25 sitios turisticos para visitar en popayan

If you love to explore the world and delve into fascinating historical and colonial sites, Popayán in Colombia is a must-visit destination. This city is rich with many incredible stories and stunning ancient architecture that will truly captivate you. Known as Ciudad Blanca (White City), Popayán is renowned for its beautiful white colonial buildings, which add to the charm of the city. This city is known for the best conservation and preservation of colonial sites in America. Let's together uncover the remarkable and historic locations that helped Popayán become notable tourist sites and assist you in having some unforgettable experiences. 

25 Major Tourist Sites to Visit in Popayán 2025:

1. St. Augustine Church—An earthquake in 1736 destroyed a temple, paving the way for the construction of the St. Augustine Church. The church is renowned for many things, such as being the guardian of a two-headed eagle sculpture manufactured in 1673. It also contains admiring silver-plated sculptures of the Lady of Sorrows and Lord of Forgiveness.
2. The Clock Tower—The tower that was destroyed in the 1983 earthquake was repaired without disturbing the structure's form, i.e., without moving a single piece of 90,000 bricks that was the foundation of the structure. The amazing fact about the clock is that the number 4 is illustrated as IIII instead of a common Roman number form of IV. The clock tower is often called "the nose of Papayan", and it also maintains a one-handed clock donated by the city priest in 1737.
3. Francisco José de Caldas House—This was the residence of the renowned Francisco José de Caldas, a notable scientist, geographer, and hero of independence from Popayan until 1806. His house was declared a national monument in 1944 and became a public museum in 1985. This Francisco José de Caldas museum showcases the life and work of Francisco José de Caldas and is thus dedicated to his memory.
4. Boiling Water Hot Springs—This hot spring in Coconuco offers a relaxing and fuss-free atmosphere. Several pools for bathing, which can accommodate around 30 visitors, are being maintained by the Coconuco Indigenous Council in this boiling water hot spring.  A children's eco-park, which is maintained by the community, can be located near the hot spring.
5. The Bridge of Humiliation- This bridge is named Humiliation as it has a drastic history where hundreds of slaves were bought by the colonial rulers before they were sold to their new owners. Tough with the dire past, the bridge is pretty and provides a pleasant view of the craft stalls. Old ruins of the place can also be seen from the bridge, and thus, it is an interesting site that provides a lovely walk with exhausting local history.
6. Citylandia—Popayan introduces a new concept of childhood fun for children with the opening of Citylandia. It is a one-hour-long gaming zone for kids, which helps to strengthen a comprehensive childhood psychomotor system by providing a space for child recreation and play stations that are specially designed for early stimulation and stimulating senses by increasing the world of colours. Here, kids play along with other children, thus assisting in developing an ability to socialise with others.
7. Princelandia- Whether a child or an adult, it is the perfect place for girls who fantasise about being princesses. Princelandia fulfils the dream of being a princess for a whole day in this one to two hour-long child spa. Here, everything from makeup to nail paint, along with hairdressing, a world is created to suit a small house. A friendly staff is provided to you where you can stay and feel the joy of being treated like a princess.
8. Parque Caldas—Founded in 1537, Parque Caldas is an amazing old park and the heart of the historic town located in the centre of the colonial part of Popayan. The park was renamed Parque Caldas after Francisco José de Caldas, one of the Popayan heroes who participated in the independence struggle. The place initially served as a market hub of the city, but along with the growth of the town and its wealth, it gained more and more importance.  You can have a nice walk, either during the day or night, in the park. It has a stunning view, and it maintains ancient and beautiful trees, giant and colourful flowers, and mushrooms, along with the water drops hanging onto the trees.
9. Museo Arquidiocesano de Arte Religioso—This prominent museum has an excellent collection of art from the colonial period. Many of the paintings are religious, representing the time of the Quito school. Major attractions of the museum include the restored religious figures of distinctive size, lovingly made by the local artisans.
10. Centro Historico de Popayan—In recent years, the historical centre of Popayan has started to attract tourists. It and its surroundings offer many activities for visitors by maintaining lively nature walks, fabulous bird-watching sites, mud springs, volcano hikes, a coffee farm, an indigenous town, and a great marketplace. It also organises many festivals and events all around the year and is renowned for its traditional gourmet cuisines, which do have a food festival each year.
11. Puracé National Natural Park—A tour of Puracé National Natural Park, which lies more than 3,400 above sea level, can be a thrilling experience. A volcanic area that was declared a biosphere reserve by UNESCO in 1979 has maintained beautiful and stunning landscapes with a unique avifauna of the páramo range, Valley of frailejones, viewpoint to the lagoon of Andulbio, and Waterfall of Bedón. It is a lifeline of Columbia as it provides a home to major Columbian rivers, like Magdalena, Cauca, Caquetá, and Patía, along with more than 30 calm and clear lagoons.
12. Tierradentro Archaeological Park in Popayán- It provides a comprehensive visit for history and archaeology enthusiasts. Here, you can explore the magnificent landscapes of the Cauca region, discover the fascinating story of archaeological sites, and delve into the scrumptious cuisine of the town of Inza. In short, with the help of this tour, you can have a unique and immersive experience of exploring unconventional stories and sites, which will leave you with lasting memories and a deeper connection to the culture and past of the town.
13. Museo Negret- An amazing colonial-style museum with the majority of intrinsic artwork of modern or contemporary nature. It is named after local but renowned world artist Negret. It has a great collection of his sculptures, colonial-period family pieces, and an impressive collection of work from other notable Columbian and internationally known artists. Museo Negret also exhibits some of Negret's personal belongings, such as his father's military decorations,  old books, beautiful old furniture, and old family photos.
14. Morro de Tulcán- Morro de Tulcan is an artificial hilly area located on the outskirts of Popayan. It provides you with an astonishing view of Popayan City. At the foot of the hill, you can shop at the small market area and enjoy your weekend with live music concerts at the theatre. It would take you around 15 minutes to climb the hill and have a panoramic view of the city. The top of the hill even contains the statue of the founder, and at other walkable places, you can find the murals of indigenous peoples.
15. Guillermo Leon Valencia Museum—This museum is dedicated to the great imminent Guillermo Leon Valencia, a poet, writer, politician, and president of Columbia from 1962 to 1966. The museum's exhibition includes paintings and 18th-century objects. It also provides a nice sight of a historical bridge of humiliation.
16. Museum of Historia Natural—This is a beautiful museum and one of the major tourist attractions. It is located in the University of Cauca and exhibits many stuffed animals, archaeological objects, stones, and minerals. By exploring this museum, you can learn a lot about nature and the city.
17. Local market Silvia- A weekly market held every Tuesday is a must-visit market in Popayan. Every week, locals, along with people from the surrounding villages, gather here and sell their vegetables, meat, fruits, and other goods. It is a colourful and lively market that is loved by shopaholics more.
18. The underground temples of Tierradentro- You can reach the underground temples of Tierradentro within 3 hour's drive from Popayan. Here, you can scout into many underground tombs. It is generally said that the tombs dated between 600 and 900 AD belong to important chieftains and priests of the town.
19. Iglesia de San Francisco—This is the largest colonial church and was opened during prayer times. It has a beautiful interior and a yellow and grey exterior that contrasts with the white adjournment buildings. It was reconstructed after a devastating earthquake in 1983. It has a beautiful and large collection of religious art.
20. Teatro Municipal Guillermo Valencia—This theatre, inaugurated in 1927 and declared a major national monument, provides a main hub and stage for the culture of Cauca. The exterior of the building stands out among its surroundings by being more fascinating, with two different shades of green and plaster statues on its roof, and the interior is modern and comfortable for every visitor.
21. Cathedral Basilica of Our Lady of the Assumption- The church was rebuilt after the 1983 earthquake but still maintains all the antique images from the colonial period. The earthquake hit on a holy Thursday when a flock of people were inside the cathedral to celebrate the occasion and thus killed scores of people. This neoclassic-style building is a sacred place for Catholics and a major part of the skyline of downtown Popayan.
22. Pueblito Patojo—Pueblito Patojo is located near Morro Hills and showcases a miniature village built on a replica of the city of Popayan. It represents some cute versions of places to visit in Popayan. You can visit some of Popayan's historical landmark locations at the same time. Additionally, you can buy some hand-made souvenirs while enjoying the flavour of the local food.
23. Cerro de Las Tres Cruces—This is a perfect 1-2 hour hiking option for those who want to enjoy a great adventure in Popayan. It provides a stunning view of the city and is a nice place for bird-watching. You can also explore and shop in the local stalls, which offer a variety of vegetables, fruits, and souvenirs.
24. Zoologico de Cali- It is a clean and well-maintained zoo with a range of wildlife to explore. It is one of the few AZA-accredited zoos in South America, where you will take around 4 hours to fully explore the nature, animals, and various other sites maintained by the zoo authority. While roaming around, you have to keep your eyes open for large wild iguanas, which aren't part of the zoo.
25. Bosque El Descanso- Eco-tourism lovers and those who are passionate about green mountains would love to visit Bosque El Descanso. You can experience an adventure walk between waterfalls and the ecological trails, hiking, swimming, and enjoying tranquil nature, which would be a joyous feeling for you and your loved ones. After an exciting and tiring river trekking, you can even enjoy a wonderful and relaxing massage in the caves.

FAQ'S:

Where to go for a walk in Popayán?

Popayan is a great place to look at colonial-period art and architecture. It also provides a myriad of places to walk around and experience the epic scenery of the town, which includes The Bridge of Humiliation, Parque Caldas, and Morro de Tulcán, among others.

 

What are the different types of tourist attractions in Popayán?

Popayan has various sorts of sites that help to attract thousands of tourists from all over the world. A major category of attractions includes Museums, hot springs, bridges, churches, temples, gaming zones, local markets, zoos and parks.

 

What is the best area of ​​Popayán?

Popayan, which is also known for its white colonial structure, has many amazing sites and areas, but the major ones include the Bridge of Humiliation, zoological de Cali, Teatro Municipal Guillermo Valencia, and Puracé National Natural Park.

 

What to do at night in Popayán?

Popayan is famous for its day time as well as night out activities. You can enjoy and experience the lively nightlife of Popayan at night places like Rogelio Bar, Land Disco, and URBAN cocktails.