A Cundinamarca Tour: Hints for making your first tour in Colombia memorable.

Here there is no mention of the paragliding available in the area, nor of horseback riding, nor of the best places to dance. There are hints about making your visit to Colombia one of your better doings.

            Here are some hints for sparking interesting tour ideas. You may also find suggests for helping you to smooth your adventures. Remember that Colombians speak Spanish. You can find opportunities to test the quality of your Castellano. Your tour could turn out to me a number of smaller tours. I might be a good move to make some of them guided. A knowledgeable guide is a valuable asset. She could either make or break much of  the pleasure of the excursion. There are many tours and guides available in Bogota and some elsewhere. Enjoy some planning and enjoy your exploration a lot.

            Cundinamarca is the "departamento" (state) of Colombia in which the Colombian capital city of Bogota is located. It has been said that the name Cundinamarca comes from Chibcha word "kutur marga," which means "nest of the condor." Chibcha is the language of the Muisca, a principle pre-columbian people of what is now the Republic of Colombia.

            Cundinamarca has a great deal of interesting cultural attractions to offer beyond its marvelous landscape and natural attractions. Cultural attractions include, food, architecture, music, and dance available to you. As your Spanish grows much more culture is available.To begin with, just the geographical attractions could become near overwhelming. Still you may find it easy to forget that you are exploring a bit of the Andes, the longest range of mountains with many of the worlds highests peaks. 

            You might choose to begin getting acquainted with Cundinamarca by joining a tour group or two at least one an overnighter.Then again you might find and interesting guide in Bogota and by surprise him by saying you would like to get to know the towns of Fomeque, Guasca (Guasca may be the name of a bearlike animal. You could ask someone who knows more Chibcha than I do), Junin, Gacheta, Gama, Gachala, Uhala, and Medina. Most of these town names are hispanizations of Muisca names. Your guide may carry some Muisca DNA. He may be able to speak more English than Chibcha and his language will be Colombian Spanish. 

            Colombia is rich in water resources and Cundinamarca is certainly one of the richest states in that resource. Colombians have begun to develop and protect this resource, But you may come to feel that beauty of the streams, rivers, is the greater richness. On the Cundinamarca rout of my example this beauty abounds. Much of it comes from the sky in the form of rain, but you may find the water at hot water spas were the water comes from the earth has a great beauty of its own. I have heard that 1/4 of the hydroelectric energy of the country is produced in this department.    

            A major attraction in the area for some is a nature park called the Natural Chingaza. The origin of the name is a mystery to me. Speaking of mystery, This 150,000 acre park with peaks of over 10,000 feet above sea level is likely to hold secretes that only perhaps a few Muisca and Guayupes know of. Several of the towns I have mentioned here are within this park. There are pure water streams and lakes in the area. With legs better than mine there are many natural beauties to be seen within short walking distance of a good road. There is a great deal of beautiful and dramatic scenery to be seen without leaving the car.

            One might easily spend a month exploring the area. Do try to give yourself a week or ten days to enjoy a real chance to take in the curiosities, beauties, and more of the people, places, and doings in what may be called the heart of Colombia. You may delight in treks or hikes, but you do not have to.Very much can be enjoyed frequent road-side stops. Great hours or days can be enjoyed bathing at hot water and checking out the interesting eating opportunities. There is a taste treat or two you may never find elsewhere. To get up your appetite some good bird watching is often available. Perhaps available right from your hotel, cabin, chalet, or hostile. A guide may  help you to find lodging very well suited to you.

            Or you may be one to check out some of the local alcoholic beverages unknown to you. But you could enjoy the comfort of class of a beverage you know well. You may find simple breathing here a great joy. It is possible to discover some of the purest air you have ever experienced. You may find it best not to run as much as you are accustomed to. A these altitudes the air is often very pure, but may feel somewhat thin to a newcomer. 

            There are quick an easy ways to change altitudes. A trip doward can quickly get you into warmer more abundant air. You can easily change altitudes to find a warmer climate or air more congenial to you. When you feel a bit too warm, you can easily go up again to the refreshing cool air there.

            In much of this area the land does seem more vertical than horizontal. But than again one can feel that one is in some beautiful lowland with lovely green meadows marvelous groves of trees. The fact is that the very lowest spot you may visit will be about 3000 feet above sea level. You may also find that the top of the little hill near you has an altitude of over 9000 feet. You could get up a good bit higher if you wish. Not good running country for a low-lander. Not at first.

            No need to tell anyone, but you may find yourself close to El Dorado, he Gilded One, or at least to the lake where he was washed of the gold dust covering his body. Remember that at a good hostel there may be some one ready to relate very interesting and useful information. This may be so even if there are youth their to exuberant for your taste and you do not intend to stay you may still find people there persons there pleased to give you very good valuable information with a smile. Before I forget, don't you forget to bring a light jacket and sweater or the like. Even though you are not so very far from the equator, the nights are chilly and some days can be pretty cool. There is some good shopping in Bogota and the prices makes it tempting. You could buy a sweater or jacket there.

            You can vis the area we have been considering from a variety of directions. This is best done one at a time. Many have found that a good start may be don from Bogota to the cement town of La Calera. Calera has many restaurants, and a few are quite good and probably much cheaper than the ones you may have eaten in the Capital. Still for one new to the country it may be best to drink bottled water or a gin fizz and stick to cooked food. You might have to leave some of your first beautiful salads.

            If you find that you have time to spend in La Calera and feel like decent walk, you find it easy and worthwhile to visit La Pena Tunjuaque while you are here. Take your time and take it easy, You may begin to feel like your are getting up close and personal with the country in a comfy way. If not it is a nice walk and could lead to a good night's sleep.

            Thank you for reading.

            Enjoy! 

A visit to Boyaca, Colombia

 

 Boyaca, including Sotaquira

 

                The Colombian "departemento" of Boyaca borders on eight other departments of Colombia, including the one in which I live, Antioquia! A Colombian departamento is analogous to a US state. Boyaca also boarders on the Republica Bolivariana of Venezuela, simply called Venezuela. The capital city of Boyaca is Tunja.

                The following introduction to the area can interest a first time tourist and, perhaps, a first time explorer. 

Hostel:

                If you are interested in ecotourism, Boyaca may be a good place for you to do some exploration. It can interest birders too. Much tourism has been developed for Colombians and other Spanish speakers. When your linguistic abilities do not include Spanish, there are still ways to enjoy your time in this departamento. There are guided tours available with guides who may speak a language with which you are familiar. There are also a good number of pleasant and comfortable hostels available. Most of them can provide you with a great deal of interesting and useful information. Many are likely to have information in a language you know. Many hostels will have personal who speak one or more European languages. A good hostel can be a valuable asset.

                Better hotels often have someone available who speaks English or a European language other than Spanish. Most hotels seem to have less tourist information of interest to the foreign tourist than do most hostels. But even those hotels may put you on the trail to some interesting and useful information; information like the phone number of a reputable tour company.

                In Boyaca much exuberant flora to be found; Boyaca has rivers and lakes; waterfalls and hot water spas; Colonial towns and churches; plenty of trees and a bit of desert. 

                There are places to stay which are interesting, pleasant, and comfortable. Many of these places can be found outside the cities, some in wonderfully scenic locals. Often there is an inviting swimming pool available. The food can be good, some both good and  bit exotic. From nearly every place, you can be directed to an establishment with healthy and tasty food. If a place looks iffy you may be sensible to request food to be served very hot from the kitchen. When you are in a place for the first time it could be best to resist that delicious looking fresh fruit drink or lovely salad.

                Two popular small cities that you may find worth a visit or a stay are Villa de Leyva and Paipa.

                When you have an excellent guide and have done a bit more than the usual reading there are places with histories which can be more than a little interesting. The backstories of of some landmarks can be informative and interesting.

                Many visitors find the geography of Boyaca and much of Colombia spectacular. I find much of it beautiful. The Andes are great; great big ranges. You may find some of the altitudes you are traveling are difficult to believe until you try to go for a run. An area of rolling nearly park like country may have the feel of low lands, but may be at 7,000 feet, or more. They may look like the rich hill country of home. They often have deep, fertile earth supporting rich green forest and field and not even show a rock and be at an altitude of 8,000 feet. Not all of Boyaca is among Andean peaks. There low lands and pleasant river valleys. If the weather where you find yourself is not just right for you, travel up or down for a very short time and find ideal warmth or softly cooling breezes.

                There have been some interesting happenings and doings in pre-Colombian times in this often lovely area. That reminds me that today on any day one may see an orchid blooming unattended. Back to pre-Colombian times. Much of the country you will see was very well populated then. Gold has been found in the mountains, rivers, and streams. Pre-Colombian mined it and worked it. They also mined emeralds. Those emeralds are mined today. Ask about local museums. you may find small, but interesting one.

                Their are trails to hike, mountains to climb, horses to ride, and, as Colombians say, rivers in which to bathe. The trails are often walkable enough, but often not well marked. There are also hammocks and comfortable chairs in which to relax, savor recent experiences, and come to note a softly pleasing breeze. There are comfortable small hostels and hotels; one with great views is not difficult to find. It is possible to find one where your language is spoken and the information is generous. It is not impossible to find one with natural hot water pools and a good cook. It might be peacefully rural with very comfortable beds.

Sotaquira:

                There are plenty of interesting towns an villages in Boyaca. One of them is Sotaquira. Sotaquira is also a municipio. A municipio is much like a small county. It borders on the municipalities of Tuta and Paipa. Its Spanish foundation date is December 20th of 1582. The founder was Friar Arturo Cabeza de Vaca. I do not believe that this is the known and loved Cabeza de Vaca of American grade-school text books. The town became a Catholic parish in 1777. "Sotaquira," in the Chibcha language of the Muisca, appears to mean "Place of the Sovereign." The economy of the municipio still consists mainly of pre-hispanic agricultural products. Still a dairyman may be a big man in the area.

                It is said that the residents of Sotaquira are mostly 'remnant' Sotaira people of the Muisca confederation, which included the Zipazco of Bacata, Zacazco of of Hunza, the sacred territories of Iraca, Tudama, etc. The Sotaira were direct tributaries of the Zaca of Hunza. Hunza has become Tunja, the present capital of the department. I have a unclear memory that Bacata is the source of the the name Bogota.

                At the time of Colombia's war of independence, it is said, that the people of Sotaquira donated one hundred horses to the patriot's cause. Colombia's independence from Spain had important beginnings throughout much of Boyaca.

                These first notes on Boyaca stir my interest in the pre-Columbian people of Colombia. Are you interested in them? Should you comment in the "comments" section just below be on the nature of your interests in them, I would try to work up some interesting notes on them and write up and publish a post on them here or on the history blog. Use the "comments" app below for anything related to the contents of this post. 

                Just now I am remembering the people who were here as Columbus sailed the ocean blue. I have mentioned that they included the Chibcha speaking Muisca. The Chibcha speaking people have been considered as having the highest cultural development of all the many people in the north of South America. They practiced a high level of highly varied horticulture. The seem to have been a bit more democratic than most indigenous people and most of the newcomers. At least the spread their gold around a bit more equitably than most.  

                Am I taking us to far into pre-Columbian times for a visit to modern Boyaca. Okay then I'll take a step into speculation. There seems to be growing evidence of an indigenous population here by 12,000 BC, that's more than 14,000 years ago! That's near the time of Noah's flood, perhaps before that flood. Some ancestors of native peoples could have survived that floods in mountains much like those of today. Some may lived here in that long Ice Age prior to the flood. Many may have found their way here to start a new life. There were perhaps five major language groups and more than 20 different languages and a couple of languages that seem to fit nowhere. Where did they originate.

                Thanks for reading.

                Come on down!

                There about 25 more posts on Colombia here including vidos and essays. Click on Colombia in above or in the Labels column.

    

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