
There are also two important annual events that attract locals and foreigners: the Valledupar Livestock Fair and the Vallenata Legend Festival.
The 10 tourist sites and events of the Colombian Valledupar are described below.
1. Hurtado Spa
The Hurtado spa is a natural monument on the banks of the Guatapurí River.
The torrent is fed by several rivers that flow into its course and is flanked by rock formations of igneous origin.
Visitors use these stones to throw themselves and enjoy a bath in the refreshing stream of water.
In the spa are the Hurtado bridge and a golden sculpture known as "The siren of the Guatapurí river", whose legend is surrounded by a breath of mystery.
2. La Pedregosa Recreational Center
La Pedregosa is a park with different services aimed at the recreation of its visitors.
Swimming pools, sports fields, campsites, restaurants and auditoriums.
It is also an ideal place for social events - weddings, workshops, meetings - and also for sports championships of different disciplines.
3. Plaza Alfonso López de Valledupar
It is the main square of the city of Valledupar and it is also called Plaza Mayor.
Historical records indicate that it is the foundational square, since from the 16th century the settlers established the city from this space.
For this reason, the Church of the Immaculate Conception and a nunnery are located around it. Nearby is the Valledupar cathedral.
For a time, it hosted the most important music festival in the region: the Festival de la Leyenda Vallenata.
4. La Mina Spa
La Mina spa is another outstanding natural space in Valledupar. It is located about 40 kilometers from the city.
Surrounded by lush nature, its crystal clear waters alleviate the hot climate that distinguishes this region.
The park is located on the banks of the Badillo River. There, visitors enjoy natural pools surrounded by white rock formations.
It is possible to enjoy the cultural diversity and indigenous traditions in the areas surrounding the spa.
5. Archaeological Museum of Valledupar
The exhibition of the Archaeological Museum is a contribution to the preservation of the historical memory of two aboriginal peoples that developed in the region: the Chimila and the Tayrona.
From the Chimila people, mortuary ceramic pieces and personal ornaments predominate.
As for the Tayrona, there are vessels made with clay with the shapes of a woman's breasts representing nature.
The place has served as a university study center for students of various careers.
6. Accordion Museum - Casa Beto Murga
Valledupar is home to one of the most universal Colombian rhythms: the vallenato.
Such is the influence of this rhythm that, being the official name “Valledurpense”, the inhabitants of the city are known as “vallenatos”.
For this reason, several of the tourist areas of Valledupar are related to this tasty style of Colombian music.
The museum was initially the home of the prominent Vallenatero composer, José Alberto Murga Peñaloza, known as “Beto”.
Murga collected valuable objects related to vallenato folklore for years.
Later, he donated his house for the establishment of the museum that pays tribute to the accordion, for which beautiful old accordions are exhibited and the transformation of the instrument is evidenced.
7. Vallenata Legend Park "Consuelo Araujo Noguera"
The Vallenata Legend Festival has been held in the city since 1968.
Colombians from all over the country gathered in Plaza Alfonso López to enjoy the different variations of vallenato and its representatives.
However, from the 90's that square was increasingly overwhelmed by the huge influx of lovers of the genre.
For this reason, both organizers and local authorities sought a space that was capable of hosting the growing crowd that came to the festival.
They found him in the Vallenata Legend Park "Consuelo Araujo Noguera", a place where the festival moved from 2004.
The site bears the name of Consuelo Araujo Noguera, an important cultist, politician and writer, now deceased, who was one of the promoters of the festival since its inception.
8. Covered Coliseum and Los Poporos
The aboriginal tradition is present in various facets of Valledurpian life.
It is for this reason that the Los Poporos monument stands in front of the "Julio Cesar Monsalvo" Covered Coliseum, located on Avenida Juventud.
The sculpture made of cast bronze with the lost wax model represents the indigenous peoples of the region: Kankuamos, Wiwas, Arhuacos and Koguis.
The sculptural ensemble of about 3.5 meters high, consists of three “poporos” or containers where these ethnic groups kept the “hayo”.
This is a chemical made from roasted coca leaves and used as a stimulant.
9. Valledupar Livestock Fair
Valledupar celebrates its agricultural and livestock wealth with this fair that has been held every year since 1978.
It is an event that consists of markets and exhibitions of the most outstanding specimens of the cattle and equine herds of Valledupar.
There are also sales of souvenirs and crafts, as well as the presentation of musical groups representing vallenato and llanera music.
10. Church of the Conception
It is the oldest church in Valledupar and the place where Ecce Homo, a representation of the Lord Jesus with a crown of thorns after his scourging, is protected.
The church is located around the old Plaza Alfonso López and was built around the 17th century. It has been restored three times.
Every year it receives thousands of visitors and pilgrims during Holy Week.
References
- 14 Tourist sites in Valledupar Elpilon.com.co. (2017). Elpilon.com.co. Retrieved November 21, 2017, from elpilon.com.co
- Our Municipality. (2017). Valledupar-cesar.gov.co. Retrieved November 21, 2017, from valledupar-cesar.gov.co
- The Home of Vallenato: Traveling to Valledupar. (2017). Colombia Travel Blog by See Colombia Travel. Retrieved November 21, 2017, from seecolombia.travel
- Top Tourist Attractions In Cesar - SPG Team: Colombia Travel Blog. (2017). Spgteam.com. Retrieved November 21, 2017, from spgteam.com
- Valledupar. (2017). Es.wikipedia.org. Retrieved November 21, 2017, from es.wikipedia.org
- Valledupar - Travel guide at Wikivoyage. (2017). At.wikivoyage.org. Retrieved November 21, 2017, from en.wikivoyage.org