Latest News

Wildfire reaches Iguaque sanctuary as more than 700 hectares of protected land burn

By The City Paper Staff - September 22, 2026

A wildfire that began on the hills above Colombia’s historic town of Villa de Leyva has spread into the Santuario de Fauna y Flora Iguaque, with more than 700 hectares of the protected area now affected and two fire fronts still active. The emergency, which began on September 19 in the La Castellana area and […]

Raging wildfire threatens Villa de Leyva, authorities investigate suspected arson

By Richard Emblin - September 21, 2026

A massive wildfire continued to burn on Monday above the historic Colombian town of Villa de Leyva, with strong winds hampering efforts to contain the flames as authorities investigated mounting indications that the fire may have been deliberately started. The blaze, which began on Saturday afternoon near the cusp of the San Marcos mountain, has […]

Where Silence Still Speaks: Discovering the Monastery of Ecce Homo in Boyacá

By Richard Emblin - July 31, 2026

Eight kilometres beyond the whitewashed streets and polished boutiques of Villa de Leyva, the traffic fades into birdsong and the landscape begins to exhale. The road winds through vineyards, olive groves, patchwork fields and ochre hills before arriving at one of Colombia’s most quietly extraordinary places: the Monastery of Santo Ecce Homo in Sutamarchán. It […]

Colombia Marks First Holiday Dedicated to Nation’s Patroness, the Virgin of Chiquinquirá

By Richard Emblin - July 11, 2026

On Monday, Colombians will celebrate a new national holiday for the first time in the country’s history, honoring Our Lady of the Rosary of Chiquinquirá, the patroness of Colombia, in a commemoration that blends centuries of religious tradition with a renewed political symbolism under President-elect Abelardo De la Espriella. Established under Law 2578 of 2026, […]

Colombia’s Blueberry Boom Is Growing Fast, but Exports Lag

By The City Paper Staff - February 12, 2026

Colombia’s goldenberry symbolized the country’s push into high-value fruit exports. Now, it faces a turf war at home from a fruit with far greater global recognition: the blueberry. While blueberry cultivation has expanded rapidly across Colombia over the past decade, producers say the industry remains far from becoming a fully fledged export powerhouse. Colombia currently […]

Boyacá: Hiking Through History, High Summits and Andean Flavors

By The City Paper Staff - January 1, 2026

Boyacá is a department best understood at walking pace. Here, the Colombian Andes rise into cold, luminous páramos, colonial towns cling to mountainsides, and trails once traced by the Muisca people now lead modern hikers through landscapes where history and geography feel inseparable. For those who hike not only to conquer summits but to understand […]

Hiking Boyacá’s majestic El Consuelo páramo

By Richard Emblin - June 24, 2024

The páramo of El Consuelo in the departments of Boyacá and Santander is a majestic high-altitude wetland that draws attention for its unique biodiversity and ancient frailejón plants. Local conservation efforts are underway to protect this vital ecosystem from climate change and human activity.