Guane: Camino, Cultural History and Fossils

Guane invites you to discover its cultural history from two perspectives: the history of the Guane people and the Camino de Guane towards Barichara. The collection at the Museo Paleontológico y Arqueológico de Guane includes marine fossils millions of years old and objects from Guane culture. This means that very different periods and subjects come together in Guane. You can use this as a starting point when planning your trip: is your main interest the collection, the history, or the route and its cultural significance?

The Camino de Guane and its significance

The route from the corregimiento of Guane to Barichara is part of the Red de Caminos de Santander. In 1998, Resolution No. 790 of the Ministry of Culture declared the Camino de Guane a national cultural asset. The route can therefore be described precisely: it leads from Guane to Barichara and forms part of the regional trail network. It also has official cultural recognition.

If you are interested in the history of routes and cultural heritage, these details are a good starting point: a named route, its connection between Guane and Barichara, and its recognition as a national cultural asset. This sets the Camino apart as a subject from a general exploration of the town’s history. The route thus offers a distinct perspective on Guane, while the museum collection and the history of the Guane people provide further ways to explore it.

Fossils and objects from Guane culture

Two subject areas come together at the Museo Paleontológico y Arqueológico de Guane. The collection includes marine fossils millions of years old, as well as objects from Guane culture. These include pottery, tools and grave goods; Guane necklaces are also kept there. The fossils offer a much longer view of time, while the objects bring the material culture of the Guane people into focus.

This combination gives you different points of entry, without suggesting that the subjects tell the same story: the fossils are marine finds from geological periods in the distant past, while pottery, tools and grave goods relate to human cultural history. If you would like to get to know Guane primarily through its collection, it is worth keeping these two perspectives distinct. This keeps the individual character of each group of exhibits in focus, rather than grouping everything under a single historical heading.

The Guane before and during the colonial period

Before the arrival of the Spanish, the Guane people lived in this area. They were known for agriculture, pottery and cotton weaving. These three activities provide a concrete framework for the cultural history: they encompass agriculture, the making of pottery and the processing of cotton. If you are interested in the Guane people, you will encounter a range of cultural subjects that extend beyond the objects preserved in the museum.

The colonial period offers another historical perspective. During this time, Guane became one of the earliest settled centres in what is now Santander and an important site of evangelisation. The distinction between the periods is key to understanding the history: the presence and cultural activities of the Guane people predate the arrival of the Spanish; Guane’s role as an early settlement centre and site of evangelisation belongs to the colonial period. Both shape the historical understanding of Guane, but describe different periods.

Which perspective will shape your trip?

When looking for a holiday rental in Guane, you can first decide which of these subjects interests you most. The Camino draws attention to a specific connection to Barichara and its official recognition as a cultural asset. The museum collection brings together marine fossils and objects from Guane culture. The historical details, in turn, help distinguish the period before the arrival of the Spanish from the colonial period. You can explore these subjects individually or see them as different perspectives on Guane.

If you would like to start with the route, its name and connection to Barichara are the main focus. If you are more interested in cultural history, the activities of the Guane people and the museum collection offer clear subjects to explore in your study of the town.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Floridablanca, Socorro Province, Sabana de Torres, Cerrito, La Granja, Curiti, Santa Bárbara, Cimitarra.

For the regional travel overview: Santander.