Parades, squares and historic spaces
In Ocaña, the Desfile de Los Genitores is considered an outstanding parade in the Ocaña region and one of the most important in Norte de Santander. Its tableaux and comparsas portray Ocaña’s history and prominent figures; they are based on the work Los Genitores by historian Alejo Amaya.
In Pamplona, public Parque Águeda Gallardo is located in the city center. It is named after Águeda Gallardo de Villamizar, who proclaimed Pamplona’s independence on July 4, 1810. The Museo de Arte Moderno Ramírez Villamizar is housed in a 16th-century mansion. In 1990, the Banco de la República Foundation restored the building to preserve and restore Colombia’s cultural heritage.
The Museo de la Gran Convención also connects its history with its architecture: it is located in a building of colonial religious architecture dating from 1583 to 1584. The rooms were once cells in a Franciscan monastery that stood there until the mid-19th century.
Pamplona is considered the guardian of five national museums and a religious tradition that is part of the intangible cultural heritage and keeps the legacy of the liberators alive through education and art. According to the regional tourism description, Holy Week and museum tours in Pamplona attract thousands of visitors each year. The Diocese of Ocaña commemorates the apparition and maternal guidance of Nuestra Señora de las Gracias de Torcoroma every year on August 16. If you want to plan a trip around a particular celebration, check the current event dates.
Nature among biodiversity, forests and rock formations
More than 276 plant species have been recorded in Parque Nacional Natural Tamá, including seven species of frailejón. One of them, Ruilopezia cardonae, is endemic to the Tamá Massif. The park’s characteristic wildlife includes the spectacled bear, jaguar and crested curassow. The salamanders Bolitoglossa tamaense and Bolitoglossa leandrae are endemic to the park and its surroundings; Atelopus tamaense and Gastroteca helenae are endemic to the Tamá Massif, which is shared by Colombia and Venezuela.
Parque Nacional Natural Catatumbo Barí offers a different focus: its climate is described as warm to temperate, with temperatures ranging from 17 to 28.5 °C. The area includes tropical moist forests, rainforest and montane forests, and is characterized by rugged, steep terrain. This temperature range is a general description of the climate; for specific trip planning, it is also worth checking the latest weather forecast.
Área Natural Única Los Estoraques is part of Colombia’s National Natural Parks System and is distinguished by its ecological, geological and scenic features. Marked trails offer a chance to explore geological formations such as El Rey y el Barco, Camino de la Virgen, Paso de las Ánimas, Cueva de la Gringa, La Chorrera and Ciudad Perdida. The area’s natural environment includes, among other species, the carriquí and the American kestrel, as well as flora typical of dry and moist forests. Check the latest information about the area before setting out on a particular hike.
Getting there and regional cuisine
The department is home to the national Aeropuerto Aguas Claras in Ocaña and the international Aeropuerto Internacional Camilo Daza in Cúcuta.
A culinary specialty from Norte de Santander is the Arepa ocareña. It is made with corn and cheese and served on a banana leaf. Its ingredients and presentation give regional cuisine a distinctive place in your travel plans.
Discover more destinations
Discover more destinations: Cúcuta, Ocana, Pamplona, Chinacota, Villa del Rosario, Convencion, Bogotá, Guaviare.
For the main travel overview: Colombia.
