In 2007, Colombian author Gabriel Garcia Marquez traveled by train to his home town Aracataca, the inspiration for Macondo in “One Hundred Years of Solitude,” to commemorate the 40th anniversary of his best-known book. Now, thanks to the re-opening of the route, tourists can experience the magical-realist’s journey for themselves, even spotting a few of Mauricio Babilonia’s yellow butterflies en-route, reports El Tiempo.
Colombia Travel Agent – Mantaraya Travel
Departing from Santa Marta, the five hour journey will carry travelers through banana plantations, over swamps, past Remedios La Bella’s monument and Marquez’s Montessori school, before terminating at Garcia Marquez’s home town of Aracataca.
On arrival at the railway station, travelers will be greeted by bicycle taxis ready to take them to around 40 sites that appear in the novels and memoirs of the writer. Included on the tour will be the opportunity to sample the region’s speciality dishes typical and buy local handicrafts.
The tour is an initiative of the Government of Magdalena and was passed last year by the Tourism Promotion Fund. It will be promoted by ecosite and Aviatur.
For more information about visiting Arataca, click here.