Santander, a department which name, honors the memory of the illustrious General Francisco de Paula Santander, is located in the North-Eastern area of the Colombian Andes.
Thanks to its geographical location, Santander is characterized by having almost all the climates that exist in Colombia, where two contrasting physiographic units, can be highlighted along its 87 municipalities: the Middle Magdalena valley - slightly mountainous, with jungle vegetation, where there are sectors of Equatorial forest and fertile marshes - and the Cordillera Oriental (eastern range of the Andes) – which covers most part of the department, that is characterized by its landscape of gigantic slopes -.
Due to the conditions of its strong landscape, the region first inhabitants - Yariguíes, Chitareros, Guanes, Laches, Opónes, and Carares indigenous; and subsequently to the adventurous conquerors Spaniards, accompanied by German, Irish and Italian - were forced to adapt to the difficult living conditions and overcome them. This is why, it is said that the santandereano (people of Santander), besides being polite, generous and welcoming, is characterized by its temper and fighter spirit.
These cultural approaches are best appreciate in the Santander gastronomy, where it is used special meat conservation techniques and all the body parts of the animal, to create dishes such as the famous oreada meat, goat (in various forms), the soup of mute… or delicacies; result of blending American and European cuisines, like the tamales, hormigas culonas (ants), the arepa of yellow corn called pelao and drinks as the masato or guarapo… varied possibilities which may not pass unnoticed when visiting this region.
Santander is a destination to explore, given the different alternatives offered that suit all tastes because it is possible to find villages and quiet municipalities which have colonial and architectural beauties, religious relics and a tangible indigenous legacy, and places like Barichara, Guane, Girón.
In San Gil and its surroundings or in the Chicamocha National Park, there are options to perform extreme sports, contemplate its landscapes and enjoy nature. In Bucaramanga, the capital city, the visitors can go shopping, enjoy the nightlife, events, taste the new and various dining options, as well as walking around the variety of urban parks which have made the city famous.