Every year, Fuente de Oro in Meta comes alive with colors, music, and raw energy for the Carnaval de Fuente de Oro—a festival that’s as much an expedition into culture as it is a celebration. The streets pulse with dance troupes and local beats, while the air carries the promise of community and discovery. Visiting during Carnaval offers an immersive journey into traditions fiercely upheld by locals who wear their history with pride.

The festivities spread over several days, with parades, folk music, and street food vendors daring you to taste authentic Meta flavors next to rivers that chuckle under bridges and plazas buzzing with life. The terrain is easy to explore on foot, making it accessible for casual visitors and adventure seekers alike—expect flat, paved routes peppered with lively crowds.

Planning your trip means balancing the excitement with practical details: Carnaval takes place in late February or early March, typically coinciding with warm, sometimes humid days. Stay hydrated and wear comfortable footwear as the streets can get crowded, and navigating through celebratory gatherings requires steady footing. Local inns and guesthouses in Fuente de Oro provide convenient bases, but accommodations in Villavicencio, roughly 50km away, offer more variety.

Beyond the parade, the surroundings invite exploration—quiet trails along the Guape River offer a slower rhythm with forested edges where birds chatter insistently and the wind traces whispered routes through the trees. This contrasting backdrop is where nature challenges you gently—uneven paths, occasional muddy patches, and bursts of sunlight filtering through, making every step a dialogue between you and the environment.

To fully engage with the Carnaval’s spirit, pace yourself. Dive into the festivities with curiosity, but reserve energy for excursions just outside town, where walking leads to snapshots of local life and vistas proving Meta’s beauty isn’t only in celebration but rooted in its land and people. By approaching Carnaval and its landscape with respect and preparation, you’ll find yourself not just witnessing but living the adventure.