Mompox, Colombia
Some Tips, Hints and Advice for the Garciamarquian heartland
In the centre of the colonial heartland of Colombia lies perhaps the key to the second wave of tourist attractions in this South American nation.
Colombia´s rampant tourism growth over the past four years is heralding something unprecedented. Backpackers and visitors to this South American wonderland are now looking for the second wave of places to visit.
Bogota, Cartagena, Medellin and the beaches of Santa Marta and Tayrona will forever occupy the top spots in terms of visitor numbers but there are smaller lesser known, and no less important gems that are being uncovered as new travellers blaze the trail forward.
Mompox (sometimes spelt Mompos), deep in the Bolivar Department, recognised as a Caribbean coastal region by Colombians despite being 3 hours from the nearest coast, is one of the second wave of tourist destinations in Colombia.
Semana Santa Celebrations
Famed for its Semana Santa celebrations which are both austere and impressive, the town spends the whole year gearing up for their one “temporada alta” in which citizens aim to earn enough money and settle back to a life of troublesome existence for the remaining 11 and a half months. Outside of Semana Santa there are few activities but the visitor should be more than satisfied with spending a couple of days wandering through the ornate and whitewashed colonial streets that hark to a time past.
Mompox is a colonial relic that played a major role in the Independence of Gran Colombia from Spain and hosted the liberator of northern South America, Simon Bolivar on many occasions. HIs Masonic roots sat well with many of the wealthy and notable families of Mompox and he was able to raise numbers of willing men ready to fight and die for the cause.
Aside from colonial wonders, Mompox is place of tranquillity on an island in the middle of the Magdalena River. The bird species are abundant and howler monkeys make their home in the trees along the Albarrada (the street that runs along the Magdalena).
Getting Here
The route from Cartagena is fairly straightforward. Unitransco has a service that takes 8 hours.
To and from Barranquilla there is the direct daily Unitransco bus or the option of catching the Brasilia to Magangue and then from there a chalupa (motorised canoe) to Bodega and a taxi to Mompox. You are recommended against taking the Torcoroma bus which is slow, dirty and dangerous.
From Bogota requires more patience and oodles of tolerance. Omega, Copetrans and other companies run daily buses to El Banco. This journey takes 14+ hours and then afterwards you will need to head to the market in El Banco and catch a 4x4 two and half hours over a dreadful road to Mompox.
