Chinacota: History, Feria and Excursions

Chinacota brings together a specifically dated chapter of Colombian history and local stories about historical names and buildings. It also offers the Feria Internacional de San Nicolás, as well as opportunities for hiking and rural excursions. If you are looking for a hotel in Chinacota, these different highlights can help guide your travel plans: history, a festival or outdoor activities each offer a distinct focus.

Historical connections in Chinácota

An important historical landmark is the Casa del Tratado. On November 21, 1902, the treaty that ended the Thousand Days' War—the last and most violent of Colombia's civil wars—was signed there in Chinácota.

The San Juan Bautista parish church stands in Parque Ramón González Valencia. Construction began in 1867, and the towers were completed in 1908. The park is named after the Colombian president of the same name, who settled in Chinácota and called it “the city of my affection.” The signing of the treaty falls chronologically between the start of the church's construction and the completion of its towers.

General Ramón González Valencia, who was president of Colombia in 1910, lived at Hacienda Iscalá. The Palacio Municipal, also known as Casa de la Esquina Redonda, was owned by General Protasio Conde. The town's history thus includes both a personal connection to González Valencia and a history of earlier ownership. The dates place three historical connections in chronological order: the start of the church's construction in 1867, the treaty signing in 1902 and González Valencia's presidency in 1910.

Feria Internacional de San Nicolás

A 2021 tourism description gives the second weekend of August as the annual date of the Feria Internacional de San Nicolás. The Feria includes the Festival Folclórico Campesino. If you would like to plan your trip around the festival, check the current dates with local organizers before booking.

Hiking and rural excursions

Chinácota offers opportunities for hiking and rural excursions. Nearby is the Páramo de Mejué, a water catchment area that supplies Chinácota with water; its lower section is considered suitable for hiking. This gives you two distinct geographical options to consider when planning: hikes in Chinácota and a specific option in the vicinity of the destination. The páramo is connected to Chinácota through its role in supplying water and is also identified as a hiking option.

For your travel plans, the historical sites, the Feria and outdoor activities differ mainly in their focus: the Casa del Tratado and the church's construction offer specific historical connections, the Feria provides a festival occasion with dates to check, and hiking and rural excursions turn your attention to activities.

Discover more destinations: Villa del Rosario, Convencion, Ocana, Cúcuta, Pamplona

Go to the main travel overview: Norte De Santander.