Sucre: A Look Inside Colombia’s Bullfighting Culture – 6/32

Despite it’s location along Colombia’s Caribbean Coast, the department of Sucre is a bit off the well-beaten tourist trail — for gringos that is. But every year, Colombians from around the country flock to the area for Las Fiestas de 20 de Enero and their central event, las corralejas.

When I made my way through Sucre as part of my 32 Departments of Colombia project, everyone kept telling me I had to go to the corralejas. It wasn’t until I made it to Sucre’s capital city of Sincelejo that I even found out what they were — bullfights, Colombian style. And this isn’t any old fighter in a ring with a single bull. Corralejas are pure chaos — anyone can participate and the danger is actually part of the appeal.

Now despite being central to Las Fiestas de 20 de Enero, las corralejas are a controversial topic around Colombia and beyond. In fact, current Colombian president Gustavo Petro has called for an end to the events, calling them “barbaric,” and animal activists worldwide have condemned the acts. However, many costeños have fought back, calling them an integral part of coastal culture.

So I went, curious to see for myself what the corralejas were all about. While I do not support unethical animal tourism or harm to animals in any way, I wanted to approach this event with a genuine curiosity for this event that is so integral to the culture of the Colombian coast. You can check it all out in my latest video, or I highly recommend this in-depth article to learn more.

By the way, the department of Sucre is home to much more than bullfights. It’s home to 5 distinct regions, each with their own unique cultures, landscapes, and identities, and I was lucky to have the chance to visit them while I explored the department.

More About Sucre

If I’ve written any articles about Sucre, you’ll see them listed here!