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Girardot: A river town of rail and steam

If you’re looking for a yoga-infused destination, or peaceful retreat to the lowlands of Cundinamarca, then Girardot on a long weekend, especially at the end of the year, will not be your cup of tea. But if cold beers (because there will be many with the scorching heat) and lazing by a pool is your take on a perfect escape, then this town, nestled on the banks of the Magdalena River, is all about celebrating tourism.

In 1969, a group of journalists convinced the local council that Girardot needed to host its own pageant, given its proximity to Ibagué, Calarcá and Neiva which all have legendary festivals, celebrating traditional folk music, the coffee harvest, and SanJuanero dance.

After the success of the first National Tourism Pageant (Reinado Nacional de Turismo) , Colombians began to flock to Girardot every October filling up the small hotels. As the festival grew, so too the city’s hotel infrastructure, and today, visitors can appreciate many graceful hotels perched on hillsides, offering spectacular views of the Magdalena.

The highlight of the event is a colorful parade with beauty queens who seemingly appear to float on their floats, waving to the crowd and who receive waves of applause, even bouquets of freshly cut flowers, in return.

With the backdrop of a meandering river and ornate mansions owned by the new Republic’s first coffee and mining tycoons, Girardot is steeped in memories, especially those of the age of steam and rail transport. A flat river surface also served as a natural runway for German made Dorniers, owned by the Colombo–German Aeronautical Society (SCADTA), as they puddle-jumped the length of the river, bringing to these shores cartographers, engineers, and future plantation owners.

The distance between Girardot and Barranquilla is 800 kilometers, but on warm nights, the distance seems much shorter, especially when empty crates of Aguila beer begin to pile up outside local tiendas.

At the junction of Cundinamarca and Tolima, Girardot’s main landmarks are the old market and a suspension bridge where locals still go to enjoy an afternoon view of the river or burn-off a typical lunch of stuffed pig with rice, known as lechona.

The rise and fall of rail transportation forever changed Girardot, and as an emerging city, tourism would become its main source of revenue. The age of the overland vacation was born.

Located 3-hours by car from Bogotá, and blessed year-round with hot weather, Girardot’s 47th National Tourism Pageant was attended by some 7,000 tourists who flocked into town to see Angie Moreno, representing the Department of Valle del Cauca, crowned as the national tourism Queen 2017- 2018.

While the beauty pageant candidates made their appearances and an outdoor concert featured local artists, the most visited event is the Noche de la Fantasía parade, winding its way through the old town’s center. This event was first introduced to promote the well-being of Girardot’s most vulnerable citizens. Dressed in the traditional attire from their distinctive regions, the Fantasy Parade celebrates diversity and while onlookers of all generations were cheering on the participants, others were more keen to try the deep fried street food. But for all, there is enormous pride in being in this tropical part of Colombia.

“We are incredibly happy to be able to be part of the event and highlight the work of the entire team,” said Julio Reyes, a local craftsman who helped create five parade floats that mirrored the ones from the Barranquilla Carnival, and one float specifically dedicated to the LGBT community. The festival also featured some of Latin America’s best musical groups, including Piso 21, a nationally renowned Reggaeton band from Medellín, and Zion y Lennox, a musical duo from Puerto Rico. The loudspeakers blared music through the night, the Girardoteños celebrated their festival, dancing into the early morning with the dizziness brought on by Aguardiente, the popular sugarcane spirit.

You may call Girardot a hidden gem – as it is normally not on international tourists’ travel destination list, but the hospitality of the locals, the embracement of diversity, and openness towards cultures from various parts of this country are exactly what makes Girardot a perfect travel destination for tourists eager for a taste of the “true” Colombia. “We have a lot more than just partying in our tourism and culture,” said Mr. Diego Salas, Secretary of Girardot’s local government. “Therefore, it is our challenge to make Girardot look that way.”

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Last updated on March 3, 2024.

Girardot  is often mentioned as a great weekend getaway from Bogotá . It turned out to be one of the most run-down and disgusting places I’ve visited in Colombia .

Why is it so popular? Located only two hours from the Colombian capital city, it has hot weather, waterparks, and hotels with pools to help them escape the cool weather of Bogotá. That’s it. No culture. No must-see places in town. Just pools.

• 0.0.1 Oasis de la Colina
• 0.0.2 Parque Bolívar
• 0.0.3 Locomotive Park
• 0.0.4 Embarcadero
• 0.0.5 Getting There
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Oasis de la Colina

We broke up a drive from Boyacá to Pereira with an overnight in Girardot and couldn’t wait to leave. The best part about our stay was the hospitality of our hosts at our hotel, Oasis de la Colina . It has two pools, an on-site restaurant with decent food, and is located in a quiet residential area.

The hotel was overpriced, which we found to be the norm in Girardot. Our room was simple and somewhat comfortable other than the window that faced the hallway and the noise from the pool area.

Parque Bolívar

The next morning, we decided to explore the city before heading back home. We started at Parque Bolívar, which has the most beautiful building in town located on one corner,  Hotel Unión . It’s a renovated social club that was converted into a luxury hotel.

Also on Parque Bolívar is one of the ugliest buildings in town, the cathedral. This brick and concrete monstrosity was built between 1956 and 1970. It’s a little better on the inside.

Locomotive Park

A short walk away is Locomotive Park (Parque de la Locomotora), which contains an old locomotive and the Old Railway Station (Antigua Estación del Ferrocarril). The building now serves as a cultural center but was closed when we walked by.

You can walk across the Magdalena River  on the former railroad bridge. It crosses the river into the neighboring town of Flandes.

Embarcadero

At the embarcadero (pier), you’ll find nice views of the railroad bridge and the river. If you’re feeling hungry, there’s a restaurant on a riverboat and a riverside bar as well. I can’t vouch for either of them.

A nicely painted abandoned building overlooking the river now serves as a parking garage. There’s also a statue of an indigenous man on a raft.

Getting There

If you REALLY feel the need to visit Girardot, you can get there on a bus from Bogotá. Buses from Pereira, Armenia , and Cali heading to Bogotá will also pass through town.

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Owner of Paisadventure. World traveler. Chicago sports lover. Living in Colombia.

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Things to Do in Girardot, Colombia - Girardot Attractions

Things to do in girardot, tours near girardot.

Excursion to La Plata waterfall in Ibagué (490 meters the highest in Tolima)

Natural adventure with waterfalls, trails and sunny day

Hiking through Falan's ruins, ecotourism, river and canopy.

Hiking High Andean Forests

Tour 5 Rosario Islands

Termales de Aguas Calientes - El Sifón

Gastronomic Tour, rice of Ibagué.

Viva Ibague Tour

Willys Tour Combeima

Gastronomic Tour, Tamal Tolimense

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• Catedral de Girardot
• Parque de la Locomotora
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GIRARDOT Con una temperatura promedio de 28 a 30 C° Girardot se destaca en la región andina por contar con los principales lugares para escaparse con la familia un fin de semana, un festivo o porqué no, entre semana. Su clima es perfecto para disfrutar en las piscinas, con bebidas refrescantes, en pareja o en familia. Este hermoso destino a sólo pocas horas desde Bogotá, es uno de los preferidos para los turistas del centro del país, que quieren tomar un descanso cerca, practicar paracaidismo, surf o solo dedicarse a tomar el sol. Esta pequeña ciudad se ha convertido en el destino ideal para las vacaciones de los habitantes del centro del país, cuenta con un excelente clima, facilidades de transporte y diferentes atractivos turísticos. Hotel rodeado de naturaleza y muchas posibilidades de diversión y descanso.

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• Cajilla de Seguridad
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Comida de buen sabor, lugar tranquilo, actividades diarias!

Realmente las bebidas no son ilimitadas, sirven 2 o 3 variedades de cócteles y la cerveza en vasos de tinto! En la discoteca se cancela todo! Llovió y se entro el agua a la habitación! Algunas personas no son tan amables a la hora de prestar el servicio!

No tuvimos inconveniente, es de acuerdo a lo que solicitamos.

Es buena, lo necesario para unos días de descanso en familia o en pareja

no tengo nada que decir

Buena ubicación. El personal de recepción amable. Piscinas agradables. Actividades dirigidas diarias. Habitaciones cómodas.

No existe trato preferencial ni servicios especiales para los socios Continental Voyage. No hay personal que lo guíe a la habitación. La variedad y la calidad de las bebidas en el bar es pésima, incluso la atención de uno de los barman. Afirman que hay bebidas ilimitadas pero esto no sucede en la Discoteca. Quedamos inconformes al darnos cuenta que no hay diferencia de trato y servicio por ser socios. Ofrecen buffet pero las comidas son limitadas.

Excelente ubicación espacio totalmente confortable, las habitaciones cómodas, el aire acondicionado muy bien

El señor del bar no tiene servicio al cliente, hace las cosas xq le toca nada amable.

en general es muy bonito y muy completo, de los mas completos de onvacation

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