Valledupar: Tourism, the Vallenato Festival & Things to Do in Cesar
Valledupar is the capital of the Cesar department, in northern Colombia — an ideal place for a family holiday.
Valledupar hosts the Vallenato Legend Festival every year, when thousands of visitors arrive from across the country and abroad.
The city sits on the bank of the Guatapurí River, in a strategic area of northern Colombia between the country's interior and the Caribbean coast. It keeps a distinctive atmosphere, part quiet country town and part fast-growing city.
Valledupar is ideal to combine with Caribbean-coast destinations such as La Guajira.
How to get to Valledupar
Valledupar has Alfonso López Airport, served by Colombia's main airlines.
It is also very well connected to the rest of Colombia by road, with several bus companies arriving and departing from the city's terminal.
Valledupar Bus Terminal
Address: Carrera 7A #44-156.
Phone: 5853376 / 5841441
Bus companies
- Expreso Brasilia: expresobrasilia.com
- Copetran: copetran.com
- Cotaxi: cotaxi.com.co
The distances from Valledupar are: Bogotá 850 km, Riohacha 250 km, Santa Marta 255 km, Cúcuta 522 km, Medellín 785 km, Cali 1,120 km.
Tourism in Valledupar
Valledupar has very attractive areas for visitors, along with a good range of hotels and restaurants. The nightlife is lively, and vallenato music takes pride of place when it's time to party.
The city center develops around Plaza Alfonso López Pumarejo, surrounded by the city's most important buildings, such as the Immaculate Conception Church, the city hall, the Archaeology Museum and the municipal council. Nearby you can also visit the Rosario Cathedral, the House of Culture, the Santo Domingo Convent and the Cesar Government building.
What to see and do
Sculpture of vallenato folklore
The sculpture depicts the members of a vallenato group: the accordion player, the drummer and the guacharaca player. It stands at Av. Simón Bolívar and Diagonal 23.
Vallenato Legend Park
The "Consuelo Araújo Noguera" Vallenato Legend Park is where the famous festival takes place each year. The park is in the north of the city and spans 23 hectares.
The Obelisk
This 30-meter monument marks the entrance to the city on the road to Barranquilla.
Top sights around Valledupar
Guatapurí River and the Pozo Hurtado swimming spot
Valledupar sits on the bank of the Guatapurí River, which has lovely spots to visit — the busiest being the Pozo Hurtado swimming area on the outskirts of the city, ideal for a day in nature enjoying the river's crystal-clear water.
Zapatosa Marsh
The Zapatosa Marsh is a well-preserved natural area formed by the Cesar River, ideal for those who enjoy nature, birdwatching and fishing.
Badillo mine
The mine is in the village of Badillo, northeast of the city. The town is a National Monument of Colombia, and the trip to the Badillo mine is a journey into the department's interior to discover its landscapes and old traditions.
La Pedregosa
La Pedregosa is Valledupar's main holiday center, run by Comfacesar, with sports and recreational facilities and impressive swimming pools.
Los Besotes Ecopark
Los Besotes Ecopark is an ecological reserve that protects more than 250 bird species and 45 mammal species. The area is extraordinarily beautiful and can be explored along trails. To reach it, take the road to Patillal, continue to the village of Los Corazones, and then go on foot to the reserve.
Frequently asked questions about Valledupar
It is the capital of Cesar, in northern Colombia, on the bank of the Guatapurí River, between the country's interior and the Caribbean coast, at the foot of the Sierra Nevada.
Through Alfonso López Airport (domestic flights) or by road: Santa Marta 255 km, Riohacha 250 km, Bogotá 850 km.
It is the city's biggest celebration, every April: a vallenato music competition that draws thousands of visitors from the country and abroad. Book well in advance for those dates.
Swim in the Guatapurí River (Hurtado swimming spot), explore Plaza Alfonso López and the center, see the Accordion Square and experience vallenato culture; the Zapatosa Marsh is nearby.
Yes, it is a strategic point to combine with the Caribbean Coast and La Guajira (Riohacha is 250 km away) and with the Sierra Nevada.
Warm weather all year. The best time to experience its culture is April, during the Vallenato Legend Festival.