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Pamplona is definitely out of the way in Colombia, but it’s a nice place to spend a day or two. It has a cool climate, a laid-back atmosphere, and decent low-key attractions to keep you busy.
Getting There
Pamplona is about four hours from Bucaramanga and two hours from Cúcuta by bus. It’s a long but scenic bus ride from Bucaramanga through the mountains. The bus terminal is on the east side of town and only a few blocks from the main plaza.
Getting Around
For the most part, Pamplona is easily walkable. Everything worth seeing is within a few blocks of the main plaza. There are taxis if necessary.
Cariongo Plaza Hotel
We stayed at Cariongo Plaza Hotel on the south side of town. It’s located just three blocks from the main plaza and is easily the best hotel in Pamplona. The price is steep by Colombian standards but it’s well worth it.
Our room was in a separate building behind the main building of the complex. The room was big and comfortable with very modern amenities. Our only complaint was that the bed was too small for two people. The room overlooked a beautiful garden containing a fountain, roses, and a playground.
It was also nice to have a bar and restaurant on site. Breakfast was included in our room rate and we also had two meals there (see below).
Eating at the Hotel
Our first lunch was at the hotel bar, where a staff member put in our order and brought it down from the restaurant. I had an excellent pepper steak and Marisol had a delicious seafood stew.
For our final dinner in Pamplona, we both had a soup and salad.
Piero’s Pizza
Just outside the hotel is a collection of pizza places. The best by far is Piero’s Pizza, which was opened by an Italian immigrant in the 1980s. It was easily one of the best pizzas I’ve had in Colombia. Marisol’s bruschetta was not what we were expecting, but it was tasty.
