Montería

Life in Montería revolves around the Río Sinú, the river artery that has enabled progress and around which this city, founded on May 1, 1777, has grown.

The capital of Córdoba department, with an average temperature of 28ºC year-round, welcomes travelers amid vast savannas where the region's main industry, livestock, flourishes. Just sixty kilometers away lies the Caribbean Sea.

A bit of history

In the Río Sinú valley, one of Colombia's most fertile areas, the pre-Columbian Sinú culture, also called Zenú, settled. Known for their goldsmithing, they left numerous archaeological artifacts and petroglyphs near municipalities like San Jacinto and San Juan Nepomuceno. Spanish conquerors arrived there, hunting the abundant animal species in these lands.

Those dedicated to this trade were called “monteros,” and their hunting meeting place was named “Montería.” Hence, the name of the “Pearl of the Sinú,” San Jacinto de Montería.

Visitors to this city encounter a warm, friendly population in a refreshing urban jungle, centered around the terracotta-colored river with its calm, abundant waters. It’s a great tourist destination, easy to explore, where you can enjoy the sun, river, cuisine, countryside, and surrounding municipalities.

The must-visit spot in Montería is the Ronda del Río Sinú, the continent’s largest linear park. This four-kilometer ecological corridor, built in 2005, enhances the city’s beauty and offers visitors leisure and wellness while observing the many species living there.

What to visit?

Sloths, squirrels, various monkey species, and iguanas bask in the sun and coexist happily with the hundreds of people who walk or bike the area daily for a pleasant time.

This boardwalk has different zones, each built for a unique purpose: an ecological zone for environmental education; a cultural zone with the Zenú Museum of Contemporary Art, an open-air exhibition space, and a small theater; a recreational zone for children; and an artisanal zone ending at the public market and pier.

The Ronda del Sinú Norte, an extension of this linear park in the city’s north, offers a bike path with Zenú culture sculptures, an event plaza shaped like a vueltiao hat, ping pong tables, a giant chessboard, and a 15-meter-high viewpoint for photographing the river and city panorama.

The Tourist Pier, located between streets 34 and 35 and Carrera Primera, is 200 meters long, ideal for observing the river, enjoying the cool evening breeze, and watching the daily sunset spectacle. You can see herons landing on towering riverside trees and enjoy boat rides on the water.

After a nature experience, Montería’s old Public Market awaits with melodious porros and fandangos, offering local cuisine (sourced from the countryside, river, and sea) and beautiful local crafts.

Mats, scrubbers, trespuntá sandals, colorful bags, vueltiao hats, totumo items, and wicker baskets are displayed, allowing you to take home a memento of a crafting people who inherited their wisdom from the region’s indigenous ancestors.

Montería is a city of unforgettable parks blending old-world charm with modern constructions. In the city center, Parque Simón Bolívar stands out as a gathering place for locals, where visitors can see the Statue of Liberator Simón Bolívar under massive fruit trees.

Places full of history

The San Jerónimo Cathedral in Montería rises white and monumental in the plaza, with a façade mixing Gothic and Republican styles. Around it, you can enjoy natural fruit juices that brighten the daily life of visitors.

This park hosts numerous craft fairs and exhibitions that bring the city to life. Other buildings around the plaza also tell Montería’s story, with unique architectural styles like Syrian-Lebanese and Republican.

For nightlife and food lovers, Pasaje del Sol is the city’s best spot to enjoy cafés, restaurants, bars, and clubs for all tastes.

From this vibrant city, where an annual livestock fair in June highlights the importance of cattle to the Caribbean region’s economy, you can explore beautiful neighboring municipalities.

Visit Lorica, part of Colombia’s Heritage Towns Network, or attend celebrations in San Antero centered around the donkey.

Don’t miss Buenavista to visit the Zooparque los Caimanes, or Tuchín to explore this beautiful indigenous town and find an authentic vueltiao hat. Also, visit the coastal municipalities—the landscape and cuisine will surprise you.

Come to Montería!

Montería is a dreamy land, delicately woven by the river and the richness of its people’s traditions. A place of progress and a constant Caribbean celebration you won’t want to miss when visiting Colombia.