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Municipality in Caribbean, Colombia
Photo: Jdvillalobos, CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Ciénaga is a mid-size port city on the Caribbean coast of Colombia. With a population of 110,000 (2020), it is the second largest city in Magdalena Department. The city is a popular stopover point for travelers en route between Barranquilla and Santa Marta.
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Zocalo
Bright, open town square with benches, shade trees and lots of iguanas roaming around.
Huge swamp, lagoon, and soggy marsh areas that make up the outer delta of the Magdalena River. It is a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve and a RAMSAR wetland and comprises 26,810 hectares of mostly water with a thin strip of barrier island separating the lagoon from the Caribbean Sea.
The island and its parkway are a Colombian national park protecting the barrier island and swamps of Cienaga Grande. Excellent birdwatching spots, beach access points, nature trails through mangrove swamps and access to boat docks with tours available.
Long, wide beach. Lots of palapa bars and restaurants. Good place to chill with a drink and watch the sunset.
January 20 marks the day that little Tomasina, a local girl, supposedly was eaten by a crocodile. Her sister went home and told her parents, who went out and tracked the beast down, killed it, and paraded its dead body through the town.
Buitrago Festival
Annual guitar festival to commemorate vallenato master Guillermo Buitrago. Musicians compete for awards in different categories while local and national artists perform for the crowds.
Traditional Colombian cuisine with an emphasis on seafood (the snapper is recommended, as is the steak).
Upscale restaurant with a wide range of seafood dishes with large portions and reasonable prices. Seafood casuela is a specialty here. The shrimp and rice dishes are always tasty.
Caribbean regional seafood at affordable prices.
Beachfront hotel with clean, comfortable rooms with good A/C and rock-bottom prices. Great option for the budget traveler.
Upscale hotel in a restored 1910-era home. Very clean, comfortable, air-conditioned, spacious rooms with period decor. 2-blocks to town square.
Basic budget hotel but clean and comfortable with good service and central location. No parking lot.
From Barranquilla, it is 2 hours by bus to Cienega. Expreso Brasilia has buses departing at least hourly throughout the day. Prices start at COP$20,000 (June 2023).
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Santa Marta · Regional · SMR
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