Where to Stay in Bucaramanga – A Guide to the Capital of Santander
Bucaramanga, known locally as “Buca”, is the fifth largest metropolitan area in Colombia and the capital of the department of Santander. It is located in eastern Colombia, the Cordillera Oriental, a branch of the Andes mountain range, on the banks of the Oro River. In this post, we will explore the best areas to stay in Bucaramanga.
Some of the main tourist attractions of Bucaramanga include the Cerro del Santísimo Ecopark, the Bucaramanga Museum of Modern Art, the Eloy Valenzuela Botanical Garden, the San Pío Park or the Kusamanes Interactive Park. See accommodation in Bucaramanga.
Founded in 1622, Bucaramanga has lost much of its colonial heritage to become one of the largest and most modern cities in Colombia. This Andean city is an excellent starting point to visit Girón, the mountains of the Eastern Andes or as a stop along the way for those traveling from Bogotá to the Caribbean Coast or Venezuela. Its pleasant climate and its growing cultural offer make Bucaramanga one of the up-and-coming destinations in Colombia. The best part is that, unlike Medellín or Cartagena, Bucaramanga is not that popular with international tourists, making it a nice place to get a taste of the real Colombian culture.
Due to its location in the Eastern Andes of Colombia, Bucaramanga has a tropical monsoon climate. The city experiences constant temperatures throughout the year (19 – 27 ºC) and frequent rainfall. Its constantly pleasant temperatures make Bucaramanga an ideal destination throughout the year. That said, the best time to visit Bucaramanga is from December to February, the driest months..
To get to Bucaramanga by air, the city is served by the Aeropuerto Internacional Palonegro. Located 19 km by road from the city center, this important Colombian airport offers domestic connections to several destinations including Medellín, Bogotá, Cúcuta, the Caribbean Coast and Cali, as well as a couple of international flights (namely to Panama City and Fort Lauderdale, FL).
Additionally, the city is very well-connected by long-distance buses with other destinations in eastern and central Colombia. See long-distance bus Routes, schedules & fares.
To move around the city, the Bucaramanga public transport system consists of a network of single-lane rapid buses called Metrolínea, regular buses (known as busetas), taxis, and mobile applications like Uber.
The best area to stay in Bucaramanga is Cabecera de Llano. This upscale area in the eastern part of the city has the highest concentration of accommodations, restaurants and nightlife venues. In addition, Cabecera and its surroundings are the safest areas to stay in Bucaramanga, especially as a foreign tourist. See accommodation in Cabecera de Llano.
Other excellent areas to consider when deciding the best location for tourists in Bucaramanga include Zona Rosa and the City Center.
Keep on reading to learn more about the best areas to stay in Bucaramanga, Colombia.
The Best Areas to Stay in Bucaramanga, Colombia
1. Recommended area: Cabecera del Llano
Cabecera del Llano is located in the east of the city of Bucaramanga.
This area is considered one of the best upper and upper-middle-class neighborhoods in Bucaramanga.
Cabecera extends approximately between Carreras 33 and 42 and streets 41 and 56, forming an irregular polyhedron next to the eastern mountains of the city.
Cabecera del Llano is the most modern area of Bucaramanga, full of residential buildings and office skyscrapers.
This area also concentrates an infinite number of leisure and food options. Some of the best bars and clubs in the city can be found here.
Most of Buca’s international hotels are in this area, which is also one of the safest neighborhoods to stay in Bucaramanga.
Why is this a recommended area to stay in Bucaramanga:
- Great nightlife
- Bars and restaurants
- Safe area to stay
Accommodation in this area
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Top Choice
Hampton By Hilton Bucaramanga
The Hampton By Hilton Bucaramanga, located in one of the most exclusive neighborhoods. It offers a fitness center, a hot tub, a Sky lobby on the 13th floor and free Wi-Fi in all areas.
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Budget
Casa de Pinos Hostal
La Casa de Pinos Hostal Sede Cabecera is located in Bucaramanga and has a garden and a terrace. The property was built in 2002 and offers free WiFi.
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Luxury
Hotel Dann Carlton Bucaramanga
The 5-star Hotel Dann Carlton is located in the most exclusive neighborhood of Bucaramanga. It offers luxury accommodation and panoramic views of the pool from the sun terrace and the rooftop pool.
2. Zona Rosa
Like other cities such as Mexico City, Bogota or Medellin, Bucaramanga has a Zona Rosa, an area of shopping and night entertainment.
Bucaramanga’s Zona Rosa is located north of Cabecera, in the eastern part of the city, on Calle 31 between Carreras 33 and 34.
Most of the nightclubs in Bucaramanga open (officially) until 2:00 or 4:00 am according to their license.
Nightclubs play all kinds of music, from electronic and reggaeton to vallenato.
Zona Rosa is connected to the rest of the city by buses.
This is the best area to stay in Bucaramanga for those who love to party.
Due to its strong police presence, Zona Rosa is also a safe area to stay in Bucaramanga.
Why is this a recommended area to stay in Bucaramanga:
- Very central
- Best area for nightlife
- Safe area to stay
Accommodation in this area
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Top Choice
Apartamento Montecarlo
Montecarlos 1204 is located in Bucaramanga, in the Santander region, and offers a terrace. Free Wi-Fi is available. The building has a sauna and an outdoor pool.
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Budget
Hotel Houston
Hotel Houston is a 10-minute walk from the Megamall Shopping Center and the Bucaramanga Modern Art Museum in Bucaramanga. It offers free WiFi and parking.
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Luxury
Hotel Buena Vista
Hotel Buena Vista offers a pool, spa, gym and rooms with free Wi-Fi and heating in Bucaramanga. Breakfast is served and there is a restaurant. The commercial area is 600 meters away.
3. Centro
Bucaramanga Centro is the city’s cradle and where some of the most representative monuments of the capital of Santander are located.
Bucaramanga was founded in 1622 and developed around what is now the García Rovira Park. Throughout the centuries, the center of the city moved towards the east, and today Santander Park is the true heart of Bucaramanga.
Much of the colonial architecture of the city has been demolished with the passage of time, being replaced by mixed-use buildings. However, some squares and corners in the Historic Center still retain part of the flavor of Bucaramanga of yesteryear.
As it is common in many Latin American cities, Downtown Bucaramanga is a busy place of commerce during the day, but at night it is not advisable to walk through its streets, particularly in dark or solitary places.
Centro’s southeastern area and the surroundings of the Bolivar Park are a bit safer, more pleasant and offer some quality accommodation options.
Why is this a recommended area to stay in Bucaramanga:
- Very central
- Best area for nightlife
- Safe area to stay
Accommodation in this area
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Top Choice
Hotel Ciudad Bonita
Hotel Ciudad Bonita, located in Bucaramanga, offers rooms with free Wi-Fi and plasma TVs. In addition, it has a swimming pool, gym and restaurant. Breakfast is served and there is free parking.
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Budget
La Pera Hotel
La Pera Hotel has a shared lounge and is located in Bucaramanga, 5 km from the center of CENFER. Nearby places of interest include the Consulate of Spain and the Municipal Institute of Culture and Tourism.
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Luxury
Hotel Internacional La Triada
This hotel is located in the commercial and financial center of Bucaramanga and offers breakfast and free parking. It has a fitness center, hot tub and Turkish bath. Hotel Internacional La Triada has rooms with free Wi-Fi.
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Dónde alojarse en Bucaramanga, Colombia
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