Guainía It's one of the 32 departments that make up the Republic of Colombia. It is made up of 2 municipalities and 6 non-municipalized areas (formerly departmental townships). Its capital is the municipality of Inirida.
The word Guainía means in yuri indigenous language “Land of many waters.” By 2024, the department of Guainía will be the fifth largest department in Colombia and the second least populated. It is located in the Amazon region to the east of the country.
| DEPARTMENT SYMBOLS |
Flag of Guainía |
Shield of Guainía |
| Click here to listen to: Guainía Anthem |
| GENERAL DATA OF THE GUAINÍA |
| Country: Colombia. |
| Entity: Department. |
| Capital: Inirida |
| Demonym: Guainiano, Aguainarense |
| Motto: Perpetual freshness |
| Foundation: July 13, 1963 |
| Erection as a department: July 4, 1991 |
| Number of Municipalities: 2 |
| Official Web site: guainia.gov.co |
History of the Department of Guainía:
In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the rainforest attracted economic attention with activities such as feather, fur, and rubber exploitation. Transportation depended on the Orinoco River, trading with Venezuela and Brazil. At that time, there were only Amanaven village and the Puerto Limón police post in the Guaviare River. After a territorial dispute, the Spanish Arbitration Award of March 1891 favored Colombia, consolidating its sovereignty.
The foreign exploitation of rubber, led by Venezuelans such as Roberto Pulido and Tomas Funez, generated fear and led to the creation of a police station in 1900, which was later eliminated. Since 1935, Colombian companies replaced the activity, which ceased in 1972. After resolving border disputes, the colonization of the Guainía River It began in 1963 with the creation of the Guainía police station through Law 18. In 1991, it was elevated to the category of department according to article 309 of the Political Constitution of Colombia. In 2019 it was created Barrancominas the second municipality of the department.
Political-administrative division of Guainía
The Department of Guainía is made up of 2 municipalities of which Inirida It is the capital and 6 non-municipalized areas (previously departmental townships). Below is the list of Municipalities and non-municipalized areas of Guainía.
| Municipalities and non-municipalized areas | Category |
|---|---|
| Inirida | Municipality (Capital) |
| Barrancominas | Municipality |
| Cacahual | Non-municipalized areas |
| The Guadalupe | Non-municipalized areas |
| Morichal New | Non-municipalized areas |
| Pana Pana | Non-municipalized areas |
| Colombian Port | Non-municipalized areas |
| San Felipe | Non-municipalized areas |
Gastronomy of Guainía
Fish is the central figure in the gastronomy of the department, which stands out as one of the most exotic in Colombia, offering a wide range of recipes that incorporate unique wild fruits and native cooking techniques, coming from the indigenous population of the area that constitutes most of the population of the department.
Among the exquisite native fruits, the tupiro, the caimarones, the Moriche, the yurí, the manaca, the cashew, the green ripe, the cubarros and the wine palm stand out. This parade of exotic flavors not only enriches local dishes, but also defines the gastronomic identity of Guainía, making it an incomparable culinary destination in the nation. Some of the most representative dishes of Guainiana cuisine are:
- chili pepper
- The wet fish
- Chicha de Ceje
- Chicha de Manaca
- Casabe
- Manoco
- Casajillo – Yuca Brava
- Chicha from Pijiguao (Chontaduro)
Find out here the complete list of Guainía gastronomy recipes
Guainía Fairs and Festivals
Among the fairs and festivals of the department we find the “Colony Festival” in which the founding anniversary of Inírida is celebrated and the work of the colonies that were established in the department and the “Summer Festival” that takes place in the month February on the beaches of the Inírida River.
Find out here the complete list of festivals, fairs, parties and events in Guainía
Guainía Tourist Sites
Tourism is one of the sectors that in recent years has emerged in the department, the natural wealth it enjoys as well as the cultural wealth coming from the indigenous ethnic groups that inhabit the region have turned Guainía into a desired place for lovers of eco tourism and cultural tourism. Some of the most important tourist sites in Guainía are:
- The Mavicure Hills
- Kenke Guainía Natural and Cultural Park
- Mapiripana Rapid
- Puinawai National Nature Reserve
Find out here the complete list of tourist places in Guainía
Economy of Guainía
Agriculture constitutes the primary economic activity in this department. In addition, other sectors stand out within the economy, such as fishing, livestock and the production of chiquichiqui palm, as well as the cultivation of the “Yaré” vine, which is used in local crafts, in recent years the department It has demonstrated great tourism potential that is gradually gaining ground as another important economic activity. It is worth mentioning the presence of valuable mineral resources, such as coltan, tungsten, nickel and other minerals classified as rare earths. However, the extraction of these resources is completely illegal, given that the reserves are located in a protected area, designated as indigenous territory or natural reserve (Puinawai National Natural Reserve).
Legends and Myths of Guainía
The Department has a rich variety of myths and legends that are finely intertwined with the cosmology of the indigenous ethnic groups of the region. Among the legends and myths that are part of the imagination of the people of Aguaina, the following stand out:
- Legend of the “Desinkoira” (smelly woman or perfumed woman).
- Myth of the Curripaco people - The First Dead
- The myth of the beginning and end of all things
These legends and myths form a vital part of the cultural heritage of the region, transmitting wisdom, beliefs and teachings throughout generations to the inhabitants of Guainía.
