Small towns of charm, churches and parks full of stories, anecdotes of characters that are no longer alive and some museums or houses of culture narrating their roots, are part of the most representative details of the southern municipalities of Santander.

Crédito de la foto: Karen Figueroa / VANGUARDIA

Who travels the south of the Guane land bets on a trip full of placidity. This is an encounter with the lush nature; chicha (typical alcoholic beverage), goat with pepitoria (typical dishes) and the pure guava jelly; going to the south of the Department is learning from its artisans, going into the Comunera history, admiring the Chicamocha canyon and enjoying the adventure sport.

Crédito de la foto: Karen Figueroa / VANGUARDIA

Villages built with the delicacy of the best of artists are part of a splendid landscape to shelter more than a pleasant memory. Aratoca, Curití, San Gil, Barichara, Valle de San José, Charalá, Socorro, Vélez, Páramo and Oiba are just some of the destinations full of hospitality and where you will always find more than one reason to return.

Barrancabermeja, as the capital of this province, is one of the riverside towns bathed by the Magdalena river, which provides its flow so that fishermen support their days and visitors find in the bocachico (type of fish) preparations one more reference to go to this Puerto Petrolero (oil port).

In the capital Yariguíes, Cristo Petrolero welcomes visitors. The practice of water sports and an expedition through the San Silvestre swamp to appreciate its fauna and flora are references for travelers.

Crédito: Fabián Hernández / VANGUARDIA

Waterfalls, caves and the practice of adventure sports are part of the agenda of those who arrive in Puerto Wilches, Sabana de Torres, San Vicente de Chucurí and El Carmen to walk its streets and enjoy the warmth of the land, also recognized by the cocoa and avocado production, as well as livestock. For its part, Zapatoca offers a huge viewpoint towards the metropolitan area of Bucaramanga and, due to its temperature, it has been called the town with a silk climate.

Celebrating Santandereanidad is the hallmark of our identity because it denotes what we are, talkative, hardworking and humble people, who feel proud of their land, vast landscapes, green mountains and rivers that embrace a diversity of fauna and flora.

The celebration of Santandereanidad is alive in the 87 municipalities of the department and is held every May 13.

Crédito: Karen Figueroa / VANGUARDIA

Such is the love for the region that despite adversity we always go forward and do not take a step back, because it is the heritage of our ancestors, those who raised the flags of freedom, justice and independence. Flags that we now raise to show productive development, investment, tourism, gastronomy, health and culture, and show that we do everything with passion.

This is the land of Santander, which in its seven provinces welcomes its visitors to feel the pride that whoever steps on our land is one of us.

When it comes to best describe the tradition of a town its churches go first. As taken from stories, these emblematic structures are imposed in every corner of the department and their great colonial value attributes to our villages designs that are admirable and detailed.

Nothing cuter than being surprised by the architectural value and style that the ancestors embodied in the churches. Its unique and picturesque design makes the villages have a special component and become the reason for many tourists to visit.

Crédito: Jaime del Río / VANGUARDIA

Churches found in villages such as Zapatoca, Vélez, Matanza, Guane, Los Santos, Guadalupe, Socorro, Barichara and Curtí are part of the list, but it becomes endless if it is a question of choosing the most beautiful ones. Throughout the department buildings that go beyond a century, very tall structures carved in Stone with details in their very sharp designs and with very particular characteristics that perhaps are found only here.

Visit Santander and let yourself be captivated by the beauty and history that our churches have.