Calarcá facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Calarcá, Quindío
Municipality and town
View of Calarcá
Flag Coat of arms
Location of the municipality and town of Calarcá, Quindío in the Quindío Department of Colombia.
Calarcá, Quindío Location in Colombia
Country	Colombia
Department	Quindío Department
Founded	1886
Area
• Total	219.23 km2 (84.65 sq mi)
Elevation	1,573 m (5,161 ft)
Population  (2023)
• Total	75,979
• Density	346.572/km2 (897.618/sq mi)
Demonym(s)	Calarqueño
Time zone	UTC-5 (Colombia Standard Time)
Area code(s)	57 + 6
Website	Official website: http://calarca-quindio.gov.co/

Calarcá is a lively town and municipality in the eastern part of the Quindío region of Colombia. It's located just 4 kilometers east of Armenia, which is the capital city of the department. People sometimes call Calarcá La Villa del Cacique, which means 'The Chief's Town'. This name honors its many famous writers.

The city was founded in 1886 by Segundo Henao and Román María Valencia. They were part of a big movement of people from Antioquia who were exploring and settling new lands. Calarcá is the second largest city in Quindío, right after Armenia. In 2023, about 75,979 people lived there.

Calarcá is an important part of the Colombian coffee growing axis. This area is so special that UNESCO recognized it as a World Heritage Site in 2011.

History of Calarcá

How Calarcá Got Its Name

The name Calarcá comes from a brave indigenous chief of the Pijaos Tribe. He lived in this area long ago. Legend says that Chief Calarcá fought a big battle against Baltazar Maldonado, an indigenous person who had become Catholic. The fight was to keep control of their land. It happened on Peñas Blancas, a famous mountain near the city.

Founding and Growth

Calarcá was officially founded on June 29, 1886. Román Mario Valencia and Segundo Henao were the founders. They had traveled from Salento to explore the region. At first, the town's economy relied on mining and trade.

Later, around the 1930s, coffee farming became very popular in the region. Calarcá quickly grew into one of the most important coffee producers in Colombia. The money from coffee helped the city develop and become a center for culture. It became known as a place where many poets, like Luis Vidales and Baudilio Montoya, were born.

Special Events and Architecture

Calarcá hosts several exciting events. These include the national coffee festival and the Desfile del Yipao. In this parade, owners decorate their Jeep Willys cars, which are very common in the region, and drive them through the city. There's also a national meeting for writers.

You can still see many beautiful historic and colonial buildings in Calarcá. These houses have unique styles, large balconies, colorful gates, and mud roofs. They tell many stories about the city's past. Some examples are the Casa de los Téllez and the Hospital la Misericordia building.

In 1999, a big earthquake hit the region. It damaged many parts of Calarcá, and some of its historic buildings were lost.

Geography of Calarcá

Calarcá is located in the Andes mountains, specifically in the Central Cordillera. It's in the eastern part of the Quindío department. This area is often called the Eje Cafetero, or "Coffee Axis," because of its many coffee farms.

The municipality of Calarcá covers an area of 219.23 square kilometers. The town itself is quite small, about 2.44 square kilometers. The rest is beautiful rural land. The elevation in Calarcá varies a lot, from 1000 meters above sea level near the rivers to 3667 meters high in the El Campanario area.

Climate

Calarcá has a subtropical highland climate. This means it has mild temperatures all year round, with an average of about 20 °C. It's a comfortable place to live and visit!

Economy and Tourism

Main Industries

Like other towns in Quindío, Calarcá's economy mainly depends on farming. The most important crops are Colombian coffee, plantains, and manioc (also known as cassava).

Ecotourism and Nature

The blue morpho butterfly can be seen in the Mariposario

Landscape of Armenia and the Andes. Peñas Blancas can be seen in the background to the right

Ecotourism is also a big part of the local economy. Just outside the town, you can visit the Quindío Botanical Garden. It opened in 1985 and has an amazing outdoor butterfly house. This special house is shaped like a butterfly and is home to over 1,200 different kinds of butterflies native to Colombia! The garden also has collections of medicinal plants, heliconias, and cacti.

Adventure at Peñas Blancas

Peñas Blancas, which means "white cliffs," is a famous landmark near Calarcá. It's a huge rock formation with three tall, vertical faces. The cliffs look bright white because they are made of calcite and limestone. There are many hidden caves and rock shelters inside the cliffs, but they are hard to reach.

Some local people believe these caves hide a legendary treasure. They say it was hidden by the Cacique Calarcá, the Pijao tribal leader, during his battles against the Spanish colonialists. The town of Calarcá is named after him!

Peñas Blancas is a great place for adventure. You can try rock climbing and abseiling (rappelling) up to 80 meters high. There's also a 40-meter zip-line for a thrilling ride. You can explore ecological trails, go camping, and enjoy a restaurant. From the bottom of the cliffs, you get amazing views of Armenia, Calarcá, and the beautiful surrounding area.

Notable People from Calarcá

Calarcá is known for being the home of many talented individuals, especially writers and artists.

• Luis Vidales (1904–1990) – A famous poet and writer.
• Baudilio Montoya – Another well-known poet.
• Francisco Noe Torres Rincon – An artist.
• Noel Estrada Roldan – A poet.
• Fabio Botero – A cartoonist.
• Gloria Cecilia Díaz – A writer.
• Jaime Lopera Gutierrez – A writer.

See also

In Spanish: Calarcá (Quindío) para niños