Home to long stretches of beautiful coastline, a glorious tropical archipelago and a colonial capital city, Sucre is a great place to visit in the Costa Caribe region. The department has a stunning natural setting that includes fertile plains, mangrove forests and the inviting waters of the Caribbean Sea. Before the Spanish colonized Colombia, Sucre, along with neighboring Bolivar and Antioquia, was the site of an empire of Zenú people.
Explore the beaches scattered along the sun-drenched Gulf of Morrosquillo. Tolú is the largest resort, with long stretches of soft sand and warm, shallow water. Catch a boat to the San Bernardo Archipelago and enjoy stunning islands such as Isla Múcura and El Islote. Tours to the Rosario Islands also depart from Tolú. Berrugas and Rincon are rustic villages with often deserted beaches.
Get up close to nature at the department’s reserves. Spot exotic birds while paddling a canoe through waterways and walking amid forests of cork trees in El Corchal Fauna and Flora Sanctuary. Enjoy a guided kayak tour in the shadow of lush mangroves at Ciénaga de la Caimanera lagoon. Go diving, snorkeling and windsurfing at Sanguaré Natural Reserve.
Spend some time in Sincelejo, the departmental capital established in 1535. Appreciate colonial monuments such as the Cathedral of St. Francis of Assisi, which dominates the tree-shaded Santander Park. Admire the mosaic floor and fountain at Majagual Plaza. Sample mote de queso (cheese soup) and listen to traditional fandango and porro music at the city’s bars and cafés. Come in January for the Fiestas de Corralejas, a celebration of Caribbean bullfighting where the bull is the protagonist.
Experience more of the department’s culture at October’s Festival Nacional de Gaitas. Held in the Oveja district, this festival showcases professional and amateur pipe players. In January, the Algarroba Folkloric Festival honors the fruit of the algarroba tree, commonly known as the carob tree, with live music and processions in Galeras.
The easiest way to reach Sucre is to fly to Cartagena’s Rafael Nuñez International Airport and then take a bus or taxi from there. Year-round high temperatures make this a true Caribbean destination.