Located on the north bank of the Magdalena River, Girardot is a popular Colombian resort town on the border between Cundinamarca and Tolima. It was originally established as a goat-farming hamlet before being renamed in honour of General Atanasio Girardot, who fought with Simon Bolivar during the 1813 Admirable Campaign.
Things to do in Girardot
In the heart of Girardot is Parque Bolivar, a bustling square that has long served as a meeting place. On one side of the square is the monumental Catedral de Girardot Parroquia Inmaculado Corazón de María, which is topped by a strikingly designed modern tower. You can have your photo taken in front of Girardot’s famous sign before grabbing a frozen dessert from the nearby vendors.
One of Girardot’s most popular green spaces is the Parque de la Locomotora, which preserves a beautiful old locomotive and several railway buildings. You can relax on one of the benches and watch the world go by or grab a bite to eat at the surrounding restaurants. Adjacent to Parque de la Locomotora is another recreational space named after the former Bogota mayor, Jorge Eliecer Gaitan.
A short drive south-east of Girardot is the Recreational Park and Zoo Piscilago Colsubsidio, which centres around a family-friendly water park. You can refresh with a swim in one of the pools and zip down the waterslides, then refuel at one of the concessions. In addition to colourful birds from South America and beyond, the zoo is home to a variety of reptiles and jungle-based mammals.
Getting around Girardot
Girardot is around three hours’ drive from Bogota and El Dorado International Airport, which has flights to destinations across the globe. Regular buses connect to Girardot and the town centre is compact enough to explore on foot.