Cartago, Valle del Cauca


Cartago is a city in southwestern Colombia, about 187 miles west of Bogotá. It is in the extreme northern portion of the Valle del Cauca Department. It is located very close to the city of Pereira, about a 20-minute drive. It is the fourth largest city in Valle after Cali, Palmira, and Tuluá. In 2019, it had a population of approximately 135,000 inhabitants.

Overview

Cartago features warm weather, about 30 degrees Celsius or more on a typical day with 80% dryness. The city is home to multiple farmhouses and farm owners, recreational sites, discos and condos frequented by people coming from Pereira.

Education

The University of Valle has a branch campus in Cartago. The main Universidad del Valle campus is based in Cali, the department capital. The Cartago branch campus address is located at Calle 10 N° 19–05. Private institutions include the Instituto Técnico Colombiano, INTEC Cartago and Sena Institute.

Culture

Artesanías are sold in several roadside shop in the city.
An 1856 watercolor of a mestizo couple in a roadside shop by Manuel María Paz is an early depiction of Cartago. Afro Colombians also resided in the town at that time.
Festivals include: