Cultural
November (Annual)
Silk Climate & Orchid Festival
Main Square & Colonial Houses, Zapatoca
Town festivities and botanical fair where colonial manors open their orchid-filled courtyards alongside traditional folk performances.
Zapatoca doesn't need fame to be extraordinary. Unlike Barichara or San Gil, this municipality on the foothills of the Eastern Cordillera lives happily in its anonymity. Its perfect temperature — known as the 'silk climate' — and its boutique hotels focused on radical rest have made it the favorite destination for those who already know the others and want to take the next step: finding a place that still hasn't gone trending.
— BViajero Concierge Guide for Zapatoca
Plan your trip around the key cultural, sports, and gastronomic gatherings that define the spirit of the city throughout the year.
Town festivities and botanical fair where colonial manors open their orchid-filled courtyards alongside traditional folk performances.
Guided trekking events following historic trails down to the Sogamoso River canyon with mountain birdwatching.
One of Santander's most impressive caverns. Its underground gallery system houses unique mineral formations and a biodiversity of bats and cave birds you won't find anywhere else in the department.
Zapatoca's natural viewpoint offers a 180-degree panorama over the Sogamoso River canyon and the Andes cordillera. At sunset, when clouds descend and the light turns golden, it is one of the most outstanding spectacles in the entire region.
Hotel Abadías' Azafrán Restaurant is Zapatoca's gastronomic benchmark. Its kitchen combines high-altitude Santander ingredients — artisanal cheeses, beef and lamb, cold-climate vegetables — with contemporary techniques that surprise in such a small town.
Essential tips for visiting Zapatoca.
Zapatoca is 1h45min from Palonegro Airport on a mountain road. Worth every curve.
The town has no large supermarkets. Bring what you need from Bucaramanga.
The best time to see the canyon without clouds is the dry season (Dec-Feb). In the rainy season the landscape turns dramatically lush.
Iconic spots in Zapatoca you cannot miss.
View Details
View Details
View Details
