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Colombia has been a State Party to the World Heritage Convention since 1983. With 9 inscribed properties, the country maintains a well-established presence on the World Heritage List. The majority of its sites are cultural properties, reflecting a strong emphasis on historical and architectural heritage. One of these properties is shared with neighboring countries, demonstrating cooperation across borders in heritage conservation.

Colombia as a State Party to the World Heritage Convention

State Party since: May 24, 1983

Status: Acceptance

Mandates to the World Heritage Committee: 1989-1995, 1999-2005, 2011-2015

Total of Mandate Years: 16

Total of Mandates: 3

WHC Electoral Group: III (Latin America/Caribbean)

World Heritage Sites in Colombia (9)

Cultural: 6 | Natural: 2 | Mixed: 1

Map of World Heritage Sites

This interactive map shows the location of all UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Colombia.

Tentative World Heritage Sites (13)

  • Paleontological Sites of the Middle Devonian of Floresta, Boyacá · submitted: January 19, 2024
  • The La Venta Konzentrat-Lagerstätte: a Neotropical moist forest biome of the middle Miocene · submitted: January 19, 2024
  • The architectural legacy of Rogelio Salmona: an ethical, political, social and poetic manifesto · submitted: February 1, 2022
  • Cultural Landscape of the Vernacular Stilt Housing of Cienaga Grande de Santa Marta and of Medio Atrato · submitted: October 22, 2013
  • Canal del Dique - Dike Canal · submitted: September 27, 2012
  • University City of Bogotá · submitted: September 27, 2012
  • Pre-Hispanic Hydraulic System of the San Jorge River · submitted: September 27, 2012
  • Tayrona and Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta National Parks and their Archaeological Sites · submitted: September 27, 2012
  • Catholic Doctrine Temples · submitted: September 27, 2012
  • United Fruit Company Infrastructure · submitted: September 27, 2012
  • South of Ricaurte Province · submitted: September 27, 2012
  • Puente de Occidente (Western Bridge) · submitted: September 27, 2012
  • Seaflower Marine Protected Area (MPA) · submitted: September 18, 2007

Source: UNESCO Tentative Lists

Country Profile Colombia

Official Name: Republic of Colombia

Continent: Americas

Subregion: South America

UNESCO Region: Latin America and the Caribbean

Capital: Bogotá

Population (2024): 52,886,363

Land Area: 1,109,500 km²

Currency: Colombian peso (COP)

Country Data Sources

Links

UNESCO World Heritage Convention: State Party Colombia

About States Parties

States Parties are countries that have joined the World Heritage Convention. They commit to identifying, nominating, and protecting properties of outstanding cultural or natural value on their territory. States Parties are also expected to monitor and report on the condition of inscribed sites.

World Heritage Insights

How Politics and Institutions Shape the UNESCO World Heritage List

The UNESCO World Heritage List is usually seen as a catalogue of the world’s most important cultural and natural places. Yet behind every inscription there is a structured decision process: countries must first join the Convention, run for a seat on the World Heritage Committee, prepare nominations through a fixed procedure, and finally obtain enough votes for inscription.

World Heritage Info

Background

Learn about UNESCO, the World Heritage Convention, Tentative Lists, and how World Heritage Sites are selected and preserved. Explore the history, structures, and processes that protect humanity’s cultural and natural treasures.

Portions of this page are based on data from UNESCO — World Heritage List Dataset. Changes made. Original content by World Heritage Explorer (WHE) is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. WHE is not affiliated with UNESCO or the World Heritage Commission. Legal Notice. Privacy Policy.

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