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Captain Pedro de Alvarado, in the year 1540, by order of Don Sebastián de Belalcázar, seeking a complete pacification of the calucaymas, ventured through the lands of the cacique cay, from the Panche domains, a tribe that presented the Spanish conqueror with very fierce battles, from what today is the salty one up to the limits with the municipality of Piedras, resulting in the definitive triumph of the aforementioned captain and the incorporation of an already existing hamlet even a plan of annexation and control of all those lands to the crown. A voracious fire totally destroyed the population in 1889, leaving the district of Cayma above as head, according to ordinance no. 6 of June 22, 1904, which in its sole article says move the head of the municipality of Caldas to the site called Cayma Arriba, which will be called Caldas from now on. The departmental assembly of Tolima, changed the name of Caldas to Alvarado, according to ordinance no. 47 of May 22, 1930 to perpetuate the name of the founder, Captain Alvarado. Historical and statistical yearbook source of Tolima, 1958.



Alvarado is a municipality in the department of Tolima, in Colombia. It had a population of 8,972 inhabitants in the 2005 census. It is located 20 minutes away from the musical city of Ibagué, capital of the Department of Tolima, at a distance of 27 kilometers. Its economy is based on agriculture: rice, sorghum, avocado, citrus fruits, tomato, tobacco, cotton, cattle, milk and meat, agro-tourism and agro-industry. The urban area serves as a collection center for products produced from the flat and mountainous area.



Alvarado is recognized for the best avocado in the country, the panela agribusiness in the export-type sector of Veracruz and the dairy industry located on the Ibagué - Alvarado road and agrotourism that generates sources of employment and sustainable regional development.



Physical description:

It is located in the plain of Tolima that will die at the foot of the Cordillera Central, a slightly undulating territory with beautiful mountain manifestations or isolated hills called Cerros Testigos, a landscape that belongs to the Tolima plan or the Tolima rift valley. Its composition is sedimentary, formed by the fragmentation of metamorphic rocks that have a great volcanic influence, whose characteristic is permanence in terms of relief and is due to the degree of compaction that fossil elements have that are the product of the formation of materials that accumulated the fossils, all the mass that was dislodged by erosion from the adjacent mountain ranges and the heaviest elements that remain are the beautiful Cerros Testigos, which are silent testimonies of a geographical past.



Hydrography



Although there are dry areas, it has 3 rivers of great importance such as Totaré, La China and Alvarado. It has a large number of minor currents.

Limits of the municipality:

North: Venadillo

South: Ibagué

East: Stones

West: Anzoátegui

Total extension: 311.15 Km2

Urban area extension: 0.61 Km2

Rural area extension: 310.54 Km2

Altitude of the municipal seat (meters above sea level): 439

Average temperature: 26º C

Reference distance: 35 Km to Ibagué

Economy

farming



It is represented by products such as coffee, sugar cane, fruit trees, rice, sorghum and others. Crops range from traditional to highly technical agriculture.



Cattle raising



Due to its large areas of pasture it is oriented to the exploitation of beef and dairy cattle, there is a reduced exploitation of poultry farming, in the specialty of meat and laying, fishing is aimed at domestic consumption.



Industry



It is represented by workshops of brass, painting and ornamentation.



Agroindustry



In the Veracruz sector the production of panela to international markets.



Cheese and cheese factories.



Industry and Commerce



The main activities developed in the municipality in order of importance:



Transportation, Storage and Communications

Hotels, Restaurants, Bars and similar

Machinery and Equipment Repair

Footwear

Clothing



Financial Institutions: Banking services are provided by a single entity.

Communication channels

Terrestrial:



The following routes communicate directly with the places to go:



Alvarado River via Caldas Viejo - Hato Viejo.



Quebrada Anundey Vereda Casitas.



Rincón Chípalo - Pilamita.



Alto la Vieja - La Palmita.



Alvarado - Anzoátegui



Alvarado - Stones



Alvarado - Ibagué



Alvarado - Venadillo





To visit in Alvarado:

Natural reserves

Adobe House And Roof Of Palma Real

Typical house with hot climate - near Lata -Vereda Alto de la Vieja.

La Peñonoza Waterfall

7 km from the town center - Rincón Chápalo path - uncovered road - natural waters - free entry

Lundey Falls

Km. 10 Via to Anzoátegui - special for mountaineering

Charco la Paleta

50 meters from the Encantado and Cueva del Mohan - natural waters

Indian Cave

Site of historical and archaeological interest - dating from the colony - an hour and a half south east of the urban area limits with the municipality of Piedras Tolima - Suitable for ecological walks - passing through rice and cattle farms -

The Cerro la Picota

Vía a Venadillo - Symbol of our municipality - recognized worldwide - legend and archaeological heritage - restricted access.

The Enchanted and Mohan Cave

A 1 km west From the urban area - la Palmita path - La Vieja ravine - access on foot.- according to the legend not recommended for bathing.

The Huyamo

At 1 km. Via Anzoátegui head of the Llano - paved road - natural waters - free entry.

The Medina Railroad Bridge Over La China River

Northwest of the urban area - natural water - white sands beach - uncovered road

The Bridge Over Alvarado River - Via Ibagué

Access restricted to individuals - natural waters.

The Bridge Over Alvarado River - Via A Piedras

800 meters from the town center - paved road - free entry

The Trincho

1 km from the town center - via the cemetery - restricted passage through the El Diamante farm.

The Babillera

7 km from the urban area - rincón chápalo path - uncovered road - natural waters - free entry

The waterfall

Via Ibagué - at the height of the toll - natural waters.

The Peñas

Vía a Piedras - White sand beaches - natural waters - free entry.

The Two Bridges Over La China River - Via A Venadillo

5 km from the town center - paved road - natural waters.

Fairs and Festivals in Alvarado

In Honor of the Patron Nuestra Señora del Rosario de Chiquinquirá and San Roque.



They are celebrated during the second bridge of August of each year:

Dawn

Gunpowder burning

Religious celebrations

Ride

Popular dances

Corraleja

Artist

Floats

Deenguayabe in the Alvarado River

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