Cúcuta

Cúcuta is in the Eastern Andino subregion of Colombia.

Understand

Cúcuta is the capital of Norte de Santander, home of 1 million people (all of the metropolitan area). It's a major commercial hub in the northeastern Colombia, playing a significant role in trade between Colombia and Venezuela. Cúcuta is in the northeast, 580 km to the north of the capital Bogotá.

The area of the city is 1.176 km².

Get in

By plane

• 1 Camilo Daza airport (CUC  ^IATA). A domestic airportwith flights to Bogotá, Medellín and other Colombian cities. Avianca has a non-stop flight to Medellín - Rionegro International airport. ADA, the low-cost carrier EasyFly and LATAM fly to the local airport in Medellín (Olaya Herrera).  

Cúcuta can be reached also by the neighboring airport of San Antonio (Venezuela).

It is usual the arrival of passengers in transit to San Antonio, Venezuela.

By bus

Cúcuta is connected by national highways with Bogotá (14 hours, COP$80,000) and Caracas (16 hours) in Venezuela.

• 2 Central bus terminal (Terminal o Central de Transporte de Cúcuta), Avenida 7. (updated Jun 2020)

Get around

The city of Cúcuta is built on a grid system. The calles (also streets) cross the Avenidas (also Avenues) and run from East to West. Calles are abbreviated as C, Cll and Cl.

Avenidas, abbreviated as Av, are usually larger and main streets. The numerical system for the Avenidas is used but some have names that are more commonly used such as Avenida Libertadores or Avenida de Los Faroles. Each address consists of a series of numbers, for example: Av. 4 #12-24. This indicates that the building on Av. 4 is 24 meters from the corner. The city's avenues are numbered both east to west and west to east, starting from a central avenue numbered 0 (Avenida Cero). Like in the example, the letter E is added to avenues numbered west to east, as to denote East (Este).

By bus

There are many public and private transportation companies that offer bus services and cover almost all of the metropolitan area (Villa del Rosario, Los Patios and El Zulia). It's a cheap way (ticket costs around US$0.45, but it will cost more depending on the bus, the route and the day) to travel around Cúcuta. Buses may be overcrowded, lack air conditioning and could be traveling very fast to try to outdo those from the competing lines that covers the same route. Beware.

By taxi

This is by far the best way to travel around if you don't mind spending a bit more for transportation. The cabs here may take you to anywhere you want. Expect to find a fleet of small but newer vehicles that are typically not more than 3–5 years old.

Driving in Cucuta can be a challenge, as it is very crowded. It can be exciting to watch the private cars, taxi and lots of motorcycles vie for the limited road space.

By bicycle

A ride on Cúcuta's modern Ciclo-Vía is a very exiting and healthy way to get to know the city and get closer to the people. There are rules that must be followed: helmet must be worn when riding, also a reflective vest must be worn. The bicycle must have reflective panels in the wheels and back.

The Av. Libertadores (the largest and most important of the city) is closed to use it as Ciclo-Vía on Sundays (8AM-1PM)

See

Cannon commemorating the Battle of Cúcuta

• 1 House of Francisco de Paula Santander (Casa de Santander) (1 km International Freeway to Venezuela). Francisco de Paula Santander is hero of the independence of Colombia and his house is located in Villa del Rosario (a municipality member of the Metropolitan Area of Cúcuta). There you can visit the Historic Church that was the principal seat of the Congress of Great Colombia (a federation of Colombia, Panama, Venezuela and Ecuador).  
• 2 Cathedral of Cúcuta.  
• Santander Park
• Municipal Park
• Colon Park
• 3 Templo Histórico de Cúcuta.  
• 4 Biblioteca Pública Julio Pérez Ferrero.  
• 5 Casa de la Cultura (Torre del Reloj).  

Do

The Malecon

In the Av. Libertadores there are ample green zones and platforms that allow their visitors to walk and to contemplate the own nature of the Pamplonita River; this proximity to the shore has allowed that the custom has named it “Malecon” becoming a site of recreation par excellence. It runs from the San Rafael bridge in the south of the city to Arnulfo Briceño Square, where there's a beautiful metallic sculpture called “Musical Mirror” as well as a skating track and children's park.

Buy

Shopping malls

• Unicentro. Unicentro is the most important shopping mall in Colombia. There are five sedes located at Bogotá, Medellín, Cali, City of Panama and Cúcuta). More than 48,000 m² of commerce, 110 stores, Center of foods, Bingo and casino, Supermarket Carrefour, Open spaces and green zones. 
• Ventura Plaza This is the biggest shopping center of Cúcuta. It is in the heart of the city and close to the Casino International Hotel. (Diagonal Santander between tenth and eleventh street).
• Vivero Almacenes Vivero was creaed in 1969 as a T-shirt store, but now is one of the most important malls in Colombia. Av. Demetrio Mendoza, Diagonal Santander. +57 5766108
• Gran Boulevard It is one the most traditional mall of Cùcuta, in the Av. 0 (unique in the world). It has a building of apartments. There you can get computers, shoes, clothes and visit an excellent bar called "La Micro". The main office of Movistar Colombia for Cúcuta is there.
• Plaza de Los Andes

Eat

Fast food

• Kokoriko Av. 0 Calle 8 Esquina Tel. 5722822
• Presto Av. Los Libertadores # 3-08 +57 577 5596 / 577 4949
• Los Carritos Av. 0 # 15-71 +57 5710097
• Los Carritos Av. Los Faroles # 9E - 51 +57 5741506
• Juan K Av. 3E #1-218 La Ceiba +57 5779113 / 5779114

Restaurants

• Restaurante Rodizio Malecon II Etapa La Riviera +57 5739029 / 5751719
• Pinchos & Asados (Rodizio) +57 5739039
• Restaurante El Corral +57 5745701 / 5773152
• Mangos Av. Libertadores #7-22 +57 5752648
• Restaurante La Gran Muralla Av. Libertadores #10-84 Malecon +57 5753946 / 5755156 / 5755069

Drink

• Local coffee is excellent.
• Aguardiente is a must for all tourists. It can be found at all cafes and bars.
• Restaurante Ochoa, Villa del Rosario. Next to Casa de Santander 

Sleep

• 1 Hotel Casablanca, Avenida 6ta #No. 14-55, ☏ +57 7 5821600, fax: +57 7 5722993. (updated Jan 2017)
• 2 Hotel Tonchala, +57 7 5756444. (updated Jan 2017)
• Hotel Quinta Avenida
• Hotel Villa Antigua. (on the highway to Venezuela).
• Hotel Arizona Av 0 # 7-67
• Hotel Bolivar Av. Demetrio Mendoza
• 3 Hotel Casino Internaciona, Cl. 11 #2E-75. (updated Jan 2017)
• Hotel Acora Calle 10 #2-75
• Hotel Acuaris Calle 5 # 3-37
• Hotel Amaruc Av. 5 # 9-73
• Hotel Chucarima Calle 7 # 2-30
• Hotel Exelsior Av 3 # 9-65
• Hotel Lord Av. 7 3 10-58
• Hotel Luxor Calle 10 # 2-66
• Hotel Victoria Plaza Calle 8 # 2-98
• Hotel Paraiso Calle 10 # 5-84
• Hotel Conquistador Av 11 E. Frente al Parque Simón Bolívar, Colsag.
• Hotel La Paz Calle 6 Av 3 y 4
• Hotel Cacique Av 7 calle 9 y 10
• Hotel El Samán (Prosocial) Autopista Internacional, en Villa del Rosario

Go next

Venezuela via San Antonio del Táchira