SIGHTS OF BOYACA

FLORA AND FAUNA SANCTUARY IGUAQUE

Created in 1977, is one of the 46 natural areas of the country, located at 2400-3800 meters above sea level, cold weather, temperature 12 degrees, with an area of ​​6,750 hectares. 

The nature walk is approximately lasts for 2 hours through trails leading to the Laguna de Iguaque one of eight lakes that are found in this sanctuary. 

Where according to the accounts of the Muisca mythology Bachué emerged with a child who had to grow up with her children thus populating the earth. 

It is located 15 kilometers from the population via Arcabuco or the same distance from Villa de Leyva and 39 kilometers of Tunja has a cottage with services Lodging, Camping Restaurant and Parking, currently managed by the Special Administrative Unit National Parks Natural (Environment). 

Its main objective is to preserve the Andean Forest, there is variety of flora and fauna, abundant streams, soils and vegetation has different conformation.

Sierra Nevada of Cocuy

This National Park of 306,000 hectares is located in the east of the Eastern Cordillera, between the departments of Boyacá (Cubará municipalities, Chiscas, -corregimiento- Las Mercedes, El Espino, Güicán Cocuy and Chita) Arauca (between the municipalities of Tame and San Lope -corregimiento-) and Casanare (between the towns of La Salina and Sacama). With a temperature ranging between 20 ° and -4 ° Celsius Celsius, the Park is a unique place to meet a different kind of nature as it is connected with the mountain range in the west and the plains on the east. 

The park can be reached by Arauca in the southwestern sector via Tame -Sacama (2 hours) and noriental sector via Cubará 'The Chuscal (indigenous U'wa Reservation) (1 hour). From Bogotá you can reach via the Tunja - Duitama - Bethlehem - Boavita - Uvita - San Mateo - Macaws - Panqueba - The Cocuy or Bethlehem - Tipacoque - Capitanejo - El Espino - Panqueba - The Cocuy (11-12 hours). 

In the Sierra Nevada you will find various ecosystems; forest in the piedmont plains Andean forest and snowy wasteland with perpetual snow. Wildlife Park aracteriza by animals such as the spectacled bear, paramo tapirs, deer, golden eagles and ocelots. Regarding the flora, highlighting the area frailejones moorland and trees such as Yellow Cedar and Totumo's in Andean flora. 

In the area noriental Sierra Nevada is an indigenous territory inhabited by the indigenous U'wa. This group retains its traditions intact and are great allies in protecting the park. In western inhabitants of rural culture of the Andes is encuebtran, which unfortunately and due to agricultural activities that develop, have endangered ecosystem conservation area. 

In the Parque do ecotourism, but the park does not pay the hosting service, so it is necessary to get inn in rural homes or guides in the region. 

In the Sierra Nevada you can find places of interest like the same Sierra Nevada and the snowy Cocuy Güican, where you can see over 20 snow peaks, glacial lakes, pristine moorland characteristic fauna and flora of the Andean forest. 

Some recommendations when visiting the park are out climbing equipment and camping in the mountains, insulation, sleeping bag and cold weather clothing; Move only by authorized trails and accompanied by a licensed guide. For safety entering the park people over 60 and under 10 years is not recommended. Nor do people who suffer from ill health. 

It is not allowed to enter or removal of animal or plant material, as well as the entry of aerosols or pollutants, firearms, traps or any object for trapping. Out of respect to the place you are visiting, it is forbidden to listen to music at high volume. Dispose of plastic bags for biodegradable wastes no kind to be carried out of the park.

SIGHTS OF BOYACA

THERMALS PAIPA

Hot baths is one of the great attractions of the city. Besides being a source of entertainment, provide great health benefits. 

Coming to   aquatic complex is reached by the road that passes in front of Lake Sochagota and  around Pantano de Vargas, just 5 minutes from the main Paipa park.

VILLA DE LEIVA 

It is a clear example of the preservation of colonial architecture in the country. It was founded by Don Andrés Díaz Venero de Leyva and declared a National Monument in 1959. 

Population peaceful and serene, home of the first President of the New Kingdom of Granada, which later became recreational site viceroys and presidents. 

Currently visitors can scroll through the main square and cobbled streets, visit the Cloister of the Discalced Carmelite Sisters, Cathedral, Casa de Nariño Antonio, Casa de Juan de Castellanos and the Museo del Carmen, one of the art museums Colombia's most prestigious religious and also enjoy the richest embroidery around or acquire and own handmade crafts of the region as the ceramic Ráquira and points of Boyacá and country candy. 

Main Plaza: 
The center of the village, fully paved, with 14,000 square meters is considered the country's largest. A source that supplied drinking water to the population for many years is in the center. 

Vargas Vila House: 
The famous journalist, critic and novelist José María Vargas Vila moved to Villa de Leyva in 1885, putting the teaching in public schools. The house is located on the main square in front of the church. 

Museo del Maestro Luis Alberto Acuña: 
In the main square museum featuring acrylic and oil paintings, charcoal drawings, sculptures in concrete, acrylic murals, etc. is It is located next to the house of Vargas Vila. 

Los Portales: 
The elegant romantic architecture that adorns the northeastern side of the square was built by Don Juan de Castellanos. Upstairs some restaurants mayor and works on the ground floor. Don Juan de Castellanos wrote 150,000 verses, stanzas, the story related to the struggles of conquest with the Indians. 

Casa del Cabildo: 
On the south side of the square, is the home of the council, one of the historical relics of the village. 

Casa de Nariño: 
In this house died precursor Antonio Nariño independence on 13 December 1823 The house is located between the terminal and the main square. 

Ricaurte Birthplace: 
It is a tribute of admiration and affection for the Hero of San Mateo. The FAC (Colombian Air Force) acquired the property in 1970 and installed him as a military museum in honor of his patron who believes. 

Paleontological Museum: 
Leaving the town, on the road to Arcabuco, is the oldest mill wheat Colombia. Today is a museum which displays fossils from 120 million years. 

House of General Gustavo Rojas Pinilla: 
In the south eastern corner of the Plaza del Carmen house he lived former President General Rojas Pinilla is. On one of his visits, the General issued and signed, along with all of his ministers, on December 17, 1954, Decree N. 3841, by which he declared to Villa de Leyva as a National Monument. 

Museo del Carmen: 
Works of religious art from the seventeenth to twentieth centuries are exhibited. It was founded in 1971 by the PP. Carmelites, who pulled out of the privacy of the convent cloisters these treasures are a historical record of the life and culture of their Order. 

Fossil: 
A fossil impressive 20 meters of a quensladicus kronosaurus with about 120 million years. On the way to St. Sophia 5 ½ Km. 

Parish Church: 
Symbol and Villa de Leyva Boyaca Shield this population. It is located in the main square. He rose in the first half of the seventeenth century personal expense of the King of Spain and the residents of the town. 

Church of Our Lady of Mount Carmel: 
Built in 1850, is an authentically Andalusian cross of two chapels. The smaller the primitive and is dedicated to the Virgen del Carmen. Most popularly known as "Mama Linda Church". 

Ecce Homo: 
Convent founded on March 14, 1620 by the Dominicans PP as a center of evangelization in this region, then heavily populated by indigenous peoples. With stunning architecture, is currently under renovation. On the way to Santa Sofia 14 km of Villa de Leyva. 

Convento de la Candelaria: 
From Ráquira is 7 Km. Religious is the first monastery in America, founded in 1604 by the Augustinian Matthew P. Delgado in gathering together the hermits living in caves scattered around. In the cloister paintings, artwork, antiques, etc. are displayed 

The Infiernito: 
Muiscas Astronomical Center, where you can see fragments of the observatory and phallic monoliths as a symbol of fertility. On the way to St. Sophia 8 ½ Km. 

Cave Factory: 
Natural cave formed by an underground river. Ideal for caving site. Being slightly damp but not many stalactites are in certain places. It is inhabited by small bats. On the way to St. Sophia at 20km. 

The Hayal: 
A spectacle of nature, a giant cave (150m high) with water drops over 25 meters. It has a small cave. By way of St. Sophia Moniquirá 6 km. Hagia Sophia. 

Waterfall Periquera: 
Natural wonder, with a fall of 15m. Following the course you can visit other equally wonderful waterfalls. On the way to Gachantivá 14 km. 

Iguaque: 
In the Sanctuary of Flora and Fauna, the cradle of humanity as Muiscas, you can hike to the lagoon where Bachué became a serpent. With heights ranging between 2400 and 3600 meters you get on the road to Arcabuco to 12 Km. 

Desert Villa de Leyva: 
Villa de Leyva entering the left side of the desert Villa de Leyva, where motocross practiced contemplated, mountaineering and cycling where you can still find fossils. 

Cave Paintings: 
On the right bank of the river Sáchica is one of the largest collections of Indian painting registered Chibcha territory.

Typical foods of Boyacá

Typical foods of Boyacá

Drinks: 

Chicha and the juice of corn are the oldest. Seventeenth century masato of rice, Kumis and sugar water (or agüepanela); nineteenth is beer (numerous brands that have made history: Bavaria, Andean, coastal, Costeñita, Pilsen, Eagle, etc, etc) and soft drinks, as traditional Colombian.

Snacks and principles:

Arepas jenesanences, almond biscuits, cotudos, fig empanadas, pan de yuca, Canches San Ignacio, chiroza onion, almojábanas Paipa, suck Creole potato wrapped cob, sausage, potatoes blasted, boyacense tamal curd with molasses (molasses)

Soups: 

Cuchuco corn, wheat cuchuco copartisan backbone (euphemism for not mentioning the pig), changua soup with sliced ​​lamb casserole bread soup, broth rib.

Dishes: 

boyacense stew, covered rice, lamb head stew, cooked peasant, roasted lamb ribs, pork chops, kiddo porridge, sausage of Sutamarchán, red sausage, black pudding, fried potato native.

Desserts: 

Cake Curd foamed curuba, ripe bananas roasted, ripe bananas roasted and stuffed with cheese and sweet (sandwich) guava, apple pie, sweet guava Tibasosa, dates of Soatá, veleño sandwich with cheese, coconut candies sweet blackberry ...

THE BAMBUCO

Bambuco, history and tradition 

The tune Bambuco is the basis of the Andean region, which includes the departments of the mountainous area located in the three branches of the Cordillera Central and Eastern Nariño, Cauca and Valle, Huila and Tolima, Antioquia, Risaralda and Quindio, Cundinamarca, The Santanderes, central and western Boyacá. As dance is the most characteristic da

nces of the area but has its own characteristics in each region, while keeping a certain similarity. 

It is without doubt the finest Colombian Andean folklore. Are varied versions about its origin, being perhaps the most widespread of his African origin, originally held by the writer Jorge Isaacs in his book "La María" and then shared by a number of researchers and historians folclorólogos Colombian music. 

Such version says that the name "bambuco" was taken from the word "bambuk", name of a river of the West African region, where a similar pace danced, but by no means coincident with bambuco Colombian dancing. 

Other researchers originated is the Chibcha and other is Spanish. And it is from that bambuco reaches Central America, the Caribbean and Mexico, mainly because Pelon Santamarta tours through the land with their duet "Pelon and Marin." 

In its beginnings bambuco interpreted with mandolin, tiple and guitar. Her singing is preferably to be played a duet of voices, which have left deep impression by his great instrumental and vocal quality. 

Dancing 

Its structure is circular planimetric, predominantly eights plus circles, combined with some crosses, progress and regression, displacement occur spontaneously. In exteriometría men and women wear the same step routinely dominate the short escobillado; Figures more features are: kneeling, invitation, persecuted and flirtations. 

The theme of Bambuco it is based on love, romance is the process of peasant expressed through movement; to better understand the issue, the meaning of some figures should be considered.