Last updated on .
Pamplona is a city in Colombia that’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.
Introduction to Pamplona, Colombia
Located about four hours from Bucaramanga and a couple hours west of Colombia’s border with Venezuela, the city of Pamplona might seem out of the way. That’s true, but its a peaceful and friendly place with a comfortably cool climate and a surprising collection of decent museums.
Pamplona is nestled in the mountains in the Norte de Santander department. It was founded by Spanish conquistadors Pedro de Ursúa (1526-1561) and Ortún Velasco de Velázquezon (c. 1500-1584) on November 1, 1549. It was named Nueva Pamplona del Valle del Espíritu Santo after the city of Pamplona in Spain. Between 1819 and 1821, the city was integral for human and economic resources during the Colombian War of Independence.
Today, Pamplona is an important agricultural center with potatoes as the main crop. It’s also got a good collection of religious monuments and museums (if they’re open). We spent two days in the city and tried to visit all the museums. We ended up seeing two out five.
Getting to Pamplona, Colombia
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 Pamplona, Colombia
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.
Where to Stay in Pamplona, Colombia
There aren’t a whole lot of great options on where to stay in Pamplona.
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 a little steep by Colombian standards but it’s well worth it. 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.
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.
Where to Eat in Pamplona, Colombia
We noticed a few decent places to eat in Pamplona, but we chose to eat most of our meals were at our hotel.
Cariongo Plaza Hotel Restaurant
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.
Later, 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.
Stay Connected in Pamplona, Colombia *
With a flexible eSIM data plan from Saily, you can reduce or even eliminate international roaming fees AND save time, so you can enjoy your trip without missing a beat. Saily is built by Nord Security, trusted by over 14 million people worldwide, and is compatible with both iOS and Android.
Click here to learn more about Saily, or here to get started. Don’t forget to use this promo code to get 5% off: Special5
*This section contains an affiliate link. By clicking on the link or banner, I receive a small “thank you” and you receive an offer at no cost to you, unless you decide to make a purchase – a win-win for both of us!
Plaza Águeda Gallardo
The best place to start exploring Pamplona is the main plaza, Plaza Águeda Gallardo. It’s one of the country’s largest and most pleasant plazas.
The plaza is surrounded by a mix of modern and colonial buildings. The mountains surrounding Pamplona are visible in every direction. You can also find countless street vendors, a gazebo, and plenty of places to sit and people watch.
Cathedral of Santa Clara
The most important building on the plaza is the Cathedral of Santa Clara (Catedral de Santa Clara). It was founded in 1584 by María Velasco de Montalvo, the daughter of one of Pamplona’s founders, Spanish conquistador Ortún Velázquez de Velasco (c. 1500-1584), and is the oldest religious building in the department of Norte de Santander. The cathedral originally served as the chapel of the Convent of Santa Clara and wasn’t converted to the cathedral until later. It suffered heavy damaged during an earthquake in 1875 and was later reconstructed.
The nave of the cathedral is quite plain other than the beautiful gilded retable that survived the earthquake. It consists of two parts, one built in 1628 and the other in 1795. Keep an eye out for the figure of St. Peter made in Spain by sculptor Juan de Mesa (1583-1627) in 1618.
Casa de Mercado
On the southwest corner of the plaza is the Casa de Mercado, which was built in 1920. This historic market building is full of stalls selling fruits, vegetables, spices, meats, clothing, and other goods. Commerce spills over onto the side streets as well.
The building sits on the former location of a Jesuit school dating back to 1622. At the school, Pamplona declared independence from Spain in 1810.
Casa Águeda Gallardo de Villamizar
Continuing clockwise around the plaza is Casa Águeda Gallardo de Villamizar. It was built in the second half of the 16th century. It hosted several meetings leading up to Pamplona’s cry for independence in 1810.
Today, this colonial home serves as a museum and the main entrance is just around the corner. We knocked on the door and a friendly security guard greeted us. He explained that the staff was out for the week and he wasn’t sure when the museum would be open again. It’s typically open Monday through Friday.
Archbishop’s Palace
On the northwest corner of the plaza is the Archbishop’s Palace (Palacio Arzobispal). It dates back to 1837 as the residence of the bishops and archbishops of Pamplona. The building was constructed on the site of the former residence of the Rangel de Cuellar family.
Next to the building just off the plaza is the Archdiocesan Museum of Religious Art (Museo Arquidiocesano de Arte Religioso). We tried to visit but it was closed. Admission is COP$3,000 (as of November 2023) and it’s typically open Monday through Friday.
Ramírez Villamizar Museum of Modern Art
Finally, on the northeast corner is the Ramírez Villamizar Museum of Modern Art (Museo de Arte Moderno Ramírez Villamizar), which showcases the work of local artist Eduardo Ramírez Villamizar (1922-2004). Admission is COP$3,000 (as of November 2023) and it’s typically open daily except Mondays. Unfortunately, it was closed during our entire stay in the city.
Calle 6 in Pamplona, Colombia
Calle 6 runs west from Plaza Águeda Gallardo. You’ll find a few points of interest along the street.
Convent of Santa Clara
First, a block west past Casa de Mercado is the church of the Convent of Santa Clara (Convento de Santa Clara). It was built after the Order of St. Clare was expelled from the cathedral on the plaza.
College of the Sacred Heart of Jesus
Nearby is the College of the Sacred Heart of Jesus (Colegio del Sagrado Corazón de Jesús), which is housed in a beautiful building built in 1938. The school dates back to 1896.
Casa Colonial
On the next block is the Casa Colonial, which is a small colonial house serving as the city’s museum. Admission is free (as of November 2024) and it’s open Monday through Friday. It was a little strange because we entered the museum and nobody came out to greet us. We spent about 15 minutes inside.
There are three main rooms with artifacts and photos from Pamplona’s history, including many from the indigenous people who once inhabited the region.
In the courtyard is a carriage and mural featuring important people in Pamplona’s history, the city shield, and the cathedral. Two rooms across from the courtyard contain antique furniture and typewriters.
Calle Real in Pamplona, Colombia
Finally, it’s nice to take a walk down Calle Real. Pamplona’s principal shopping street is full of stores selling upscale clothing, electronics, and more.
Casa Anzoátegui
Casa Anzoátegui, which is on Calle Real a couple blocks from the main plaza, features a museum as well as a music school. It’s a colonial house where José Anzoátegui (1789-1819), a hero of Colombian independence, died on November 15, 1819. Admission is COP$2,000 (as of November 2023) and it’s open Monday through Friday.
The first time we tried to visit, the staff asked us to come back the next day because there were no guides available. When we returned, an enthusiastic group of local students led us on a tour of the museum. They did a wonderful job, but they unnecessarily explained every single detail about every artifact on display.
Plazuela Almeyda
Calle Real ends at Plazuela Almeyda, which contains an obelisk in the center. Cariongo Plaza Hotel sits on the west side.
