Colombia’s Pueblos

When people think of Colombia quite often the first thing they think of are the big cities.  Big urban enclaves such as Bogota, Medellin, and Colombia are certainly the backbone to Colombian society, however, it is the Colombian pueblos like Santa Fe de Antioquia that form the heart and soul of the country’s culture.

In the highlands of this beautiful country there are a number of different towns that won’t exactly make for huge portions of your typical Colombia travel guide.  These towns are but a spec on most travaller’s radar.  However, to do this great country justice travellers should definitely begin including these town into ther travel plans.  This is where the true cultural core of Colombia comes out.  In the countryside of Colombia, these towns used to large important fixtures.  These were the center of trade and commerce amongst the agricultural sector of the country.  Today, most of the inhabitants have moved to the city leaving the pueblos as destinations for local tourists.

That being said, foreign tourists are starting to add time in these pueblos to their Colombia travel itinerary as well, and for good reason.  This is where foreign tourists can really get in touch with the way of life in traditional Colombia.  Get on a horse and ride through the country, paddle a kayak across a lake, or simply sit out in the square and enjoy watching the world go by.  Tourists who stick to the main cities of Colombia are not doing themselves any favours.  These pueblos form the heart and soul of the country and if tourists truly want to experience that part of the country, they need to spend some time in the pueblos.