The Netflix series One Hundred Years of Solitude, based on Gabriel García Márquez’s iconic novel, was primarily filmed in Colombia. The production sought to capture the essence of the fictional town of Macondo, the main setting of the novel, and the rich landscape that influenced Márquez’s writing.
One Hundred Years of Solitude is a new TV series based on Gabriel García Márquez’s famous book. This novel is one of the most important works of the 20th century. It has taken years to see it come to life on screen. The story is about the Buendía family and their lives in the magical town of Macondo. It follows them through love, loss, and fate over seven generations. The series explores themes like loneliness, family, and the passage of time. The show captures the magical realism that made the novel so beloved.
Adapted from the 1967 novel written by Gabriel García Márquez, ‘One Hundred Years of Solitude’ follows José Arcadio Buendía and Úrsula Iguarán. The cousins marry against the will of their parents and leave their village to start afresh. On the journey, the couple meet friends and adventurers before arriving at Macondo, which has an ominous historical significance, leading them to a century of solitude.
One Hundred Years of Solitude’ is filmed in Colombia, particularly in Tolima, La Guajira, Magdalena, Cesar, and Cundinamarca.
Tolima
To bring the fictional town of Macondo to life, the film team set up near Alvarado and Ibagué in the Tolima department of Colombia and built the town from the ground up, with birds nesting in the trees and dogs roaming the streets.
The Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta:
This mountainous region was used to capture the natural beauty of the landscapes around Macondo. The mountains, lush forests, and rural settings provide a backdrop to the story.The region is magical for birdwatchers. They rise early and follow local naturalist guides for the chance to observe some of the 628 bird species. Other attractions include treks to spectacular waterfalls and nearby ruins.
La Guajira Peninsula:
This area, with its unique desert and coastal landscapes, offered a distinct atmosphere that reflects the isolation and mysticism found in the novel. There is little infrastructure and few places to stay. There are basic cabins for hardy travellers. Colombia’s largest indigenous group are found here, the Wayuu. It is an ideal place for experiential tourism: driving over dunes, boat trips and fishing with the local community.
Ciénaga:
A town on Colombia’s Caribbean coast, known for its history and proximity to wetlands, this location was another key filming spot.
Vélez, Santander:
A town in the central part of the country, known for its preserved colonial architecture and scenic surroundings, also served as part of Macondo.
The production aimed to use Colombia’s diverse environments to bring the novel’s vivid, dream-like world to life while respecting its Colombian cultural roots. The series, being a faithful adaptation, features these locations as part of its effort to capture the essence of the novel’s setting.
The Macondo Route tourist locations
This marks a perfect opportunity to introduce two new tourist routes focused on the life and work of Gabriel García Márquez. Starting in 2025, Select Latin America will offer a 10-day Macondo Route tour, beginning in Bogotá and passing through Zipaquirá, Aracataca, Mompox, Barranquilla, and Cartagena. A second, shorter route will start in Santa Marta, pass through Aracataca and Mompox, and end in Cartagena. On this journey discover the Colombia that shaped his stories: a land of arid deserts, tropical jungles, misty mountains, and colonial towns suspended in time. Step into the living history of his imaginary universe and feel the blur between the past and the present, the mythical and the real.
We can also offer a two-day trip out of Bogotá to visit the film’s main setting in Alvarado, a small town in Tolima Department. This charming village still preserves its colonial ambience. Take lunch here, before visiting the Iglesia San Antonio de Padua and exploring the village. In the afternoon, continue to Ibagué, to spend the night.
Cartagena:
The Clock Gate, mentioned in “Living to Tell the Tale,” where García Márquez first experienced the city he loved deeply.
Cartagena is the jewel of Colombia’s Caribbean coast. This sun-drenched walled city was once home to Gabriel García Márquez — or ‘Gabo’, as he is affectionately known to Colombians. The port is full of life and from here one can take boat trips to tropical islands. Some of the colonial mansions have been turned into boutque hotels.
Barranquilla:
El Prado Hotel, the setting of his first formal dance with Doña Mercedes, and the Socorro Church where they were married.
Aracataca:
Aracataca is the birthplace of Gabo, a quiet, sweltering town 230km north in the Sierra Nevada. A place of tropical forests and banana plantations is where Gabriel García Márquez’s grew up. His former childhood home is now open to the public, the Casa Museo.
Bogotá:
San Francisco Church, where Gabo accidentally met his uncle, Colonel Valdiblánquez, at the atrium.
Bogotá is Colombia’s capital. Gabo worked as a journalist here in the 1940’s. The historic centre has not changed much, with colonial buildings and coffee bars around the Plaza Bolívar. Today there is a thriving food and art scene.
Mompox
Mompox is a small, sleepy colonial town in the swamps of Bolivar province, now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Gabo spent much time here, and it resembles Macondo, the setting of One Hundred Years of Solitude. A fascinating place but is very hot and sticky. By road, it’s a six-hour drive from Cartagena, or a short helicopter ride. Stay at the excellent Casa San Rafael, a restored 17th-century colonial house. It can also be reached along the Magdalena River, there is a 4-day river cruise from Cartagena which stop here. You can take canoe rides into the wetlands where bird life and monkeys abound.
Zipaquirá:
The house of Fernanda del Carpio, now the Zipaquirá Museum, which features an inventory of items mentioned in One Hundred Years of Solitude.
If you’re interested in these new Colombia tours, feel free to contact us.
Related posts: Our 7 favourite Colonial Cities of Latin America
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