Chocó Department, Administrative division in western Colombia
Chocó Department is an administrative division in western Colombia that reaches from the Pacific coast to the foothills of the Andes. The landscape includes dense rainforest, rivers such as the Atrato and San Juan, and a rugged coastline with small coves.
The territory was home to Embera groups for centuries before Spanish conquerors arrived in the 1500s. In 1947, the area became a separate department, split from the province of Antioquia.
African roots show in music styles like chirimía and currulao, heard during celebrations and gatherings across the territory. Markets offer handcrafted items made from wood and plant fibers, following techniques passed down through families.
Most visitors fly into Quibdó, as road connections are often interrupted by heavy rains. Anyone planning to visit should bring rain gear and prepare for warm, humid weather throughout the year.
The municipality of Lloró receives so much rain that it ranks among the wettest inhabited places on Earth. Despite its location near the Pacific, the coast sometimes sees humpback whales arriving in warmer waters from July to November.
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