Vichada Department

Vichada is an administrative department in eastern Colombia that extends from the Meta River to the Venezuelan border and consists mainly of open savanna. The landscape alternates between grasslands and gallery forests along waterways, interspersed with seasonal floodplains and scattered palm groves.

The territory was organized as a commissary in 1913 and gained departmental status in 1991 with Puerto Carreño as its capital. Settlement remained limited for a long time because distance from other parts of the country and lack of infrastructure made connection difficult.

Several indigenous groups inhabit these remote areas and rely on rivers as lifelines for trade and communication between scattered settlements. Their way of life remains closely tied to the waterways and savanna landscapes that have been their home for centuries.

Access is mostly by plane or boat, as roads become impassable during the rainy season and large parts of the territory can only be reached by water. Travel should be planned for the dry season when overland routes and river passages are more navigable.

The border with Venezuela runs through the middle of the Orinoco, so the river's banks and islands are shared between both countries. Some communities on either side maintain family ties and use the river as a common space.

Location: Colombia

Inception: July 4, 1991

Capital city: Puerto Carreño

Shares border with: Casanare Department, Arauca Department, Meta Department, Guaviare Department, Guainía Department, Apure, Bolívar, Amazonas

Website: https://vichada.net

GPS coordinates: 4.63333,-69.23333

Latest update: December 13, 2025 18:23