Caribbean Region of Colombia

This region is characterized by maintaining its own «costeña» culture full of joy, exquisite gastronomy and great tourist activity.

It has several very representative crafts not only of the region but of Colombia such as the vueltiao hat, which was declared a Symbol of Colombia by the National Congress, the arhuaca backpack, the hammocks of San Jacinto, the three-point sandals and Wayúu garments.

It has great diversity in its geography including desert, plains, mountainous area, jungle and of course beaches.

Departments and Capitals of the Caribbean Region

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

Flags and Departments

• Antioquia
• Atlántico
• Bolívar
• Cesar
• Córdoba
• La Guajira
• Magdalena
• Sucre

Departments and Capitals of the Caribbean Region

• Atlántico: Barranquilla
• Bolívar: Cartagena de Indias
• Córdoba: Montería
• Magdalena: Santa Marta
• Cesar: Valledupar
• La Guajira: Riohacha
• Sucre: Sincelejo
• Antioquia (Urabá Antioqueño): –

Natural Subregions

The Caribbean Region is divided into several natural subregions, which are:

• La Guajira Peninsula.
• Upper Cesar and upper Ranchería valleys
• Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta.
• Magdalena River Delta.
• Montes de María.
• Savannas of Córdoba, Sucre and Bolívar.
• Alluvial valleys of the Sinú and upper San Jorge rivers.
• Mompox Depression.
• La Mojana Region
• Gulf of Urabá.
• Territorial waters in the Caribbean Sea.

Natural Parks of the Caribbean Region

Due to its great diversity of climates and geography, the Caribbean region of Colombia has a large number of parks and nature reserves. Below is the complete list:

• Parque nacional natural Islas Corales del Rosario y San Bernardo
• Parque nacional natural Paramillo
• Parque nacional natural Tayrona
• Parque nacional natural Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta
• Parque nacional natural Macuira
• Parque nacional natural Old Providence McBean Lagoon
• Santuario de fauna y flora Ciénaga Grande de Santa Marta
• Santuario de fauna y flora Los Colorados
• Santuario de fauna y flora los Flamencos
• Santuario de fauna y flora El Corchal El mono Hernández
• Vía Parque Isla de Salamanca

Hydrography of the Caribbean Region

Main Rivers

Below is the list of the main rivers of the region:

• Magdalena River
• Cauca River
• Sinú River
• San Jorge River
• Cesar River
• Atrato River
• Ranchería River

Lagoons and Marshes

In the Caribbean region of Colombia there are also large freshwater surfaces known as ciénagas (marshes). The most important marsh is the Ciénaga Grande de Santa Marta.Some of the most important marshes are:

• Ciénaga de Zapatosa, in the course of the Cesar River.
• Ciénaga de Ayapel, Córdoba, in the course of the San Jorge River.
• Ciénaga de Betanci, in Córdoba, in the upper part of the Sinú River.
• Ciénaga de Lorica, also in Córdoba, in the Lower Sinú.
• Ciénaga embalse del Guájaro.

Economy of the Caribbean Region

The main economic activities of the Caribbean region are industry, commerce, finance, transportation and tourism.In the department of Bolívar where the city of Cartagena de Indias is located, the following economic activities are important:

• Industrial
• Port
• Agricultural
• Livestock
• Mining
• Tourism

Mineral extraction also constitutes an important economic activity, among the most important are:

• Coal from El Cerrejón
• Ferronickel in Cerromatoso, Montelíbano
• Natural gas
• Salt in Manaure and Galerazamba.

In agriculture, the following crops are found:

• Plantain
• Cotton
• Banana
• Rice
• Coffee
• Cocoa
• Cassava
• African oil palm
• Various fruits

Livestock farming is also very important in the region, developed in the plains of the departments of Córdoba, Magdalena, Bolívar, Sucre, Atlántico and Cesar. Additionally, in La Guajira, goat farming is developed.

Celebrations and Festivals of the Caribbean Region

Among the most popular celebrations and festivals of the Caribbean region are:

• The Barranquilla Carnival, declared Oral and Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO in 2003.
• The November 11 festivities and National Beauty Contest in Cartagena.
• The Vallenato Legend Festival in Valledupar, declared Cultural Heritage of the nation in 2002.
• Holy Week in Mompox, Bolívar, population declared Historical and Cultural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO in 1995.
• The Sea Festivities in Santa Marta.
• The Wayúu Culture Festival in Uribia, La Guajira.
• Multicultural Festival of Montes de María in El Carmen de Bolívar, every January 24 and 25.
• The Son de Negros Festival in Santa Lucía, Atlántico.
• The National Gaita Festival in Ovejas, Sucre.
• The International Caribbean Theater Festival in Santa Marta, September 1 to 8.
• The Rice Festival in Badillo, Cesar, June 3 to 5.
• The Land of Composers Festival in Badillo, Cesar, December 23 to 25.
• The Tambora Festival in Tamalameque, Cesar, December 15 to 17.
• Corralejas, bullfighting festivities very popular in coastal towns, mainly in Sucre, Córdoba, Atlántico and Bolívar.
• The Native Gaita Festival in San Jacinto, Bolívar.
• The Drum Festival in San Basilio de Palenque, Bolívar.
• The Festivities of the Virgin of Candelaria in Magangué, Bolívar, celebrated on February 2.
• The National Thorn Yam Festival, San Cayetano (Bolívar).
• The Livestock Fair in Montería, Córdoba.
• The Accordionists and Composers Festival «Princesa Barají» in Sahagún, Córdoba.
• The National Donkey Festival in San Antero, Córdoba.
• The Accordionists and Composers Festival in Chinú, Córdoba.
• The National Bullerengue Festival in Puerto Escondido, Córdoba.
• The Culture Festival in Sahagún, Córdoba.
• The National Ñame Festival, Arroyo.

Climate of the Caribbean Region

As for the climate, for the most part it is warm but there are also diverse climates such as temperate, desert and colder in the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta. We can say that in the Caribbean region warm and humid plains predominate in the west and very dry plains in the east.

Gastronomy

This cuisine is one of the tastiest in the country, outstanding dishes include:

• Coconut rice
• Chipichipi rice
• Seafood casserole
• Sábalo sancocho (fish cooked in coconut milk with various tubers)
• Carimañolas
• Butifarra
• Egg-stuffed arepa
• In addition to fish and seafood, in La Guajira the main ingredient is goat, consumed roasted, stewed or in sancocho
• Frinche, a preparation with goat offal
• Corn chicha
• Enyucado (cassava, coconut and anise dessert)
• Mango jelly
• Coconut delights
• Tamarind balls

Musical Instruments

The most used musical instruments are:

• La gaita costeña
• Giant maracas
• La guacha
• Accordion
• La guacharaca
• La caja vallenata

Dances and Typical Costumes

As for its dances and music, the following stand out:

• Cumbia
• Mapalé
• Vallenato
• Son
• Paseo
• Porro
• Puya
• Bullarengue
• Zafras
• Champeta

In the vast majority of the region, soft and fresh clothing suitable for warm and humid climate is used.

At the folkloric level, women wear a very wide skirt and blouse with ruffles, generally made of the same fabric as the skirt.

Men wear white pants, white shirt, sanjacintera bag and vueltiao hat.

Find more information about the regions of Colombia at IGAC.