Honda

About

Honda was founded by the Spanish in 1539 on the banks of the Magdalena River. Up through the early 20th century, the Magdalena was the only connection between the Caribbean and Bogotá, and as the chief river port, Honda flourished. With the rise of planes, trains, and automobiles, the Honda stagnated, and today is a working town that has preserved its turn-of-the-century character. Compared to Colombia’s other Heritage Towns, Honda’s historic center has a more “lived-in” feel, and you’ll likely see cracked concrete among the colorful facades while exploring its cobbled streets. The narrow Calle de las Trampas is the most famous, but there are plenty of other picturesque alleys to discover in the old town. The heart of Honda is its main square and colonial-era cathedral, but this is second fiddle to la Plaza de Mercado, the town’s covered market, which is nicknamed “The Parthenon of Honda” for its 148-column arcade.