From the five Latin American countries that have a bullfighting industry, Colombia seems to be the second most bullfighting country.

Bullfighting in Colombia formally started with bullfights celebrating the independence from Spain, but was performed by the Spaniards who conquered the region (there are records about Alonso Luis de Lugo bringing 60 'bullfighting bulls' from Spain to Bogotá in 1543). However, the industry only reached its maturity in the 20th century. In 1917, two Spanish bullfighters went to Bogotá and developed the industry there. In 1955, the season started in Manizales - rivalling with Bogotá in popularity - and in 1957, Calí followed.

Today, the bullfighting industry has at least 86 permanent bullrings (the biggest in Bogotá, Manizales, Calí, Medellín, Bucaramanga and Cartagena), more than 30 breeding farms of 'bullfighting bulls', and eight bullfighting schools (Calí, Medellín, Manizales, Choachí, Sogamoso, Nobsa, Ubaté and Lenguazaque).

Bogotá's bullring is the second in size (14,500 seats) and it was founded in 1931. It is currently administered by the Corporación Taurina de Bogotá, which is created mainly by aficionados who acquired the bullring in 1999 when the owner did not want it anymore due to money loss. Bullfights are organized every year in January and February, but the number of bullfights was reduced over time.

Today the most popular bullring in Colombia is the one in Manizales, which could be considered the most bullfighting city in Colombia. The feria in Manizales is similar to the one in Sevilla, Spain, so they have adorned coaches parading in the street, kiosks with food and drinks scattered everywhere, etc. It is also a bullfighting bull farm area, with the brothers Hernán and Ernesto Gutiérrez being the most prominent breeders.

The bullring in Calí, currently run by Plaza de Toros S.A, has been losing money for more than ten years because of lack of attendance. The only important bullfights occur during the festivals of Calí, which in fact are more characterised by the 'cabalgata' than by bullfighting. During la cabalgata, people ride many horses in a chaotic environment that often generates accidents and horses' deaths. Because of that, animal protection groups are trying to abolish it.

The bullring in Cartagena de Indias (a big touristic city) suffered so many losses that the owner eventually gave up in 2008 and stopped all bullfighting activities.

Bullfighting is legal in Colombia because although there is a national animal protection law since 1984, through its section 7 it has exemptions for bullfighting, cockfighting and coleo (description at the end of this page). It is a weak law, since it does not mention any sanctions.

In 2004 the bullfighting industry, supported by the president and his family, successfully secured one critical national law, Law 916 ('Bullfighting Code'), which regulates the industry and declares bullfighting as 'an artistic expression of human beings'.

There was an attempt from Senator Dilian Francisca Toro (Liberal Party) to declare Calí’s Festival a National Patrimony of Colombia, and in doing so preventing any future law to ban it (Law 023 of 2007). There was a reaction of the anti-bullfighting movement against this (they received 350 emails per day about the subject). In the end, the Senate approved the declaration of the festival as national patrimony, but not the explicit inclusion of bullfighting in the definition of the fiesta (only mentioning 'cultural activities'). This is not good enough according to some local animal protection groups.

Colombia is now the Latin American country with the most anti-bullfighting municipalities. First, it was Medellín in February 2008, then Zapatoca the same month and finally Bello in July 2008. The Medellín declaration - which also included coleo, cockfighting and circuses with animals - was achieved thanks to 'repented' ex-bullfighter Álvaro Munera (currently a councillor of the city) and 18 councillors he managed to gather to support animal protection initiatives. However, the mayor of Medellin, Alonso Salazar, declined to sign it. This went to a judge, who ruled in favour of the Mayor based on the Law 916 mentioned above. The Council pursued an appeal to a higher court on account of the judge being partial.

As far as cruel fiestas is concerned, the typical fiesta in Colombia is called Corraleja, where a bull is teased by a crowd of mostly drunk people in a bullring or stadium. Accidents often occur and people get hurt. Corralejas are very informal and wild, and consist of provoking the bull with capotes, banderillas and all sorts of other objects, such as umbrellas. Sometimes horses are also used. The most important one is in Sincelejo, capital of Sucre (where these activities are more common). Although the bull is not killed, it is often injured due to all the assaults and falls.

Another activity that uses bulls in Colombia is el Coleo. This is a very popular cruel 'sport' mainly played in Venezuela and Colombia (also in Panama and Brazil) during which two riders try to throw a bull to the ground repeatedly by pulling its tail (or sometimes its limbs). A 'meat' bull is used instead of a 'bullfighting bull', and often the bull ends up with a broken tail or limbs.

This is mainly a rural activity supported by the lower classes and is considered a sport. In Villavicencio coleo is probably most popular.