The department of Norte de Santander is a fascinating off-the-beaten-track destination in Colombia’s North with a lot of interesting natural and cultural sights. Cucuta is the capital of the department, located at the border with Venezuela. The smaller mountain town Pamplona is less than 2 hours away from Cucuta, about halfway towards Bucaramanga. Both cities work well as bases to explore Norte de Santander.
Below you will find some inspirations on what to do in and near Pamplona and Cucuta, as well as in the rest of Norte de Santander.
Photo by JulianVilla26, Pamplona (mod.), CC BY-SA 4.0
Nestled between lush green mountains, beautiful Pamplona is a great base for outdoor activities. The city itself has quite a lot to offer, as well.
Here are some suggestions for things to do in Pamplona:
Stroll through the historical center: Wander along colorful Calle Real that connects Parque Principal Agueda Gallardo and Plazuela Almeida, admire the well-preserved colonial buildings, have a coffee and enjoy the views. By the way, Parque Águeda Gallardo is named after María Águeda Gallardo de Villamizar, who spoke out against the abuses of the Viceroyalty of Nueva Granada and declared Pamplona’s independence in 1810, setting an important milestone in Colombia’s fight for independence. Also worth visiting is the historical house where this impressive woman used to live, Casa Águeda Gallardo de Villamizar.
Visit Museo Casa Colonial: This interesting museum, situated in a beautiful historic building, hosts art, ethnography, and natural science collections, as well as temporary exhibitions and workshops.
Get inspired in the Modern Art Museum Ramírez Villamizar: This museum is dedicated to the works of the outstanding Colombian artist Eduardo Ramírez Villamizar, who was born in Pamplona. It also features artworks from other inspiring contemporary Colombian artists.
Admire Pamplona’s churches: Pamplona’s churches are known for their architectural beauty and cultural significance. Visit the neoclassical Cathedral Basilica of Santa Clara in the main square, and the beautiful hermitage Ermita del Señor de Humilladero.
Enjoy the cuisine of Norte de Santander:Specialties of the region include, for example, Mute Santandereano (a hearty soup prepared with beef, pork, chicken, beans, corn, plantains, and various vegetables), Hayaca (corn dough filled with vegetables and meat) and Turmada (a type of lasagna, featuring ingredients such as cheese, tomato, onion, potato, eggs, pepper and others). Traditional main dishes of Norte de Santander are typically quite meat heavy, but vegetarians may try the delicious creamy desert Mazamorra which is made from corn kernels, milk, panela (unrefined cane sugar), and spices, or the crispy Pasteles de Garbanzo (chickpea cakes).
Engage in outdoor activities:The surroundings of Pamplona offer opportunities for hiking, birdwatching, mountain biking, horseback riding and other outdoor and nature activities. Cerro de las Cruces (view on Google Maps), Laguna del Seminarista (view on Google Maps) and Páramo de Fontibón (view on Google Maps), are popular hiking destinations less than 30 minutes away from the center of Pamplona.
Explore farmers markets: Farmers markets with fresh produce from the rural area around Pamplona may be held in different parts of the city, for example at Plazuela Almeyda. Buying at the farmer’s market is great way to support the rural communities.
Enjoy the views from Mirador de Cristo Rey: This viewpoint is easily accessible by bus and offers spectacular panoramic views of Pamplona and its surroundings.
Photo by Martin Duquea, Church in Pamplona (mod.), CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo by Juan Diego Chabur, Villa del Rosario (mod.), CC BY-SA 3.0
Cúcuta is a fascinating border city full of history and culture. It’s also known as “The Pearl of the North” and “The Green City” due to its abundance and variety of trees. Cúcuta is the only Colombian city founded by a woman, namely by Juana Rangel de Cuéllar. The city offers a range of interesting activities and attractions for solo travelers.
Here are some ideas for things to do in and around Cúcuta:
Explore the historical center: Watch street performances at Santander Park (Parque Santander), visit the impressive neoclassical Cathedral (Catedral de San José), admire the Clock Tower (torre del reloj), a National Cultural Heritage site, and enjoy the architectural beauty of the Government Palace (Palacio de Gobierno).
Stroll along the Malecon (Paseo de los Próceres): Take a walk along the Malecón by the Pamplonita River, cherish the fresh breeze of the wind and enjoy a tasty juice with river views in one of the scenic restaurants and cafes along the promenade.
Relax in Parque Simón Bolívar:Take a walk in the beautiful Simon Bolivar park with its historic statues, fresh fountains, and green gardens.
Attend an event at Casa de la Cultura: This cultural center hosts exhibitions, concerts, and other artistic events. Check their schedule to see if there are any interesting performances or exhibitions during your visit.
Visit the Simón Bolívar International Bridge: The Simón Bolívar International Bridge connects Colombia and Venezuela.
Shop and dine in Avenida Cero: Indulge in the flavors of Cucuta in one of the many restaurants near the famous tree-flanked shopping street Avenida Cero.
Enjoy the views from Parque Cristo Rey: The beautiful, inclusively designed Parque Cristo Rey features different panoramic viewpoints, cafés, a public library, terraces, a small theater and 90 colorful artistic stairs.
Explore Villa del Rosario and the Casa Natal del General Santander:In less than 10 minutes by taxi you reach the historic town of Villa del Rosario, the “cradle of Colombia’s independence.” Visit the Museo Casa Natal del General Santander, where General Santander was born, and the ruins of the Santa Ana Chapel, where he was baptized. General Santander was a prominent figure in Colombia’s fight for independence. In the museum you can learn about his adventurous life and important contributions.
Photo by Raphit Aly Tejeda Argáez, Temple of Villa del Rosario (mod.), CC BY-SA 3.0
Norte de Santander is full of beautiful towns, natural wonders and hidden gems to discover.
TRAVEL ADVICE: While many places in Norte de Santander are safe to visit, there are rural areas that have been historically affected by the violent conflict involving guerilla groups and paramilitaries. This is especially true for the area of Catatumbo, including the Ocaña region, where Ocaña, La Playa de Belén and the Los Estoraques Park are located. It’s important to check current travel advisory before you visit.
La Playa de Belén is not only considered one of Colombia’s most beautiful towns, it’s also the gateway to the impressive Los Estoraques National Natural Park with its iconic rock formations and unique landscapes shaped by erosion. It’s a great place for an otherworldly hiking experience! From Cucuta it’s a 5 hours drive north-west to reach La Playa de Belén (or nearby Ocaña).
Photo by Bryam Reyes, Estoraques, Norte de Santander
Ocaña is a beautiful colonial town, rich in history and culture and surrounded by gorgeous landscapes. The town’s main square (Parque Principal) is absolutely stunning. The cuisine of Ocaña is famous all over Colombia and includes delicious dishes such as Barbatusca (cooked and fermented Barbatusca flowers prepared in a tortilla with egg, meat, chicken, or fish, along with garlic and tomato) or the spicy Ocaña Onions.
Photo by Kara Quintero, Ocaña (mod.), CC BY-SA 3.0
Located about 2 hours from Cucuta Tamá National Natural Park is a highly biodiverse park encompassing 2 countries and 4 different ecosystems, with climate zones ranging from high mountain to tropical rainforest. The variety of flora and fauna is impressive. Among the most common animals in the park are the black bear, marsupials, deers, macaws, capybaras, tapirs, and the Andean mountain cat.
The small town of El Zulia, located near the Zulia River about 30 minutes away from Cucuta, is known for its coffee plantations, picturesque landscapes and bird diversity. It’s a great place for outdoor and nature activities. Try Rampuchada, a delicious fish from the Zulia River, that is said to enhance the libido.
Photo by EEIM, Zulia River (mod.), CC BY-SA 4.0
Gorgeous Salazar de las Palmas, with its stunning main square full of high palms, is located about 1,5 hours from Cucuta. It’s a pleasant colonial town with beautiful ecological trails (for example the Siete Chorros Sanctuary trail), coffee plantations and interesting outdoor destinations in its surroundings, including the Las Pailas canyon, called also “The Devil’s Throat”, and several waterfalls (Cascada El Ejido, Cascada Bellavista, Cascada El Muerto, and others.)
Photo by EEIM, Salazar de las Palmas (mod.), CC BY-SA 3.0
This beautiful lush hill offers panoramic views of Chinácota, Los Patios, and Cúcuta and is also a great hiking spot. Chinácota, located about 1 hour from Cucuta, is a pleasant town surrounded by gorgeous landscapes with lots of hidden treasures to discover.
Bochalema (located near Chinácota) is a charming colonial town with a biodiverse rural area inviting you to engage in various ecotourism activities. Visit the nearby hot springs of Azufral and Raizon, refresh yourself in the small waterfall Quebrada La Peronía or the bigger Cascadas Las Golondrinas, enjoy nature walks on the ecological trails near Bochalema, visit the lagoon on the way to Durania (Laguna del Capote), or simply enjoy the natural beauty of the area.
Photo by Visita Bochalema, Bochalema (mod.), CC BY-SA 4.0
This otherworldly high altitude National Park encompasses the departments of Santander and Norte de Santander. The closest access point (1-hour drive) from Pamplona is via Mutiscua and San Isidro, passing the La Colorada lagoon. While the views are absolutely stunning, we recommend this adventurous and intense hike only to experienced and tough hikers. Make sure to go with a local guide.
Photo by Grupe AME Corponor, Páramo Santurban (mod.), CC BY-SA 4.0
It’s easy to get to Pamplona and Cúcuta by bus as a solo traveler. There are a lot of things to do and in and around the two cities, but please check current travel advice for the region of Norte de Santander before going. Also, have a look at our Safety Tips for Solo Travelers in Colombia and Solo Travel Guide.
When it comes to hiking, trekking and other nature and outdoor activities, in Colombia it’s mostly better to go in a group. Moreover, tour operators often require several people for their tours to start. Join our Colombia Solo Travelers Facebook Group to search for other solo travelers near you that share your interests.
Though they are located just 2 hours from each other, the weather in Pamplona and Cucuta is very different due to their different altitude levels.
Pamplona is located at about 2600 m above sea level (8530 feet) and features day time temperatures around 19°C (66°F) and night time temperatures around 10/11 °C (50/52°F) throughout the year. The months with most rainfall are typically April and May.
Cúcuta features a much hotter climate with its altitude of just 320 m (1050 feet) above sea level. Temperatures during the day vary somewhere between 30°C (86°F) and 34°C (93°F) with August and September being the hottest months and December and January the “coolest”. Night time temperatures move around 22/24 °C (72/75°F). October is typically the month with most rainfall.
Here are some travel destinations that are easy to reach for solo travelers by bus from Pamplona and Cúcuta.
Bucaramanga: From Pamplona you reach outdoor paradise Bucaramanga in less than 3 hours by bus (see Rome2Rio). See our suggestions for Things to do in and near Bucaramanga
Venezuela: Since you are right at the border in Cucuta, it’s easy to continue your journey on to Venezuela. Merida is an interesting destination for outdoor enthusiasts and reachable in 5 hours by bus from Cucuta.
Read more:
Colombia Travel Inspirations: Top Attractions and Hidden Gems
Colombia Travel Tips: General Information and Colombia Travel Advice
Best Places to visit in Colombia: Travel hubs for Solo Travelers
Slow Travel Colombia Itinerary: Discover Colombia by bus and overland