What to do in Popayan?
Located in the South-west of Colombia at an altitude of 1,760 m.a.s.l., Popayan has a population of around 260,000 residents and an average temperature of 18 degree centigrades (aprox. 65 Fahrenheit)
It is also known as “The White City” of Colombia due to the white color of its buildings which were painted that way since the early 1900’s.
Popayan is a small but charming city, particularly for its beautiful downtown colonial architecture. This is the area where you will find iconic houses of very important families that were some of the political leaders of that time. Popayan is full of history as it was one of the most important cities during the formation of the country, so much that 17 Colombian presidents were born here.
The downtown of the city is very walkable and the surrounding areas are full of green parks to visit. From Popayan is very easy to visit nearby towns such as Silvia, and beautiful natural locations such as Purace Natural Park where we can find Purace Volcano.
In this blog post we go over the things to do in Popayan’s downtown area and below you can see a map that you can use as a guide.
PARQUE CALDAS (Main square): It is the main “park” of the city, which is more like a city-square. Built in 1537, it contains in its center the statue of Francisco Jose de Caldas, who was one of the most important personalities during the period of independence. You can start your walk from this location. Around the square you’ll find very important buildings, including the city’s tourism office where you can find information of the area and even sign up for a free walking tour of the center of the city. These tours are provided by the group called “Get Up and Go Colombia”. This organization helps promote tourism of areas that had been affected by violence and the tours are in English or Spanish.
TORRE DEL RELOJ (Clock Tower): Known by some as “the nose of the city” due to being the tallest building in Popayan for many years. It is located right in front of Parque Caldas and one of the most important buildings of the city. The clock has only one arm; giving birth to a saying that in Popayan time doesn’t run. Also, there is something particular about the numbers on the clock, so when you’re there, try to figure it out! Just a little homework. Once you discover it, ask a local about it and start some conversation! Next to it you can see the church Nuestra Señora de la Asunción.
RINCON PAYANES OR PUEBLITO PATOJO: Here you will see a replica of Popayan and its main buildings. There are some restaurants as well as arts and crafts stores where you can buy really nice souvenirs and local food. It is located next to Cerro el Tulcan.
CERRO EL TULCAN: It may look like a naturally made mountain but it is actually man-made. It is a pre-colombian monument, in the form of a pyramid built by the local Indian tribes between 500 and 1600 A.C. In 1937 the statue of Sebastian de Belalcazar, the liberator of the city was erected. Here you can enjoy some of the most beautiful sunsets overlooking Popayan so make sure to visit during the afternoon.
NATIONAL MUSEUM GUILLERMO LEÓN VALENCIA: It is named after the 21st president of Colombia, and it is the house where he lived. Visiting this museum is like traveling in time, it is full of personal and family objects, as well as pieces of art; all the while giving you a sense of how some families lived around that time.
SAN FRANCISCO CHURCH: This church has been declared National Heritage site due to its classic Baroque architecture. It holds one of the biggest bells in all of the Americas, and it is made out of Bronze and Gold.
CAPILLA BELEN (Belen Chapel): Built in 1681 and situated on a hill carrying the same name, giving you a beautiful view of the city as well. You can get there by car or walking along a set of stairs that depict the stages of the Passion of Christ (it should take around 10-15 minutes to go up).
LA ERMITA CHURCH: This is the oldest church in Popayan, built in the 17th century and celebrated for its main altar.
SAN AGUSTIN CHURCH: One more temple in the city (yes, Popayan is full of them, it is a very religious city after all!) The temple has a two-headed eagle encrusted with emeralds. Built after the earthquake of 1736.
Make sure you also pass by or visit San Jose and Santo Domingo Church (see pictures below).
PUENTE HUMILLADERO: Which means “Humiliation Bridge”. Built in 1873 and composed of 12 arches, with the 2 middle ones being bigger than the others. There are several theories regarding the name of this bridge, the most mentioned talks about how difficult it was to access the city due to the steep walk, where people would almost go on their knees from being so tiring, hence the “humiliation bridge” name. Definitely one of the must-visit places in the city.
MOSQUERA MUSEUM HOUSE: This is where Tomas Cipriano de Mosquera lived. He was a 4-term president of Colombia very well remembered by Colombians. The house serves as an academic campus for the Universidad del Cauca (Cauca University), and you can also find pieces of art for exhibition.
GUILLERMO VALENCIA THEATER: Construction of this theater started in 1892 and was finished in 1927. The theater hosts many cultural events, so make sure to check their website. Also, just taking some photographs from outside is definitely worth it.
PANTEON DE LOS PROCERES (HEROES’S PANTHEON): Located adjacent to Teatro Municipal Guillermo Valencia, this is where the ashes for the main leaders who helped build the Republic of Colombia are held.
With this guide you’ll discover some of the more relevant places in Popayan. If you have more time, remember there are many more things to do in this city or on its surroundings such as visitings the Purace Natural Park and the Purace Volcano. We have a great guide to go to this volcano, so CLICK HERE to check it out.
Lastly, below we have written down some recommendations for lodging for people in any budget, and some other places we love to visit while in Popayan.
Where to stay in Popayán?:
Budget: Les Balcons Hostel. This Hostel is perfectly located in the center of Popayan, it features a modern and welcoming decoration and the service they provide is really top notch.
Medium budget: San Jeronimo Hotel. Very well located close to Parque Caldas, offering a perfect balance between price and service. Good option for families.
Higher Budget: Monasterio Hotel. One of the most recognized hotels in Popayan, very well located in the center of the city.
Do not miss these:
If you go during Holy Week, make sure to watch some of the “Procesiones”, which are the religious parades where the participants carrying the statues are earned this role by inheriting it from generations before them, becoming a family tradition.
In September, the city celebrates “The National Gastronomic Congress” where almost 30,000 people congregate to taste some of the delicious food. It was started in 2003 and its popularity grows every year.
One of the local foods to try are the “Aplanchados de Doña Chepa”, they are small sweet pastries that are difficult to stop eating. You’ve been warned.
Carantanta is a very local food item, difficult to find anywhere else in Colombia. We recommend visiting a local restaurant such as Carantanta Terraplaza, where you’ll find this delicious and crunchy treat, along with other typical dishes. It’s a great location for families and to watch the sunset in the afternoon with a Coconut Lemonade of course.
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We hope you visit Cali and Colombia soon!
Love,
Seb & Clau