Tourism in Norte de Santander

The department of Norte de Santander is the most dynamic border department in Colombia with Venezuela, with an identity forged between the Andean culture of Pamplona, the heat of Cúcuta and the jungle of Catatumbo. The Catatumbo Lightning —the world's largest natural ozone generator, with up to 280 thunderstorms per year visible from Lake Maracaibo— is a unique natural phenomenon in the world. Pamplona, the university city of the northern Andes, preserves one of the best preserved colonial historic centers in Colombia.

MAIN TOURIST ATTRACTIONS OF NORTE DE SANTANDER

The most visited and unmissable destinations and experiences in Norte de Santander:

Attraction	Type	Description
Catatumbo Lightning	Unique natural phenomenon	Almost permanent thunderstorms over Lake Maracaibo. Night boat tour from Puerto Santander.
Pamplona — Historic Center	Colonial heritage	Colonial university city at 2,340 m. Traditional Holy Week, 16th century churches, cold climate.
Cúcuta — Venezuela Border	City / Border tourism	Historic center, Santander Park, Villa del Rosario (where Gran Colombia was signed in 1821).
Catatumbo-Barí National Park	Ecotourism	Tropical humid forest on the Venezuelan border. Barí indigenous community, Amazon biodiversity.
Ocaña — Cradle of González	Heritage / History	Colonial city in the Perijá mountain range. Birthplace of Francisco de Paula Santander, Father of the Law.

ECOTOURISM AND NATURE IN NORTE DE SANTANDER

The Catatumbo-Barí National Park protects the area with the highest concentration of natural oil in Colombia and the habitat of the Barí people. Lake Maracaibo —in Venezuela but visible from Colombia— creates unique conditions for the Catatumbo lightning. The Santurbán páramo (shared with Santander) supplies water to more than 2 million people.

CULTURAL AND HISTORICAL HERITAGE OF NORTE DE SANTANDER

Norte de Santander was territory of the Motilón-Barí and Chitarero pre-Columbian cultures. Villa del Rosario, where the Congress of Cúcuta signed Colombia's first constitution (1821), is a national historic site. The border culture with Venezuela has generated a unique hybrid identity in gastronomy, music and commerce.

TYPICAL GASTRONOMY OF NORTE DE SANTANDER

Mute (corn soup with meat and offal), stewed goat, beans with garra, peeled corn arepa, pipitoria pastries (minced goat meat), norte santanderean natilla. Goat pepitoria is the most representative dish of Cúcuta.

HOW TO GET THERE

Camilo Daza airport in Cúcuta, flights from Bogotá (1 h) and Medellín. Bus from Bogotá (12 h) or Bucaramanga (4.5 h). To Pamplona: 2.5 h by bus from Cúcuta.

Also check the climate of Norte de Santander and the list of municipalities of Norte de Santander to plan your visit.