2024-09-11 02:43:39
Only by land can you reach Puerto López, the exact center of the country.
Colombia hides a special corner in the Andean region, little known by mass tourism but rich in culture and nature. This place is Puerto López, a municipality that has earned the title of being the “navel” of Colombia, a geographical and symbolic destination that marks the exact center of the country.
Located about 80 kilometers from Villavicencio, in the department of Meta, Puerto López offers an authentic experience for those who enjoy exploring the country’s hidden treasures. This municipality, surrounded by vast plains and rivers such as the Meta, Humadea and Guayuriba, can only be reached by land, which adds a touch of adventure to the journey. The reward, however, is an unparalleled landscape and a unique connection with the plains culture.
An obelisk
At kilometer 5 of the road to Puerto Gaitán, there is Alto de Menegua, the site that houses the imposing 18-meter-high Obelisk. This structure, designed by the master Miguel Roa Iregui in 1993, stands as the symbol that marks the geographic center of Colombia. The obelisk, built with metal, concrete, terracotta and ceramics, pays homage to the culture of the Eastern Plains, a region of great cultural and natural wealth.
You can read: Armed actors are cruel to the civilian population
At the foot of the monument, visitors can see a map that clearly delineates the coordinates of the “navel” of Colombia, confirming that this point in Puerto López is the center of the country. “To get to know the navel of Colombia, you have to travel by land 83 km south of Villavicencio and reach Puerto López, where at the top of Menegua you can see a landscape of extensive plains,” commented Colombia Travel, the country’s official tourism website.
Other activities
In addition to visiting the Obelisk, Puerto López offers a variety of activities for nature lovers. La Venturosa Creek is an ideal stream for hiking and boating, where tourists can marvel at the local fauna and go bird watching. Also, just outside Villavicencio, there is the Merecure Agroecological Park, a place where you can observe typical animals of the Llanos, such as capybaras, anteaters, alligators and pelicans.
The park also has accommodation options in cabins, allowing visitors to enjoy the spectacular sunsets that characterize the Eastern Plains, an unforgettable experience in the “navel” of Colombia. Puerto López invites you to immerse yourself in the culture of the plains and discover a corner that connects all Colombians from its geographic center.
You may be interested in: Court evaluates autonomy in liquor tax revenues