MaurypicotoColombia's Heritage Towns: the 18 of the Network
The Heritage Towns Tourism Network brings together municipalities that preserve their architecture, traditions and history, and that are preparing to welcome visitors without losing their identity. They are the best way to discover the Colombia of cobblestone streets, church squares, traditional crafts and local cooking.
The Network is coordinated by the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Tourism with support from Fontur, and in 2025 it received new regulations to strengthen its management and its sustainability focus.
Year-round. Holy Week, local festivals and patron saint celebrations are the most colorful times, but also the busiest: book ahead.
The best places
MaurypicotoCobblestone streets, rammed-earth houses and the Camino Real to Guane.
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Kamilokardona · Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0)White colonial center minutes from Bucaramanga.
Guide (Spanish) →
Kamilokardona · Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0)Royal Road town between Bogotá and the Magdalena River, home of independence heroine Policarpa Salavarrieta.
Guide (Spanish) →
Kamilokardona / Wikimedia CommonsCity of bridges on the Magdalena and a former colonial river port.
Guide (Spanish) →
Zezar02 / Wikimedia CommonsSanta Cruz de Lorica: republican architecture and a market on the Sinú River.
Guide (Spanish) →
Juan Esteban VillegasWorld Heritage historic center and gold and silver filigree.
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Germán Piñeros Cortés · Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)One of Boyacá's prettiest towns, known for handmade footballs and the gateway to the Ocetá páramo.
Guide (Spanish) →
Lineth Navarro Vega · Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0)White houses and Los Estoraques Unique Natural Area.
Guide (Spanish) →
XalD · Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)Antioquian architecture and wood carving in the Coffee Cultural Landscape.
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Kamilokardona · Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0)Colonial town and the Puente de Occidente over the Cauca River.
Guide (Spanish) →
Bernard GagnonOne of the largest town squares in the country, with desert landscapes and fossils.
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Alonso48f · Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)Home of the aguadeño hat and lookouts over the Caldas mountains.
Guide (Spanish) →
Wikimedia CommonsA square full of color, coffee farms and the cock-of-the-rock.
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Jdvillalobos · Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)Republican architecture and the Ciénaga Grande wetland landscape.
Guide (Spanish) →
Jordi Gomara (itaca2000) · Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 3.0)'Ciudad Señora' and the Basilica of the Lord of Miracles.
Guide (Spanish) →
UnsplashMountain town, birthplace of Saint Laura Montoya and of the carriel leather bag.
Guide (Spanish) →
Kamilokardona · Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0)Stage of the Comuneros Revolt of 1781.
Guide (Spanish) →
Nesalecabs · Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0)Historic town of the Llanos, linked to the 1819 Liberation Campaign.
Guide (Spanish) →Tips
- Combine nearby towns in one route: Barichara, Girón and Socorro in Santander; Jardín and Jericó in Antioquia; Salamina and Aguadas in Caldas.
- Buy crafts directly from workshops: filigree in Mompox, hats in Aguadas, carrieles in Jericó.
- On weekdays you will find fewer visitors and better lodging prices.
- Respect the heritage: do not climb walls or mark facades, and ask before photographing people.
Frequently asked questions
Which are the Heritage Towns of Colombia?
Barichara, Girón, Socorro, Guaduas, Honda, Lorica, Mompox, Monguí, La Playa de Belén, Salamina, Aguadas, Santa Fe de Antioquia, Jardín, Jericó, Villa de Leyva, Ciénaga, Buga and Pore.
How many Heritage Towns are there in Colombia?
The Heritage Towns Tourism Network has 18 municipalities, according to the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Tourism.
Which Heritage Towns are near Bogotá?
Villa de Leyva and Monguí in Boyacá, Guaduas in Cundinamarca and Honda in Tolima are the closest options.
Which Heritage Town is the most beautiful?
It depends on your trip: Barichara and Villa de Leyva are the most visited; Mompox is also a World Heritage site; Jardín combines town life, coffee and nature.
Sources
- MinCIT: nueva reglamentación de la Red Turística de Pueblos Patrimonio (2025) ↗
- Fontur: Guía de Pueblos Patrimonio ↗
Figures checked in November 2026. Sources are in Spanish.
