Young and old people from Colombia and around the world gather in the capital of vallenato, Valledupar, to live five days full of the indigenous musical genre of the Colombian Caribbean that is Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity: the vallenato. 

At least 60,000 people, including locals and tourists, are expected to enjoy the 55th version of the Festival de la Leyenda Vallenata, the fifth King of Kings in honor of the late artist Jorge Oñate, 'La Leyenda'.

The traditional festivities, which had been suspended due to the covid-19 pandemic, started last Friday 22nd and will be enjoyed until Saturday April 30th, with a wide schedule of events and activities.

According to a report, about 100 thousand tourists are expected to arrive in the city through the different access roads to the city and the Alfonso Lopez airport.

Henrry Pradilla, manager of the airport of Valledupar, said that about six thousand people are expected to arrive during the days of the festival.

Also, Carlos Quijano, representative of the Tourist Information System of Cesar said that "historically hotel occupancy is seen at 95%, but after the pandemic the hotel capacities are at 70%, as tourists are not setting aside in advance because last year they had done so, but the date of the Festival was changed, generating that this year tourists wait until they get here to book".

The Festival, which will run until April 30, will feature the participation of several artists representing the vallenato genre and other styles such as reggaeton, among them: Silvestre Dangong, Iván Villazón, Jean Carlos Centeno, Elder Dayán, Wilfran Castillo, Margarita Doria, Peter Manjarrés, Paola Jara, Jessi Uribe and Manuel Turizo.

Tourist guides for Valledupar

In the city, not only vallenata music is experienced but also the history of the Valley, as several tour guides have been prepared in this version of the biggest festival of folklore to take on the challenge of promoting and replicating the history of the honoree in this version, Jorge Oñate.

"With our travel agency we have made a route to promote the history of the honoree this Festival that will be held from Valledupar to La Paz, we will be visiting the iconic places with which the city has," said tour guide Yeraldine Hernandez.