The Cauca River in Antioquia has historically been one of the main natural barriers to mobility in the region. In the absence of wooden bridges or solid structures, rudimentary river transportation systems were put in place to allow people, animals, and goods to cross.
Among the most commonly used solutions were captive boats—vessels attached to a cable with pulleys anchored on both banks of the river. These boats moved by taking advantage of the river’s current and the cable’s traction, and were steered using a rudder. Their design allowed them to carry heavy loads, making them a key means of transportation in Antioquia before the construction of modern bridges.
Despite their limitations, the captive boats and the garruchas were essential to the integration of the Antioquia region, facilitating trade and the expansion of the regional economy.
