Cúcuta
Colombia · Americas
About Cúcuta
Cúcuta, officially San José de Cúcuta, is a Colombian municipality, capital of the department of Norte de Santander and nucleus of the Metropolitan Area of Cúcuta. The city is located in the homonymous valley, beneath the Eastern Ranges of the Colombian Andes, on the border with Venezuela.
Cúcuta comprises an area of approximately 1119 km2, with an urban area of 64 km2 (divided into 10 communes) and a rural area of 1055 km2 (divided into 10 townships). The city has a population of 777,106 inhabitants, which makes it the most populous municipality in the department and the sixth most populous municipality in the country. Similarly, its metropolitan area (made up of the municipalities of Villa del Rosario, Los Patios, El Zulia, San Cayetano and Puerto Santander) has an approximate population of 1,046,347.
The city was founded as a parish on June 17, 1733, by Juana Rangel de Cuéllar, a resident of Pamplona, under the name San José de Guasimales, as part of an initiative of the white and mestizo locals to separate themselves from the "Indian Village of Cúcuta" (currently San Luis Quarter). The name was later changed to San José de Cúcuta, a Hispanicization of "Kuku-ta", in honor of the indigenous people of the region. From its foundation in the 18th century and throughout the Spanish viceroyalty, the parish was consolidated as one of the most important settlements of the Colombian East and Spanish America, receiving in 1792 the title of "Very Noble, Valiant and Loyal Village" from King Charles IV of Spain.
The city is the political, economic, industrial, artistic, cultural, sports and tourist center of Norte de Santander. Together with the Venezuelan city of San Cristóbal, it is the most important urban settlement on the Colombian–Venezuelan border, owing to its trade and its role in the consolidation of the modern states of Colombia and Venezuela and their diplomatic relations. It hosted the Battle of Cúcuta of 1813 and the Congress of Cúcuta of 1821 in Villa del Rosario, and in more recent times the signing of the 1941 Treaty of Limits between Colombia and Venezuela, the 1959 Treaty of Tonchalá, and the charity concerts Peace Without Borders (2008) and Venezuela Aid Live (2019). It also played a significant role during Colombian immigration to Venezuela and has more recently become one of the most important transit points of the Venezuelan migration crisis.
As the capital of Norte de Santander, Cúcuta houses the main governmental bodies of departmental order such as the Government of Norte de Santander, the Assembly of Norte de Santander, the Superior Court of the Judicial District of Cúcuta, the Administrative Court of Norte de Santander, the regional branches of the Superior Council of the Judiciary and the Office of the Inspector General of Colombia. Cúcuta is connected by road with Bogotá, Bucaramanga, Valledupar, and Cartagena de Indias and, by its border location, with Venezuela. It has an air terminal, the Camilo Daza International Airport, and a ground terminal, the Central de Transportes de Cúcuta.
Its flagship university is the Francisco de Paula Santander University, one of the most important universities in eastern Colombia. It also has the presence of other universities of local and national renown, such as the University of Pamplona, the FESC, the Free University of Colombia, the Simón Bolivar University, the University of Santander, and the Saint Thomas University, among others.
Cúcuta travel guide
Understand
Cúcuta is the capital of Norte de Santander, home of 1 million people (all of the metropolitan area). It's a major commercial hub in the northeastern Colombia, playing a significant role in trade between Colombia and Venezuela. Cúcuta is in the northeast, 580 km to the north of the capital Bogotá. The area of the city is 1.176 km².
Getting there
By plane 1 Camilo Daza airport (CUC IATA). A domestic airportwith flights to Bogotá, Medellín and other Colombian cities. Avianca has a non-stop flight to Medellín - Rionegro International airport. ADA, the low-cost carrier EasyFly and LATAM fly to the local airport in Medellín (Olaya Herrera). Cúcuta can be reached also by the neighboring airport of San Antonio (Venezuela). It is usual the arrival of passengers in transit to San Antonio, Venezuela.
By bus Cúcuta is connected by national highways with Bogotá (14 hours, COP$80,000) and Caracas (16 hours) in Venezuela.
2 Central bus terminal (Terminal o Central de Transporte de Cúcuta), Avenida 7. (updated Jun 2020)
Getting around
The city of Cúcuta is built on a grid system. The calles (also streets) cross the Avenidas (also Avenues) and run from East to West. Calles are abbreviated as C, Cll and Cl. Avenidas, abbreviated as Av, are usually larger and main streets. The numerical system for the Avenidas is used but some have names that are more commonly used such as Avenida Libertadores or Avenida de Los Faroles. Each address consists of a series of numbers, for example: Av. 4 #12-24. This indicates that the building on Av. 4 is 24 meters from the corner. The city's avenues are numbered both east to west and west to east, starting from a central avenue numbered 0 (Avenida Cero). Like in the example, the letter E is added to avenues numbered west to east, as to denote East (Este).
By bus There are many public and private transportation companies that offer bus services and cover almost all of the metropolitan area (Villa del Rosario, Los Patios and El Zulia). It's a cheap way (ticket costs around US$0.45, but it will cost more depending on the bus, the route and the day) to travel around Cúcuta. Buses may be overcrowded, lack air conditioning and could be traveling very fast to try to outdo those from the competing lines that covers the same route. Beware.
By taxi This is by far the best way to travel around if you don't mind spending a bit more for transportation. The cabs here may take you to anywhere you want. Expect to find a fleet of small but newer vehicles that are typically not more than 3–5 years old. Driving in Cucuta can be a challenge, as it is very crowded. It can be exciting to watch the private cars, taxi and lots of motorcycles vie for the limited road space.
By bicycle A ride on Cúcuta's modern Ciclo-Vía is a very exciting and healthy way to get to know the city and get closer to the people. There are rules that must be followed: helmet must be worn when riding, also a reflective vest must be worn. The bicycle must have reflective panels in the wheels and back. The Av. Libertadores (the largest and most important of the city) is closed to use it as Ciclo-Vía on Sundays (8AM-1PM)
See
1 House of Francisco de Paula Santander (Casa de Santander) (1 km International Freeway to Venezuela). Francisco de Paula Santander is hero of the independence of Colombia and his house is located in Villa del Rosario (a municipality member of the Metropolitan Area of Cúcuta). There you can visit the Historic Church that was the principal seat of the Congress of Great Colombia (a federation of Colombia, Panama, Venezuela and Ecuador). 2 Cathedral of Cúcuta. Santander Park Municipal Park Colon Park 3 Templo Histórico de Cúcuta. 4 Biblioteca Pública Julio Pérez Ferrero. 5 Casa de la Cultura (Torre del Reloj).
Do
The Malecon In the Av. Libertadores there are ample green zones and platforms that allow their visitors to walk and to contemplate the own nature of the Pamplonita River; this proximity to the shore has allowed that the custom has named it “Malecon” becoming a site of recreation par excellence. It runs from the San Rafael bridge in the south of the city to Arnulfo Briceño Square, where there's a beautiful metallic sculpture called “Musical Mirror” as well as a skating track and children's park.
Buy
Shopping malls Unicentro. Unicentro is the most important shopping mall in Colombia. There are five sedes located at Bogotá, Medellín, Cali, City of Panama and Cúcuta). More than 48,000 m² of commerce, 110 stores, Center of foods, Bingo and casino, Supermarket Carrefour, Open spaces and green zones. Ventura Plaza This is the biggest shopping center of Cúcuta. It is in the heart of the city and close to the Casino International Hotel. (Diagonal Santander between tenth and eleventh street). Vivero Almacenes Vivero was creaed in 1969 as a T-shirt store, but now is one of the most important malls in Colombia. Av. Demetrio Mendoza, Diagonal Santander. +57 5766108 Gran Boulevard It is one of the most traditional mall of Cùcuta, in the Av. 0 (unique in the world). It has a building of apartments. There you can get computers, shoes, clothes and visit an excellent bar called "La Micro". The main office of Movistar Colombia for Cúcuta is there. Plaza de Los Andes
Eat
Fast food Kokoriko Av. 0 Calle 8 Esquina Tel. 5722822 Presto Av. Los Libertadores # 3-08 +57 577 5596 / 577 4949 Los Carritos Av. 0 # 15-71 +57 5710097 Los Carritos Av. Los Faroles # 9E - 51 +57 5741506 Juan K Av. 3E #1-218 La Ceiba +57 5779113 / 5779114
Restaurants Restaurante Rodizio Malecon II Etapa La Riviera +57 5739029 / 5751719 Pinchos & Asados (Rodizio) +57 5739039 Restaurante El Corral +57 5745701 / 5773152 Mangos Av. Libertadores #7-22 +57 5752648 Restaurante La Gran Muralla Av. Libertadores #10-84 Malecon +57 5753946 / 5755156 / 5755069
Drink & nightlife
Local coffee is excellent. Aguardiente is a must for all tourists. It can be found at all cafes and bars. Restaurante Ochoa, Villa del Rosario. Next to Casa de Santander
Sleep
1 Hotel Casablanca, Avenida 6ta #No. 14-55, ☏ +57 7 5821600, fax: +57 7 5722993. (updated Jan 2017) 2 Hotel Tonchala, +57 7 5756444. (updated Jan 2017) Hotel Quinta Avenida Hotel Villa Antigua. (on the highway to Venezuela). Hotel Arizona Av 0 # 7-67 Hotel Bolivar Av. Demetrio Mendoza 3 Hotel Casino Internaciona, Cl. 11 #2E-75. (updated Jan 2017) Hotel Acora Calle 10 #2-75 Hotel Acuaris Calle 5 # 3-37 Hotel Amaruc Av. 5 # 9-73 Hotel Chucarima Calle 7 # 2-30 Hotel Exelsior Av 3 # 9-65 Hotel Lord Av. 7 3 10-58 Hotel Luxor Calle 10 # 2-66 Hotel Victoria Plaza Calle 8 # 2-98 Hotel Paraiso Calle 10 # 5-84 Hotel Conquistador Av 11 E. Frente al Parque Simón Bolívar, Colsag. Hotel La Paz Calle 6 Av 3 y 4 Hotel Cacique Av 7 calle 9 y 10 Hotel El Samán (Prosocial) Autopista Internacional, en Villa del Rosario
Overview adapted from Wikipedia, travel guide fromWikivoyage (CC BY-SA)。Photography via Wikimedia Commons.