GUAVIARE
Inhabitant: Guaviareño

Guaviare lies in the northern part of the Colombian Amazonía and borders the departments of Meta, Vichada, Caquetá, Guainía and Vaupés.
With an area of 42,327 square kilometers, this department has a population of 130,000.
The territory was part of the province of Popayán, and after formed part of the departments of Boyacá, Caquetá and Vaupés. In 1977, it was separeded from Vaupés and the Comisaría del Guaviare was founded. In 1991, Guaviare received the status of department. Some native tribes, like the Guahibos and the Guayaberos, have lived in the region since before the arrival of the Spaniards and Guaviare has 16 native reserves. The main one is called La Fuga.
The territory comprises two large regions. In the east, there is the grass-covered plain, which occupies most of the department. In the west, a region called “vega of the river” which is formed by hills, mountain ranges and rivers. The Guaviare is the most important river in this region and serves as a border between the Colombian Orinoquia (Eastern Plains) and the Amazonía (Amazon region).
There are many beautiful and colourful landscapes and the inhabitants produce a great variety of handicrafts. Its wealth lies in agriculture, forestry, fishing and commerce.
It shares the Macarena Natural Park with the department of Meta and the natural park of Chiribiquete with the department of Caquetá.

Capital: San José del Guaviare
The capital was founded in 1938 by a group of people who arrive to this land in search of rubber trees to extract latex.
San José del Guaviare became a municipality on June 7, 1976. With 52,000 inhabitants, this city holds the largest part of Guaviare's population. It is also the home of Guaviare's agricultural production and its most important road and social infrastructure. It has an average temperature of 28 degrees Celsius.
The city's main attractions include Raudales del Guayabera, natural bridges, cave paintings and the Stone City.
The Nukak Natural National Reserve is found inside its jurisdiction and so is a part of the natural national park of Chribiquete.
The region's inhabitants celebrate local holidays in honor of San José.

Musical Instruments
from Guaviare      

The Anthem of Guaviare
(In Spanish)

Composer: Máximo Martínez

Chorus
Oh! Guaviare en tu seno nací,
Oh! Guaviare, en tu seno me encuentro
Y hoy busco libertad para ti.
Cantaremos juntos, honraremos siempre
Dios, Patria, Bandera e himno nacional
Viviremos juntos, marcharemos siempre
Con fe y esperanza, paz y libertad
I
Tu llanura y tu selva se juntan,
Tu belleza la exalta un pincel,
El Maestro creó tu relieve
y allí un indio ubicó a San José
Capital de la esperanza
Majestuosa hoy se ve.
Y yo altivo proclamo tu nombre
y por verte vivir moriré.
 II
 Guayabero y Ariari formaron
con sus aguas el río también
y en su costa el Meta encontramos
con Vichada y Guainía a la vez .
Apopóris, siente celos
De Inírida y Vaupés,
Porque nacen dentro de tu pecho
también riegan tu hermoso vergel.

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(Cont. Anthem)

III
El nativo y el colono se sienten,
orgullosos de hacerte crecer,
pues no en vano unieron su sangre
y al cabuco un día vieron nacer.
Hombres fuertes que trabajan
con coraje y honradez.
Con su esfuerzo surgieron los
pueblos que hoy presenta
con gran altivez.
IV
Cual centauros tus hijos se unieron
y un futuro mejor brindaran
nuestro escudo se llama progreso
y es ejemplo de gran dignidad
¡Oh! Colombia, patria mía,
Dios bendiga tu bondad,
Que el espíritu del guaviarense,
hoy te colme de gloria y de paz.

      

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Other Villages

El Retorno, Calamar and Miraflores.
Puerto Arturo, La Libertad, Araguato, Puerto Nare, El Dorado.

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Airports

San José del Guaviare – San José del Guaviare
Miraflores – Miraflores.

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National Natural Reserve

Nukak
Area: 855,000 hectares.

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National Natural Park

Chiribiquete
Location: Between Caquetá and Guaviare.
Area: 1,280,000 hectares.