Colombiafrank‘s Aguachica Colombia Travel Guide

Updated on 03/14/2024

Dear readers
My name is Frank and I run a tour operator in Bogota, specializing in custom-made and Colombia luxury travel.
At the end of this guide you will find a list of many other helpful travel guides for Colombia.

Content

Why visit Aguachica?

The municipality of Aguachica is one of the 25 municipalities of the Department of Cesar and is located between the Eastern Cordillera and the valley of the Magdalena River.

The municipality borders to the east with the Municipality of Rio de Oro, to the south with the Municipality of San Martin, to the north with the Municipality of La Gloria and to the west with the Municipality of Gamarra.

Aguachica is an excellent tourist destination because it has historical places surrounded by nature. In addition, the wide gastronomic offer is another attraction that attracts the attention of all visitors.

Facts about Aguachica

Aguachica is at an altitude of 162 meters above sea level.
The main shopping centers in Aguachica are the Centro commercial Buturama and the Centro Commercial Santa Maria.
Aguachica has the second largest population in the Department of Cesar.
The Anthem of Aguachica was composed by Víctor Alfonso Duarte Vargas.
Aguachica is divided into 9 districts and 64 communes.
The main industries in Aguachica are livestock, agriculture and trade.
Aguachica has a population of approximately 124,553 residents.
Aguachica was founded on August 16, 1748 by José Lázaro de Rivera.
The morrocoy (tortoise) is the most representative animal of Aguachica.
The area of Aguachica was inhabited by the Shia Indians in colonial times before the arrival of the Spaniards.
Aguachica has an area of 976 square kilometers.

Tourist attractions in Aguachica

Here are some of the city’s top attractions:

Cultural Center Eladio Vargas

The Eladio Vargas Cultural Center is located at Calle 3 # 10-15.

This place, which aims to promote culture, has a library, a photographic archive, and music and art classes.

figure very representative of the culture of Aguachica, since he was the founder of the Banda Armonía de San Roque.

The forest of El agil

The Bosque El Agüil, also known as Bosque de los Agüiles, is located north of Aguachica.

This place is considered to be one of the most beautiful natural spaces in Cesar.

The forest of El Agüil covers an area of approximately 6 hectares and is home to more than 70 species of trees native to the region.

San Roque Park

Parque de San Roque is located on Calle 5 between Carreras 10 and 11.

In this park you will find a large number of trees and of course the iconic Parroquia de San Roque.

Cerro de la Cruz

Cerro de la Cruz is a tourist viewpoint visited every year by thousands of parishioners to take part in the Feast of the Holy Cross.

Morrocoy Park

Morrocoy Park is located at Calle 5 # 171.

This park is so named because, over the years, Aguachica has been an area inhabited by Morrocoyes, a species of yellow-footed tortoise.

There is a memorial with the figure of the Morrocoy in the park, which is often photographed by visitors.

Parish Church of San Roque

The Parroquia de San Roque is located on Calle 5 between Carreras 10 and 11.

Francisco Ramos Pereira Municipal Football Stadium

The Francisco Ramos Pereira Municipal Football Stadium is the ideal place to experience the passion of football.

It is located on Calle 5 between Carreras 5 and 6.

Lido Noream and Buturama

The Balneario del Noream y Buturama is the ideal place to spend a pleasant time with family and friends.

Casa Vieja

Casa Vieja is a well-known restaurant in Aguachica as it houses many souvenirs from the community such as relics, music and photos.

Best time to visit Aguachica

The best time to visit Aguachica is between October and December because during this period the weather conditions are more favorable to visit and enjoy the different touristic places of the city.

Events in Aguachica

Aguachica throughout the year that you should not miss.

Carnival of Aguachica

The Aguachica Carnival is an event that takes place during the months of February and March.

During the carnival there are various parades and folkloric performances.

Feast of the Holy Cross

The Fiesta de la Santa Cruz is a religious and cultural celebration that takes place on May 3rd every year.

Various parades, musical performances and other cultural activities take place during this festival.

Aguachica’s birthday

The founding of the city is celebrated on August 16 of each year. Various artistic performances take place on this day.

Feast of the Patron Saint San Roque

The Fiesta Patronal de San Roque is a festival held in August in honor of the patron saint of the municipality.

Various dances and religious activities take place during this festival.

Nightlife in Aguachica

In Aguachica there are some places where you can enjoy music and dancing, here are some of them.

Retro bar

Calle 1 # 21-50

https://www.facebook.com/RetroBaraguachica/

If you like rock, you can’t miss the Retro Bar, because it’s the meeting point for all lovers of this genre of music.

The Retro Bar also offers a wide range of cocktails and alcoholic beverages.

SAINT

Carrera 18 # 6-04

https://www.facebook.com/Saintrestaurantebar/

SAINT has a wide range of food and alcoholic beverages.

La Traviata

Calle 10 # 29-48

https://www.facebook.com/latraviataguachica/

La Traviata has good music, alcoholic drinks and the best American hamburgers in town.

Typical food in Aguachica

These are some of the typical dishes that you can find in the municipality of Aguachica.

Three-phase sancocho

The Sancocho Trifásico is a dish made with beef, sweet potato, pork, and chicken, ahuyama, potatoes, yucca, green plantain, arracacha, garlic, onion, corn on the cob, water, celery, and salt to taste.

Arepa stuffed with cheese

This arepa contains corn, cheese, salt and butter.

Fried fish with patacones

Pescado frito con Patacones is a dish made with fish, oil, plantains, lemon and salt.

Salmorejo Tipico

Salmorejo Tipico is a dish made with bread, tomato, olive oil, salt, garlic, egg and ham.

Dulce de Ñame

Dulce de Ñame is a dessert made with coconut, sugar, cinnamon, and sweet potatoes.

Potatoes with meat and green beans

This dish is made with potatoes, carrots, green beans, pork ribs, red pepper, parsley, garlic, onions, olive oil, bay leaves and salt.

Galapago Guisado

Galapago Guisado is a dish made with Galápagos, spring onions, tomatoes, onions, garlic cloves, peppers and salt.

Chicha de Arroz con Cascara de Piña (rice and pineapple rice pudding)

Chicha de Arroz con Cascara de Piña is a refreshing drink made with rice, cinnamon, water, pineapple peel, sugar and cloves.

Viudo de Pescado

Viudo de pescado is a dish made with salted fish, sweet potatoes, ripe plantains, green plantains, ahuyama , garlic, onions, and tomatoes.

Dulce de leche

Dulce de leche is a dessert made from sugar, baking powder and milk.

Accommodation in Aguachica

Here are some of the accommodation options in Aguachica, Colombia:

Hotel Calle Real – INN

Calle 5 # 21-73

CLICK HERE FOR BEST RATES FOR HOTEL CALLE REAL – INN

The Hotel Calle Real – INN offers its guests two outdoor pools, a bar and free private parking.

The rooms are equipped with TV, private bathroom, coffee maker and air conditioning.

Sagrado Hotel

Carrera 49 # 9 Norte-75

CLICK HERE TO GET THE BEST RATES FOR THE SAGRADO HOTEL

Hotel Sagrado has a terrace and private parking.

The rooms have a private bathroom, air conditioning, a flat screen TV and in some cases even a garden.

Hotel Sagrado is a 20-minute drive from the center of Aguachica and the area offers a variety of activities such as cycling and hiking.

Hotel Villa Grant

Calle 5 # 25-55

CLICK HERE TO GET BEST RATES FOR HOTEL VILLA GRANT

Hotel Villa Grant has a terrace, a restaurant and a bar.

The rooms in this hotel are equipped with a private bathroom, air conditioning, wardrobe, flat screen TV and in some cases even a balcony.

Hotel Villa Grant also offers free private parking and a travel agency service.

How to get to Aguachica

The city of Aguachica is located 587 kilometers from Bogotá, the capital of Colombia. There are several ways to get from Bogotá to Aguachica.

Airplane

The quickest way to get to Aguachica is by plane. Hacaritama Airport is connected to Bogotá and other cities such as Cúcuta and Bucaramanga. This airport is located 11 km (7 miles) from the city.

You can fly with different airlines like Satena or Searca.

The airlines that offer connections are as follows:

Bus

Aguachica has a bus station that is located in the municipality of Aguachica, more precisely at Carrera 12 # 7-62. You can travel on buses from companies such as Expreso Brasilia, Coopmotilon, Autoboy and Transsander.

The journey takes about 13 hours.

The easiest way to buy tickets is through Pinbus.

By car

Another option is to travel by car, although it can be quite long, taking between 13 and 14 hours depending on traffic jams and travel speed.

Please note that you have to pay about 7 tolls on the route.

The following companies rent cars in Colombia:

Hertz
Avis
ABC

Colombia Travel Guides

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Travel Guides to Colombia’s Small Towns

Here you will find travel guides for less popular destinations in Colombia. Some of these destinations are even real insider tips and not even known to the Colombians as travel destinations.

About Author

Frank

Hello! I'm Frank Spitzer, the founder and the heart behind Pelecanus, a specialized tour operator for Colombia travel. My journey in travel is vast and rich – I've explored over 60 countries, absorbing cultures, experiences, and stories along the way. Since 2017, I've been channeling this wealth of global experience into creating unforgettable travel experiences in Colombia. I'm recognized as a leading authority in Colombian tourism, with a deep-seated passion for sharing this beautiful country with the world. You can catch glimpses of my travel adventures and insights around Colombia on my YouTube channel. I'm also active on social media platforms like TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest, where I share the vibrant culture and stunning landscapes of Colombia. For professional networking, feel free to connect with me on LinkedIn. Join me on this incredible journey, and let's explore the wonders of Colombia together!

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