⏰ We'll pick you up at the hotel at the scheduled time to kick off an experience where history, culture, and flavor meet in the heart of Bucaramanga. Our tour will start at Centennial Park, a place full of history that in the past functioned as a kind of transport terminal for the city. From there, we'll discover the renovated Santander Theater, an architectural jewel that has regained its splendor and is now the city's cultural epicenter.
We'll then walk to a traditional lunch spot that for generations has been a meeting point to enjoy typical Santander food. Here, we'll start our first local tastings, trying the leaf cheese and the iconic Santander sausages, handmade with inherited recipes.
Nearby, we'll visit a traditional hat workshop, where we'll learn about the importance of this accessory in rural and peasant life, a symbol of identity and regional pride.
Our walk will take us to the heart of the experience: the Central Market Square, a vibrant place that preserves the memory of the old building and combines the traditional with the modern. There, we'll tour the pickles and peppers section, then continue through the vegetable and tuber aisles to learn about the products that make Santander the second largest food-producing department in the country. We'll discover cassava, the different varieties of potatoes, and the creamy avocado from San Vicente de Chucurí, known as 'the butter'.
In the fruit area, we'll try six local varieties—including pomegranate and Lebrija pineapple—and enjoy freshly prepared natural juices. Before heading out, we'll explore the handicrafts section and the medicinal and aromatic plants area, where aromas mingle with folk wisdom.
To round off the experience, we'll enjoy a guided lunch in the market's restaurant area, with typical dishes such as carne oreada, sobrebarriga, morcilla, the traditional Santander mute or, for the more daring, pepitoria. At the end, our transport will pick you up directly from the square to take you back to the hotel, closing a day full of history, culture, and authentic flavors of Bucaramanga.