August is the time to see Norte de Santander through new eyes: experiences that go beyond the destination

That is why, this August, we want to suggest a different way to explore our region: don't just think about the places on your bucket list, but about everything you can discover when you pay attention to the details.

Because traveling is also about learning about history, tasting new flavors, walking down a street, listening to the locals, and understanding what makes a place special.

Pamplona: A City Best Explored on Foot

Pamplona has one of those qualities that makes historic destinations so special: you only need to walk down a few of its streets to find different eras coexisting in the same place.

Its architecture, plazas, churches, and traditional buildings are part of a city that has played an important role in Colombia's history. But to reduce Pamplona solely to its past would be to overlook a significant part of what it represents today.

The city continues to have a life of its own, evident in its streets, cafes, restaurants, cultural spaces, and the people who live there.

One of the best ways to get to know it is to walk through it. Not necessarily by following a perfectly planned route, but by allowing yourself to take in whatever you come across along the way.

An old facade can catch your eye. A plaza can be the perfect place to sit for a moment. A small shop might have a traditional product you’ve never tried before. Even a casual conversation can end up becoming one of those memories that stay with you long after the trip is over.

Pamplona is also a university and cultural city, so its atmosphere is constantly changing. There is a sense of vitality, social interaction, and different generations sharing the same spaces.

For those who come to explore it, Hotel Cariongo can be the perfect blend of comfort and destination: a place from which to begin exploring the city, enjoying its cuisine, and discovering everything that defines its identity.

Chinácota: a destination with its own personality

While Pamplona may win you over with its history and architecture, Chinácota has a different character.

Its climate, landscapes, and atmosphere have made this town one of the favorite destinations for those looking to experience another side of Norte de Santander.

But Chinácota is much more than just a weekend getaway. It is a town that can be enjoyed in many different ways.

It’s in its streets, its traditional spaces, its surroundings, its cuisine, and the plans you can make for your visit.

Part of its charm lies precisely in the ability to combine different activities. You can start with a tour of the town, continue with a special meal, visit one of its attractions, and end the day enjoying a conversation in a cozy spot.

It is also a destination that allows you to get closer to nature and see how the landscape changes as you move away from the town center.

For those looking to explore this part of the department, Hotel Cariongo Chinácota offers a new lodging option, allowing you to experience the destination from a space designed for comfort.

Gastronomy tells stories, too

To talk about a destination without mentioning its food would be to leave out one of the most interesting ways to get to know it.

Gastronomy is about more than just eating. It reflects customs, the ingredients available in a region, recipes passed down through generations, and the ways people gather around a table.

That is why, when we visit a different town, it is worth making food a part of the experience.

Tasting a traditional dish can tell us much more about a region than we might imagine. It can also be an opportunity to discover dishes that aren't part of our daily routine and to discover new flavors.

In Pamplona, gastronomy is an important part of the experience of getting to know the city. From traditional products to contemporary offerings, there are many ways to explore its flavors.

At Hotel Cariongo, the Chitarero restaurant is also part of this experience. Its culinary offerings let you enjoy a great meal without having to leave the hotel, giving you yet another reason to enjoy your visit.

Because there are trips we remember for the places we photographed, but there are also others we remember for what we ate.

History is in the details

When we think of history, we often picture major events, important figures, or dates we learned in school.

But history can also be found in much more everyday places.

It is in an old house that still retains its original structure. In a town square that has been a gathering place for generations. In a church that is part of the community's collective memory. In a recipe that continues to be prepared the same way.

Pamplona is particularly interesting from this perspective.

A walk through its historic center offers a glimpse into an important part of regional and national history, while also showing how that history remains a part of the city today.

You don't need to be an expert in architecture or history to enjoy it. You just need to look.

Stopping in front of a building's facade, examining the materials, noticing architectural details, or wondering what stories have unfolded behind those walls can completely transform the way you explore a city.

And for a destination with such a rich history, every walk can become a mini-lesson that takes place not in a classroom, but right on the streets.

Landscapes are also part of the experience

Norte de Santander's geography allows you to travel from cities with a strong historical identity to municipalities surrounded by nature and featuring completely different landscapes.

Chinácota is a great example of that variety.

Its surroundings offer settings that allow you to enjoy the landscape and understand why this municipality has been an attractive destination for years, both for residents of the department and for visitors from other regions.

Sometimes, all it takes is changing your usual route to see a different view.

And that variety is precisely one of the great appeals of traveling within our own region: we don't need to travel hundreds of kilometers to discover new landscapes.

There are places that are much closer than we think, and yet we have yet to discover them.

Not everything has to be planned

One of the advantages of visiting nearby destinations is that you have more freedom to explore them. Not everything has to be planned in advance. Some of the best experiences happen when we leave room for spontaneity.

Maybe the plan was simply to walk through the city center, and we ended up going into a restaurant we didn't know. Maybe we wanted to visit a specific place, and along the way we found a building that caught our attention. Maybe an unexpected recommendation ended up becoming the best part of the day. Those kinds of moments are also part of traveling. It doesn't mean improvising everything, but rather giving the destination a chance to surprise us.

A region worth getting to know from the inside

Sometimes we think that to have different experiences, we need to travel very far.

We plan international trips, look for new cities, and make lists of places we want to visit someday, while putting off those that are much closer to home.

But getting to know our own region can also be an enriching experience.

Norte de Santander is home to municipalities with unique histories, diverse landscapes, distinct traditions, and a culinary scene that is well worth discovering.

Pamplona and Chinácota are two examples of that richness. Two nearby destinations, yet with completely different personalities.

One invites you to discover history through its streets and architecture. The other allows you to connect with landscapes, cuisine, and experiences that unfold at their own pace.

And the best part is that both can fit into any kind of trip: a family visit, a couples' getaway, an outing with friends, or simply a few days to explore a place we may have heard about for a long time.

This August, change the way you travel

Perhaps we don't need to look for a brand-new destination. Perhaps we just need to return to a familiar one and see it in a new light.

Visit a museum you've never been to before. Ask about the history of a building. Try a different dish. Walk down a street you usually drive through. Talk to a local. Discover a landscape that wasn't on the itinerary.

These are small decisions that can turn an ordinary visit into a much more meaningful experience.

This August, Hotel Cariongo invites you to see Norte de Santander through a new lens.

To discover that behind every destination lie stories, flavors, people, and traditions waiting to be discovered.

To remember that traveling doesn't always mean covering great distances. It can also mean getting a little closer to what's already right here.

Pamplona and Chinácota have so much to share, and every visitor can find a different way to experience them. From Hotel Cariongo in Pamplona and in Chinácota, we want to be part of those stories and offer a place from which to begin discovering them.

Because getting to know a destination isn't just about arriving.

It’s about looking, tasting, walking, asking questions, being surprised, and letting the place show us what doesn’t appear in any photograph.

And perhaps that is the best reason to rediscover what we thought we already knew.

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