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La Ronda del Sinú is a public park in the city of Montería, Colombia. It runs between the Sinú River and the city center for about 20 blocks, making it the longest lineal park in Latin America. It was our favorite attraction in the city by far.
The park was constructed in 2005 and contains several bike paths, walking paths, food stands, and craft vendors. There are also recreational areas for children and spaces for gatherings and open air theatre.
Iguanas
One of the best features are the several iguanas living in the park. You can spot them climbing on trees, resting in the grass, and on the rooftops of some of the structures. Some of them are huge! Apparently there are sloths and monkeys as well but we didn’t spot any.
Monuments
A few monuments dot the landscape in the Ronda del Sinú. One of them is dedicated to Antonio de la Torre y Miranda (1734-1805), the founder of Montería in 1777. He was a Spanish soldier who rose through the ranks to become viceroy of Nueva Granada (modern day Colombia).
Another monument is dedicated to fallen soldiers from Montería. It’s located in a small area where the city’s first public market once stood.
My favorite monument depicts Pablito Flórez opposite a woman called “La Aventurera”. Flórez (1926-2011) was a musician who had success in several different genres, including porro, tango, pasillo, and ranchera. One of his most important songs was La Aventurera.
Planchón Crossing
Along the Ronda del Sinú, you’ll notice what look like houseboats crossing the Sinú River. These are called “planchones”. A planchón is the traditional way for Monterians to cross the river, and they’re still popular even after bridges have been built.
Each planchón has a number that corresponds to the street on both sides of the river. You’re able to spot them crossing at almost every block along the length of the park.
Touristic Wharf
At the north end of the park, there’s the Touristic Wharf (Muelle Turístico). Apparently, you can catch a sunset cruise along the river. We walked up to the office to ask about tickets but nobody acknowledged us.
Sinú Cultural Plaza
Further along, there’s the Sinú Cultural Plaza (Plaza Cultural del Sinú). It’s a large open space with no trees, and it’s significantly hotter than the forested section of the park. I didn’t really like the plaza because it had a strong smell of urine and marijuana, and it was fairly empty.
At the Sinú Cultural Plaza, there’s a large Montería sign as well as concrete steps down to the river. We were able to watch some white herons standing by the river’s edge.
Finally, a large monument to María Varilla (1887-1940) stands in the plaza. It features a woman dancing in the center surrounded by six male musicians. Varilla was considered one of the best dancers of her time.
