Festival del Pito Atravesao in Morroa

Photo by: salymfayad

Morroa, also called "the cultural loom of the savannas of eastern Colombia", is a colorful village where threads are fused by the hard work of the many inhabitants who are devoted to the noble craft of weaving hammocks, those famous nets in which humans wrap themselves up during their times of relaxation and daydreaming. A good number of these typical Colombian hanging beds is produced here, as well as a substantial part of the country's music. Lots of music is heard in Morroa.

It is easy to reach this village, located only 15 km to the northeast of the city of Sincelejo, the capital of the department of Sucre, on the Troncal de Occidente, or Western Trunk Road. Also very nearby, less than 2 km away, lies Corozal, the second municipality in the region. This means that all these locations blend and seem to be only one, especially in these festive times where the legacy of past generations blossoms.

Pito Atravesao Festival in Morroa

Exactly from June 19 to 21, Morroa will celebrate the 21st edition of the Festival Nacional del Pito Atravesao. More than a feast, it is the convergence of a series of elements, expressions, tasks, and circumstances that give shape to a very representative cultural melting pot of this diverse country. This is a propitious occasion for the world to know the reasons for the pito atravesao (transverse pipe) and the picturesque hammocks that characterize Morroa and the vast zone embedded in the hills known as "Montes de María".

Folklore parade

Photo by: salymfayad

And it may be said that the routine of the men and women weavers of Morroa on these vertical looms and with many threads of cotton dates back to that time. Nowadays, they all perform their craft in similar fashion due to the high demand for hammocks and the fact that the prestige of Morroa production must be supported on increasingly creative woven nets. Naturally, there are other towns and villages that contribute to the tradition. Examples are Don Alonso in Corozal, Chochó in Sincelejo, and San Jacinto, in the department of Bolívar.

Festival de Pito Atravesao in Morroa

Photo by: salymfayad

How to arrive and where to stay in Morroa

There are daily flights between Bogotá and Corozal, the latter distant 2 km from Morroa. By land, it is necessary to take the Troncal de Occidente road from Bogotá to Medellín. The approximate distance is 1,000 km.

Several homes in the municipality of Morroa have been outfitted as lodgings, but thanks to the proximity of Sincelejo and Corozal, it is easy to stay in a hotel in either one. Crossing the savannas of Sucre is quite a pleasure.