Andean Region of Colombia

The Andean Region is the most populated and urbanized region, with some of the most enchanting landscapes, along with the bustling urban life of Bogotá. Some of its towns are devoted to tourism and most to traditional rural life. The mestizo population predominates (mix of white and indigenous), although mulattos (mix of African descent and white) are also found.The Andean Region is one of the 6 natural regions of Colombia and is located in the center of the country. It borders to the north with the Caribbean region, to the east with Venezuela, the Orinoquía region and the Amazon region, to the south with Ecuador and to the west with the Pacific region of Colombia.The Andean Region of Colombia owes its name to the Andes mountain range, which extends throughout South America. In Colombian territory, the Andes divide at the Nudos de Pasto and the Colombian Massif into the three mountain ranges that make up Colombia's mountain system, called the Western, Central and Eastern ranges.The Andean Region is the most populated area of Colombia and also has the most active economy in the entire country. It has a surface area of 282,540 km² which represents 24% of the national territory.

Departments and Capitals of the Andean Region

Below is the complete list of departments and capitals of the Andean region of Colombia:

Flags and Departments

• Antioquia
• Boyacá
• Caldas
• Caquetá
• Cauca
• Cesar
• Chocó
• Cundinamarca
• Huila
• Nariño
• Norte de Santander
• Putumayo
• Quindío
• Risaralda
• Santander
• Tolima
• Valle del Cauca

Departments and Capitals of the Andean Region

• Antioquia: Medellín.
• Boyacá: Tunja.
• Caldas: Manizales.
• Caquetá: Florencia.
• Cauca: Popayán.
• Cesar: Valledupar.
• Chocó: Quibdó.
• Cundinamarca: Bogotá D.C.
• Huila: Neiva.
• Nariño: Pasto.
• Norte de Santander: Cúcuta.
• Putumayo: Mocoa.
• Quindío: Armenia.
• Risaralda: Pereira.
• Santander: Bucaramanga.
• Tolima: Ibagué.
• Valle del Cauca: Cali.

Natural Subregions

Due to its large size, the Andean Region is divided into several natural subregions, the most important are:

• Nudo de los Pastos
• Altiplano Nariñense
• Hoz de Minamá
• Altiplano de Popayán
• Valle del río Cauca
• Montaña Antioqueña
• Meseta de Santa Rosa de Osos
• Valle de Aburrá
• Valle de San Nicolás
• Macizo volcánico
• Magdalena Medio
• Alto Magdalena
• Altiplano cundiboyacense
• Montaña Santandereana
• Fosa del Suárez y Chicamocha
• Macizo de Santurbán
• Catatumbo
• Serranía del Perijá
• Piedemonte llanero
• Serranía de San Lucas
• Nevado del Tolima

Cultural Subregions

The Andean Region is very extensive throughout the national territory and as a result has a great diversity of climates and cultural variety grouped into subregions or sub-cultural groups. Below we will see some of the most notable:

• Los Paisas: this subregion is known as the Paisa Region. They are found in the departments of Antioquia, Caldas, Risaralda and Quindío, north of Valle del Cauca and northwest of Tolima. It also has a very well-known subregion called the Coffee Axis.
• Los Santandereanos: a culture characterized by its direct way of speaking and continuous use of «usted». They are found in the mountains of Santander, Norte de Santander and southern Cesar.
• Los Cundiboyacenses: a culture characterized by friendly and formal treatment, as well as the characteristic use of the famous expression «sumercé» in their language. They are found in the Cundiboyacense highlands.
• Los Vallecaucanos: this culture is characterized by being the only one in Colombia where expressions such as voseo, the use of «ve» and «oís» are used in language. They are located in the Cauca River Valley, especially in the central part of the department of Valle del Cauca.
• Los Opitas: characterized by their particular accent and a very important gastronomic tradition throughout the country. They are located in the Alto Magdalena valley, as well as the departments of Huila and Tolima.
• Los Pastusos: a culture characterized by their language that preserves the distinction between «y» and «ll». They are located especially in the mountains of Nariño and Putumayo.

Natural Parks of the Andean Region

Due to its great diversity of climates and geography throughout its vast extension, the Andean region of Colombia has a large number of parks and nature reserves. Below is the list by Mountain Ranges or Regions:

Western Mountain Range

• Parque nacional natural Paramillo
• Parque nacional natural Las Orquídeas
• Parque nacional natural Farallones de Cali
• Parque nacional natural Munchique

Central Mountain Range

• El Nevado del Ruiz en el Parque nacional natural Los Nevados.
• Parque nacional natural Los Nevados
• Parque nacional natural Las Hermosas
• Parque nacional natural Puracé
• Parque nacional natural Nevado del Huila
• Parque nacional natural Selva de Florencia
• Santuario de fauna y flora Otún Quimbaya

Eastern Mountain Range

• Parque nacional del Chicamocha
• Parque nacional natural Guácharos
• Parque nacional natural Cordillera de los Picachos
• Parque nacional natural Chingaza
• Parque nacional natural Sumapaz
• Parque natural San Rafael Fusagasugá
• Parque nacional natural Cocuy
• Parque nacional natural Pisba
• Parque nacional natural Serranía de los Yariguíes
• Parque nacional natural Tatamá
• Área natural única Los Estoraques
• Santuario de fauna y flora Guanentá Alto Río Fonce
• Santuario de fauna y flora Iguaque

Nudo de los Pastos

• Santuario de fauna y flora Galeras
• Santuario de fauna y flora Isla de La Corota

Hydrography of the Andean Region

With a great variety of rivers, this region is crossed by the most important bodies of water in Colombia:

• Magdalena River
• Cauca River
• Patía River
• Sogamoso River
• Nechí River
• Porce River
• Chicamocha River
• Catatumbo River
• Bogotá River

CLIMATE

As for the climate, they are as diverse as temperate (oceanic and mediterranean), tundra and polar, depending on the subregion.

GASTRONOMY

It is characterized by a varied culinary tradition, including:

• tamales
• lechona
• mazamorra
• arepa
• sancocho
• bandeja paisa (beans, white rice, avocado, bacon, egg, chorizo and fried plantain slices)
• ajiaco santafereño among others.

FESTIVALS

Also in the Andean Region some of its festivals stand out, such as:

• International Festival of Culture (Tunja)
• National Band Contest (Paipa)
• International Coffee Pageant (Manizales)
• Milling Festival (Cundinamarca)
• National Tourism Pageant (Girardot)
• The traditional Silleteros Parade (Antioquia).

MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS

The tiple, bandolas, guitar and typical instruments of Colombian music.

DANCES AND TYPICAL COSTUMES

The most representative dances are:

• Bambuco (Tolima)
• Sanjuanero (Huila)
• Guabina (Boyacá and Santander)
• Guaneña (Nariño)
• Bunde tolimense

As for typical costumes, they differ in each department, however it is common for women to wear espadrilles, long and wide skirts, some with strong colors and embroidery, white blouses with ruffles and elbow-length sleeves, generally they wear braids, hat and black or red mantilla that contrasts with the skirt.

For men, espadrilles, black or white pants, ruana, white shirt, hat and neckerchief are common.

Find more information about the regions of Colombia at IGAC.