List of World Heritage Sites in Colombia facts for kids
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) helps protect important places around the world. These places are called World Heritage Sites. They can be important for their culture or natural heritage. UNESCO started this program in 1972.
Colombia joined the program on May 24, 1983. This meant its special places could be added to the list. As of 2018, Colombia has nine World Heritage Sites. Six of these are cultural sites, two are natural sites, and one is a mix of both.
The first site in Colombia was Port, Fortresses and Group of Monuments, Cartagena. It was added to the list in 1984. Los Katíos National Park became the first natural site in 1994. The newest site added to the list in 2018 is Chiribiquete National Park – "The Maloca of the Jaguar".
Colombia's World Heritage Sites
These are the amazing places in Colombia that UNESCO has recognized as World Heritage Sites. They are important for everyone to protect and learn about.
* Transnational site
| Site Name | Picture | Location | Type of Site | Area (ha) |
Year Added | What Makes It Special |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chiribiquete National Park– "The Maloca of the Jaguar" |  |
Caquetá and Guaviare Departments 0°31′31″N 72°47′50″W / 0.52528°N 72.79722°W |
Mixed: (iii), (ix), (x) |
2,782,354 (6,875,350) | 2018 | This huge park has ancient rock paintings on its mountains. It's also home to many unique plants and animals. |
| Coffee Cultural Landscape of Colombia |  |
Caldas, Quindío and Risaralda Departments 5°28′18″N 75°40′54″W / 5.47167°N 75.68167°W |
Cultural: (v)(vi) |
141,120 (348,700) | 2011 | This beautiful area shows how people grow coffee in the mountains. It highlights their traditions and way of life. |
| Historic Centre of Santa Cruz de Mompox |  |
Bolívar Department 9°14′00″N 74°26′00″W / 9.23333°N 74.43333°W |
Cultural: (iv)(v) |
54.05
(133.56) |
1995 | This old town has amazing colonial buildings. It shows how Spanish cities were built along rivers. |
| Los Katíos National Park | .jpg) |
Antioquia and Chocó Departments 7°40′00″N 77°00′00″W / 7.66667°N 77.00000°W |
Natural: (ix)(x) |
141,120 (348,700) | 1994 | This park is a natural wonder with many different animals and plants. It's important for protecting biodiversity. |
| Malpelo Fauna and Flora Sanctuary |  |
Valle del Cauca Department 3°58′00″N 81°37′00″W / 3.96667°N 81.61667°W |
Natural: (vii)(ix) |
857,500 (2,119,000) | 2006 | This isolated island and its waters are a haven for marine life. It's a key spot for sharks and other sea creatures. |
| National Archeological Park of Tierradentro |  |
Cauca Department 2°35′00″N 76°02′00″W / 2.58333°N 76.03333°W |
Cultural: (iii) |
38.84
(95.97) |
1995 | This park has ancient underground tombs carved into the earth. They show the unique burial customs of an old culture. |
| Port, Fortresses and Group of Monuments, Cartagena |  |
Bolívar Department 10°25′00″N 75°32′00″W / 10.41667°N 75.53333°W |
Cultural: (iii) |
0 | 1984 | Cartagena's old city walls and forts protected it for centuries. They are great examples of military architecture. |
| Qhapaq Ñan, Andean Road System* |  |
Various, shared with Argentina Bolivia Chile Ecuador Peru18°15′00″S 69°35′30″W / 18.25000°S 69.59167°W |
Cultural: (ii)(iii)(iv)(vi) |
11,407 (28,190) | 2014 | This is a huge network of ancient Inca roads. It shows how the Inca Empire connected its vast lands. |
| San Agustín Archaeological Park |  |
Huila Department 1°55′00″N 76°14′00″W / 1.91667°N 76.23333°W |
Cultural: (iii) |
0 | 1995 | This park has hundreds of mysterious stone statues and tombs. They were made by an ancient civilization. |
Future World Heritage Sites: Tentative List
Before a place can become a World Heritage Site, it must first be on a "tentative list." This list shows places a country thinks are important enough to be nominated. As of 2023, Colombia has eleven places on its tentative list:
- Canal del Dique (Submitted 2012)
- Catholic Doctrine Temples (Submitted 2012)
- Ciénaga Grande de Santa Marta - Cultural Landscape of the Vernacular Stilt Housing of Cienaga Grande de Santa Marta and of Medio Atrato (Submitted 2013)
- Pre-Hispanic Hydraulic System of the San Jorge River (Submitted 2012)
- Puente de Occidente (Western Bridge) (Submitted 2012)
- Seaflower Marine Protected Area (MPA) (Submitted 2007)
- South of Ricaurte Province (Submitted 2012)
- Tayrona and Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta National Parks and their Archaeological Sites (Submitted 2012)
- United Fruit Company Infrastructure (Submitted 2012)
- University City of Bogotá (Submitted 2012)
- The architectural legacy of Rogelio Salmona: an ethical, political, social and poetic manifesto (Submitted 2022)
See also
In Spanish: Anexo:Patrimonio de la Humanidad en Colombia para niños
