Has anyone been up to Valledupar and San Sabastian?

Greetings, My next trip south I am planning to fly out of Ft Lauderdale to Bogota on Avianca. Instead of my usual Miami to Barranquilla. Check out Bogota for a few days, then catch a flight up to Valledupar. From what I have read, Valledupar is the gateway for hiking into the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta. Also, I spoke to a collage professor from the U.S.while in Santa Marta last trip who's wife is from Colombia. He told me San Sabastian is a beautiful town in the mountains that is a must see. Any input would be appreciated.

By b bruce on Oct 29, 2007, 14:24 in Politics & the war.

ixent says on Oct 30, 2007, 07:15:

Valledupar has very friendly people and, of course, Vallenatos.

Are you sure you mean San Sebastian?
I don't know anywhere touristy with that name.
Where is it supposed to be -- around the Sta Marta mountains? There is a place called San Sebastian de Buenavista not far from Mompox in the central lowlands on the banks of the Magdalena river, but there doesn't seem to be much, if any, information on it.

webmanco says on Oct 30, 2007, 07:52:

I was in Valledupar and stopped a Puente Hurtado, or Parque Vallenato. White people do stand out a lot there.

For fun some people jump to the river from Puente Hurtado.

But, I'm going to start making some assumptions here.... Which means I might actually end up making an ass out of myself ..........Thu 04 17, 2008 11:34 am

b bruce says on Oct 30, 2007, 09:27:

San Sabastian is north east of Valladupar or directly east of El Cerrito which is north of Valladupar. Looking at San Sabastian on the map, it appears the road ends there very close to the southeast side of the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta. Thank you for your input!

ixent says on Oct 30, 2007, 11:02:

Do you mean Nabusímake, the arhuaco capital?
Apparently its name was changed by missionaries to San Sebastián de Rábago, and it still appears with this name under many maps (according to LP, 1995 edition). It's 30Km north west of Valledupar, and is the starting point for treks up the sierra nevada de Sta Marta. Never been there but it should be a memorable experience.