Roaming South America

Zarzal, Colombia

October 19, 2023

Zarzal, Colombia, has a population of about 32,000 in the urban area and about 47,000 in the greater metropolitan area. The town sits in the north of the Valle Del Cauca in the center of the valley.

Zarzal was first founded in 1783 with the name Pueblo Viejo (Old Town). At that time there was a population of about 80. The houses were made of bamboo/mud walls and thatched roofs, many of which still exist and are lived in today. In the early 1800s, the town was renamed Zarzal but that lasted until 1850 when it was renamed, again, this time to Libraida. The town had been categorized as a municipality but in 1857 it was demoted to a village, but then in 1871 it was promoted to a town. Then, in 1909, it was refounded as a municipality.

Bolívar, Colombia

October 3, 2023

Bolívar, Colombia, has a population of no more than 5,000. The region also includes several small pueblos, and all told a total of no more than 17,000. Bolívar sits in the north part of the Valle del Cauca. This valley is located between the Western and Central Ranges of the Andes Mountains. In the center of the valley is the Cauca River. There are sugar cane and corn farms throughout the valley, and many types of fruit are grown as well.

Back in Roldanillo, Colombia, where my journey began, almost a year ago.

September 29, 2023

My South America Journey Update - Part 4.

First, a recap: Part 1 covered leavingColombia, about 2 1/2 months passing through Ecuador, where Ifound one town, Puyo, that I like as a potential new home, andabout two months passing through Peru, where I found one town inparticular, Moyobamba, that I like. I narrowed down the list oftowns in those two countries after my second trip through them,revisiting many towns, and finally came to having those two townson my list of potential new hometowns.

Cartago, Colombia

September 24, 2023

Cartago, Colombia, has a population of about 140,000. Cartago sits in a valley between the Western and Central Ranges of the Andes Mountains. Two rivers pass by, one directly next to the town and forms the border of the city and the department (province); the other is very close outside of the town. There are sugar cane and corn farms throughout the valley.

Armenia, Colombia

September 23, 2023

Armenia, Colombia, has a population of about 295,000 (as of 2018). Armenia sits at around 5,000 feet on the lower slopes of the central range of the Andes Mountains. The Quindio River runs alongside Armenia at the bottom of a fairly deep canyon. Armenia is not an old city, it was founded in 1889, but it was the first half of the 20th century when therme development really took off because of the coffee industry. Armenia is part of Colombia's Coffee Axis region.