Santander de Quilichao, Colombia
Region: Cauca
Geographic Coordinates: 3.016700, -76.483300
Temperature Range: 15.0°C to 35.0°C (59°F to 95°F)
Population: 116535
Language: Spanish
Santander de Quilichao is a colorful and lively city located in southwestern Colombia’s Cauca department. This bustling city has a population of over 100, 000 people and is known for its rich culture, History, And breathtaking natural beauty. The town is nestled in the foothills of the Western Cordillera mountain range offering stunning views of lush green hillsides and valleys. The city has a fascinating history that dates back to pre-Columbian times when it was inhabited by indigenous tribes such as the Guambianos. During colonial times, Santander de Quilichao became an important trading post for goods like gold and coffee.
Visitors can still see remnants of this colonial past in historic buildings like La Casa del Virrey which dates back to 1760. One of the top attractions in Santander de Quilichao is its vibrant market where locals sell fresh produce to handmade crafts every Sunday morning at Plaza de la Villa. Visitors can find an array of colorful stalls selling traditional Colombian foods like arepas (corn cakes) and empanadas (stuffed pastries). Local artisans also sell beautiful handicrafts including woven baskets, Pottery, Textiles, And jewelry.
Parque Natural Regional El Vínculo is another popular attraction offering visitors opportunities to experience Colombia’s stunning natural beauty up close with diverse ecosystems including cloud forests, Riverside forests, And wetlands. Guided tours through the park offer chances to spot rare wildlife species such as howler monkeys or jaguars. For those interested in learning about Colombian culture firsthand there are several museums throughout Santander de Quilichao showcasing local customs and traditions like Museo del Oro featuring pre-Columbian gold artifacts or Casa de la Cultura displaying local art performances.
Visitors can also take part in traditional Colombian dance classes or attend cultural festivals such as Festival Folclórico held every August. Outdoor enthusiasts will enjoy activities around Santander de Quilichao like river rafting and kayaking on nearby Rio Cauca or hiking and climbing in the surrounding mountains. Thrill-seekers can even go paragliding over the stunning landscape. Santander de Quilichao offers visitors a chance to experience Colombia’s rich culture and natural beauty with its colorful markets, Historic buildings, Museums, Festivals, And outdoor activities.
Whether you’re interested in learning about local traditions or exploring Colombia’s stunning landscapes this city is definitely worth a visit!
- Agriculture (especially sugarcane and coffee)
- Livestock farming
- Food processing
- Textiles
- Construction materials manufacturing
- Retail trade
- Handicrafts production
- Furniture making
Additionally, Santander de Quilichao serves as a commercial hub for the surrounding rural areas and has a growing tourism industry due to its proximity to natural attractions such as waterfalls and hot springs.
- Indigenous Resistance: Santander de Quilichao has a rich indigenous history dating back to the pre-Columbian era. The Nasa people, who are part of the larger Paez ethnic group, have been living in the region for centuries and have fought against Spanish colonization and modern-day oppression.
- Afro-Colombian Heritage: Santander de Quilichao is also home to a significant Afro-Colombian population, whose ancestors were brought over as slaves during the colonial period. The town celebrates its African heritage with festivals such as the Festival del Pacifico Negro (Festival of Black Pacific) and Carnaval de Negros y Blancos (Carnival of Blacks and Whites).
- Colombian Civil War: During Colombia’s long-running civil war, Santander de Quilichao was a hotspot for violence and conflict between government forces, paramilitary groups, guerrilla fighters, and drug cartels.
- Indigenous Rights Activism: In recent years, leaders from the Nasa community in Santander de Quilichao have become prominent figures in Colombia’s indigenous rights movement. Leaders such as Feliciano Valencia have worked to defend their communities’ land rights and cultural traditions.
- Sports Heroes: Several notable athletes hail from Santander de Quilichao including soccer player Carlos Bacca who has played for teams such as AC Milan and Villarreal CF; boxer Yuberjen Martínez who won silver at the 2016 Olympics; cyclist Rigoberto Urán who has competed in multiple Tour de France races.
- Political Figures: Several important political figures come from this region including Armando Benedetti Jimeno who was a Senator representing Cauca Department between 1998-2002; Luis Fernando Velasco Chaves served as Governor of Cauca Department between 2004-2007; Rodrigo Rivera Salazar served as Minister of Defense under President Juan Manuel Santos.
- Casa Museo Mosquera: This museum is dedicated to the life and legacy of General Tomás Cipriano de Mosquera, a prominent figure in Colombian history.
- Iglesia de San Antonio: This beautiful church dates back to the 18th century and features stunning architecture and artwork.
- Parque Natural Nacional Munchique: Located just outside of Santander de Quilichao, this national park is home to a diverse array of wildlife and offers hiking trails through lush forests.
- Centro Cultural Guillermo Valencia: This cultural center hosts art exhibitions, concerts, theater performances, and other events throughout the year.
- Monumento al Indio Pijao: This monument honors the indigenous Pijao people who once inhabited the region around Santander de Quilichao.
- Museo del Oro Quimbaya: Located in nearby Popayán, this museum showcases an impressive collection of gold artifacts created by pre-Columbian cultures in Colombia.
- Hacienda El Paraíso: This historic estate was once owned by Jorge Isaacs, author of the classic Colombian novel María. Today it serves as a museum dedicated to his life and work.
- Parque Nacional Natural Farallones de Cali: Just over an hour’s drive from Santander de Quilichao, this national park offers breathtaking views of rugged mountains and cascading waterfalls.
- Casa Taller Luis Alberto Acuña Arango: A space dedicated to preserve local culture through art exhibitions, workshops, conferences related with literature, cinema or music.
- Hacienda Santa Barbara: A colonial style house built at XVIII century that preserves its original architecture where visitors can enjoy horseback riding, birdwatching or simply relax surrounded by nature.
- Club Deportivo La Cantera: This football club was founded in 1998 and has won multiple championships while participating in several local tournaments.
- Club Deportivo Los Andes: Established in 1984, this football club has a long-standing history of participating in various local tournaments.
- Club Deportivo San Francisco: Another prominent football club that was founded back in 1976 and has won many championships over the years due to its strong performance on the field.
- Club Deportivo El Carmen: This football club represents the El Carmen neighborhood of Santander de Quilichao and was established in 1990.
- Club Deportivo Atlético Quilisalud: A relatively new football club that was established recently (2010) but has already made a name for itself by actively participating in various local tournaments.
- Festival de la Cultura Afrodescendiente (Festival of Afro-descendant Culture)
- Feria Agroindustrial y Artesanal (Agro-industrial and Handicraft Fair)
- Fiestas Patronales de San Lorenzo (Patron Saint Festivities of San Lorenzo)
- Festival del Dulce Cañuelino (Cañuelino Sweet Festival)
- Encuentro Nacional de Danzas Folclóricas (National Folk Dance Encounter)
- Semana Santa en Santander de Quilichao (Holy Week in Santander de Quilichao)
- Feria Equina Grado A Nacional e Internacional (National and International Horse Fair)
- Fiesta del Maíz y la Agricultura Sostenible (Corn and Sustainable Agriculture Festival)
- Concurso Nacional del Bambuco Infantil y Juvenil Ciudad de Santander (National Children’s and Youth Bambuco Contest City of Santander)
- Chontico: This restaurant serves traditional Colombian dishes such as bandeja paisa, ajiaco, and sancocho.
- La Fonda Paisa: Known for its delicious empanadas and arepas, this restaurant also offers other typical Colombian dishes.
- El Fogón del Canelo: This cozy restaurant specializes in grilled meats and seafood dishes.
- El Rinconcito de la Abuela: A family-owned restaurant that serves homemade Colombian food including tamales, chicharrones, and mondongo.
- La Brasa Roja: A chain of restaurants that offers roasted chicken with traditional sides like rice, beans, and plantains.
- La Esquina del Sabor: Another family-owned establishment that serves typical Colombian food such as cazuela de mariscos (seafood casserole) and arroz con pollo (chicken rice).
- Punto Gourmet Santander: A gourmet market that sells artisanal products like cheeses, chocolates, wines from the region along with sandwiches made with local ingredients.
- Café Quilisimo: This café is known for its specialty coffee drinks made from locally-sourced beans along with pastries made on-site daily.
- El Granero Steakhouse & Barbecue Grill House : Offers a wide range of steak cuts cooked to perfection over an open flame grill served with sides like fries or salad.
- La Tapa Del Sol – Spanish Tapas Bar : Serves authentic Spanish tapas along with sangria , wine , beer etc.
- Parque Principal de Santander de Quilichao – a central park with a fountain, benches, and trees for shade.
- Parque Recreacional La Ceiba – a recreational park with playgrounds, sports fields, and picnic areas.
- Complejo Deportivo Municipal – a sports complex with soccer fields, basketball courts, and volleyball courts.
- Piscina Olímpica Municipal – an Olympic-sized swimming pool open to the public for recreational swimming.
- Sendero Ecológico del Río Cauca – a nature trail along the Cauca River where visitors can hike or bike while enjoying the scenery.
- Reserva Natural El Silencio – a natural reserve with hiking trails through forests and waterfalls.
- Finca Los Ángeles Ecoturismo y Aventura – an eco-tourism farm offering activities such as horseback riding, zip-lining, and bird-watching tours.
- Centro Comercial Plaza Quilichao – shopping center offering various shops including clothing stores to restaurants to entertainment options like movie theaters.
