ABOUT US

About Us

With over 65 years of experience, Hotel Cariongo is located in an exclusive area of Pamplona, one of the oldest colonial cities in Colombia.

Iconic and prestigious, situated across from the historic Plazuela Almeyda and overlooking the beautiful Eastern Cordillera, Hotel Cariongo offers 85 select rooms and suites, a full-service convention center, an exquisite and refined restaurant, sports and recreational areas—including a tennis court, an artificial soccer field, a pool, and pool tables—inspiring gardens, a playground, and exclusive venues for nightlife and entertainment.

Its colloquial name comes from a legend of the Chitareros, the indigenous people native to Pamplona. “During every solar eclipse, the Chitarero cacique—the tribe’s leader—would communicate with the gods during a sacred ritual. The indigenous warrior would coat his face with a thick, bright yellow liquid that bubbled up boiling from the earth, and then dust himself with gold.” Cariongo means “Gold Face.”

A testament to the Franciscan and Eudist traditions of the past, Hotel Cariongo reveals, through its rich heritage, stories of evangelization etched over the years into the beauty of the Eastern Cordillera. Today, this heritage enables new forms of ecotourism that offer both locals and visitors the charm and mystery embodied by our legendary hotel.

The Legend of Cariongo

1000 B.C.

ETYMOLOGY
The origin of the word Cariongo is rooted in the mythology of our region. More than 1,500 years before the conquest, the Chitareros, an indigenous tribe of Chibcha speakers, lived freely in the mountains of the Eastern Cordillera. Cariongo was one of the most powerful Chitarero chiefs of the Hulago, the name the indigenous people gave to the region now known as Pamplona. According to Chitarero legend, during every solar eclipse, Cariongo would dust his face with pure gold. This sacred ritual allowed the warrior leader to communicate with the gods. Cariongo means “Gold Face.”

1549

The Spaniards Pedro de Ursúa and Ortún Velasco arrived with 111 companions in the Chitarero lands in the Valley of the Mist. Motivated by the abundance of gold and acting on instructions from the Catholic Monarchs, Ferdinand and Isabella, to seek out the riches hidden in rivers and mines, the Spanish conquistadors founded the city of Pamplona and subjugated the indigenous population.

1810

On July 4, 1810, in the center of Pamplona, Águeda Gallardo, a local Creole woman, in an act of defiance against the Spanish Crown, snatched the staff of office from the governor of the New Kingdom of Granada, the Catalan Juan Bastus y Falla, and broke it with her own hands under the watchful and approving eyes of the people of Pamplona. This event sparked a popular uprising that would culminate in the Cry of Independence on July 20. Simón Bolívar later designated Pamplona a “Patriot City” in honor of Águeda Gallardo’s gesture.

1821

On October 19, 1821, the Vice President of the Republic, Francisco de Paula Santander, issued an order to dissolve religious convents. A year later, Governor Mantilla expropriated the property of Pamplona's religious communities, including the Franciscans who had lived in the San Francisco Convent, now the Hotel Cariongo.

1827

The property remained uninhabited until 1827, when the Pamplona City Council requested that the convent be restored, arguing that the buildings were falling into disrepair. However, the friars did not return.

1841

On February 17, 1841, Bishop José Jorge Estans requested that the ruined convent be restored. Two years later, following a complete restoration, the city’s first Conciliar Seminary was established on the same site where the Hotel Cariongo stands today, dedicated to the ecclesiastical training of those with a priestly vocation.

1854

A civil war broke out in the Republic of New Granada (the former name of present-day Colombia, which at that time included the province of Panama) following the coup d'état orchestrated by General José María Melo on April 17, 1854. The Conciliar Seminary of Pamplona was thrown into crisis.

1890

In 1890, Bishop Ignacio Parra requested that the priestly board send Eudist fathers from France to help the Conciliar Seminary recover from the crisis caused by the war. Thus, Fathers Enrique Rochereau, Juan Havard, Joaquín Evanno, and Luis Fafín traveled to Pamplona to lead the Conciliar Seminary.

The inquisitive spirit of the scholar Rochereau brought great achievements to the city of Pamplona. The Rochereau Museum became the region’s most prominent center for mineralogy, botany, zoology, anatomy, and cosmography.

1949

The Conciliar Seminary was relocated to the Escorial neighborhood, where it remains to this day. The building that formerly housed the Conciliar Seminary—now the Hotel Cariongo—fell into disrepair once again.

1954

During the 1954 earthquake, the walls of the abandoned Conciliar Seminary collapsed.

1955

On July 25, 1955, a group of local merchants and visionaries conceived the city's most prestigious hospitality project and founded the Sociedad Anónima Hotel de Turismo.

1958

In 1958, the former Conciliar Seminary, then in ruins, was handed over for the construction of what is now the Hotel Cariongo. The elegant building, designed by architects Juan José Yañes Rey, Luis Raúl Rodríguez, and Enrique Cuadros, broke away from Spanish colonial architectural influences to embrace the modernism of Le Corbusier, Oscar Niemeyer, and Ludwig Mies van der Rohe.

2010

Hotel Cariongo is a designated Architectural Heritage site in the city of Pamplona. Built between 1959 and 1965, it is a product of one of the country’s most significant eras, belonging to the modern architectural movement of the 1950s and 1960s, influenced by masters of the time such as Le Corbusier, Oscar Niemeyer, and Mies van der Rohe. The hotel was also built in accordance with the Pamplona Historic Center Protection Plan, which recognizes modern architecture from 1950 to 1970.

Cariongo Hotel Today

With over 70 years of experience, Hotel Cariongo is renowned for the beauty of its spaces and its excellent service. We offer 85 comfortable rooms and suites, inspiring gardens, exquisite restaurants, sports facilities—including a tennis court, a synthetic soccer field, a pool, and billiard tables—a fun lounge, and a full-service convention center with a capacity for over 1,500 people.

A cultural and architectural landmark, a testament to spirituality, and a promoter of ecotourism, Hotel Cariongo captures the mystery and charm of Colombia’s patriotic “Ciudad Mitrada.”

Built on strong historical foundations, Hotel Cariongo’s architecture reflects the revolutionary modernist movement of the 20th century, featuring elegant lines that contrast with the charm of its gardens and a panoramic view of the Eastern Cordillera.

Human Resources

On July 25, 1955, a group of local merchants conceived the city's most prestigious hospitality project. This venture became a reality four years later with the construction of Hotel Cariongo. This same commitment to excellence, combined with a clear vision of fostering long-term progress, tourism, and employment, has made Hotel Cariongo not just a great company, but a great family.

Our most valuable asset is the talent of each of our ambassadors, who work hard every day with dedication, high standards, and professionalism to provide the very best experience for visitors to the "Ciudad Mitrada."

If you live in Pamplona, share our values, and have a talent for providing excellent service, we invite you to send us your resume.

talentohumano@hotelcariongo.com

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Let us be your home away from home while you explore the cultural treasures and beautiful attractions of Pamplona. Our friendly staff will be happy to provide personalized recommendations and help you make the most of your stay. Don't wait any longer—book your stay at Hotel Cariongo now for an unparalleled experience in the vibrant city of Pamplona!

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