Calamar, Colombia, revitalized with color and art to boost tourism

Calamar, a municipality in Colombia's Bolívar department historically known as a hub for river trade and cargo transport, is embarking on a new era with the inauguration of +VIDA Calamar. This initiative, a partnership between the Gobernación de Bolívar, Fundación Santo Domingo, and Empresa Pintuco, has revitalized 21,250 square meters of heritage facades, breathing new life into the town.

The project directly impacts 1,246 residents and introduces a new viewpoint overlooking the Magdalena River, alongside the 'Ruta de Color' (Color Route). This urban, artistic, and social intervention focuses on restoring the area's deteriorating Republican-era architectural heritage.

The 'Ruta de Color' is a pedestrian and cultural circuit that winds along Carrera Primera, offering views of the majestic river. The architectural work preserved 282 heritage facades, representing over 21,250 square meters of technical renovation. Additionally, local and national artists have created seven large-format murals depicting Calamar's historical milestones, riverside traditions, and cultural legacy from its time as a major northern Colombian river customs house.

Governor of Bolívar, Yamil Arana Padauí, aims to shift the municipality's economic focus from subsistence agriculture to formal cultural tourism. "The first time I came, I realized that Calamar was somewhat forgotten, and I said we had to take action to get it out of there," he stated during the inauguration of the new Mirador de Calamar. "We need to turn it back into the city it once was, and tourism will be one of those alternatives because tourism is the oil of this century, and here we have that well."