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| SPOTLIGHT | | Tropical
beaches and jungle, Wildlife, natural heritage and sun-kissed islands. |
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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. 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.
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. 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, the platos typicos including fried ants, hormigas culonas,
roast goat and others.
The best known hotels are:
Tryp Chicamocha
Acuarela
Dann Bucaramanga
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:
Catedral de la Sagrado Corazon - one of the
most beautiful in the region
Casa de Peru de Lacroix - where this European
official wrote the Bucaramanga Diary based on conversations with Simon Bolívar
Casa de Bolivar - Simon Bolívar stayed here
Academia de Historia
Casa de la Cultura Custodio García Rovira, which is the Museo de Bellas
Artes
Parque García Rovira - in the center of town, surrounded by:
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
Plaza Cívica Luis Carlos Galán Sarmiento
Instituto Municipal
de Cultura - formerly called the Biblioteca Pública Municipal Gabriel Turbay
Museo de Arte Moderno de Bucaramanga - Works by artists from the province
of Santander, from Colombia and from abroad.
Chicamocha Canyon
Monumento de Santandereanidad
Museo de Arte Moderno
Jardín Botánico
Eloy Valenzuela - in Floridablanca
Bull Fighting
Parque Zoologico
Estadio Alfonso Lopez
Palindromo
Convention Center
Iglesia San
Francisco
Near Bucaramanga:
Giron - about 10 km from
Bucaramanga, this pretty little town dates from 1631 and preseves much of its
colonial heritage. The Plazuela Peralta and the Plazuela de las Nieves are charming,
and explain why this little town has attracted artists and intellectuals. It is
very popular on weekends and holidays.
Lebrija Church - situated on a mesa
above Bucaramanga, this is where the international airport is located
Whenever
you travel to Bucaramanga, buen viaje! | |
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Top Beaches |  |
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Carmel Beach | | Carmel Beach, for one,
is a tranquil cove of blue water bordered by soft white sand and cypress-covered
cliffs (the tides are deceptively strong and dangerous, so be careful if you chance
a swim). | | |
| Hermosa
Beach | | Have fun with volleyball, paddleball
or beach ball, while creating a golden tan or toning up. Surfboarding, skateboarding
or boogey boarding are all here. | | |
| Long
Beach | | As you drive along the coast
of Long Beach, don't be fooled by the sight of the bright pastel islands just
off shore; far from natural, they're actually oil-drilling platforms in disguise. |
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| Surfrider
Beach | | Surfrider Beach here was the
surfing capital of the world in the 1950s and early 1960s, as seen in the Beach
Blanket Bingo movies of Annette Funicello and Frankie Avalon (the surf is at its
best in late summer). | | |
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Malibu | | Malibu, at the top of the bay
twenty miles north of Santa Monica, is a whole other world, its beach-colony houses
owned by those famous enough to need privacy and rich enough to afford it. |
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Zuma Beach | | Five miles along the coast
from Malibu Pier, Zuma Beach is the largest and most crowded of the Los Angeles
County beaches. | | |
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Point Dume State Beach | | Adjacent Point
Dume State Beach, below the imposing promontory of Point Dume, is a lot more relaxed. |
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| Pismo
Beach | | Just outside San Luis Obispo,
on Pismo's 23-mile stretch of prime beachfront, flip-flops are the shoes of choice
and surf wear is the dominant fashion. It's all about beach life here, so bring
your bathing suit, your board, and a good book. | |
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Ocean Beach | | Ocean Beach, six miles
northwest of downtown, rivals Pacific Beach in its surfing and party atmosphere,
although Ocean Beach has a more down-to-earth, bohemian feel, and is replete with
excellent secondhand music shops. | | |
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La Jolla | | A more pretentious air prevails
in La Jolla, an elegant beach community just to the north that mystery writer
Raymond Chandler once described as "a nice place - for old people and their
parents." | | | |
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