Shakira wrote the song for the Mike Newell-directed 2007 film adaptation of 1985 novel Love in the Time of Cholera by Colombian author Gabriel García Márquez.

"Shakira's music has a personal seal which does not sound like anyone else and nobody can sing and dance like she does, at whatever age, with a sensuality that innocent that seems to be her own invention".

The story revolves around the character of Florentino Ariza and his unwavering affection for the stunning Fermina Daza, and the emotional entanglement that involves a local doctor".

[2] During the release of the movie in November 2007, Shakira elaborated in an interview: "Being part of the movie was a personal motivation because it is an extraordinary novel of one of the most extraordinary writers in history and a personal friend [...] [While composing the songs, I wanted] to present my country's beauty and the works of García Márquez".

[16] Shakira has performed the song live twice: at the premiere of the film and at Rock In Rio Madrid 2008, where she dedicated it to Íngrid Betancourt.

[17][14] In 2012, Shakira recorded and released a new version of the song on SoundCloud with her father William Mebarak to celebrate his birthday.

[20] John Li from MovieXclusive highlighted the tenderness of the soundtrack, while describing "Hay Amores" as "seductively beautiful" and noting that all three of Shakira's songs are "accompanied by [her] signature vocals".