Guacamayas: Handicrafts, Festivals and Laguna Negra

Discover Guacamayas through its handicrafts, landscapes and community life. In the municipality, basketry made with fique and straw, the Alpargata Guacamayera and Laguna Negra in the vereda of Alizal each represent a different theme. There are also celebrations in June and December, as well as the parish of San Diego de Alcalá next to the main square. If you are planning a trip, you could start by deciding whether you want to focus mainly on handicraft traditions, landscapes or festivals.

Fique, Straw and the Alpargata Guacamayera

In the municipality of Guacamayas, basketry includes baskets made from natural fibres and coloured fique. To make these baskets, fique is wrapped around a frame of white straw. Basketry also involves a coiling technique in which the woven form is then wrapped with dyed fique threads. The materials and methods give the craft its distinctive form: straw provides the frame for the baskets, while fique is used for the colourful wrapping.

Artisans also make colourful woven items from fique and straw, including bags, baskets, dolls, mats and fruit bowls. If you are interested in handicrafts, you can see these examples as different aspects of the same tradition: materials, technique and finished forms.

The Alpargata Guacamayera is another handicraft tradition. Traditional alpargatas from Guacamayas had a fabric upper and a fique sole. The demonstration workshop for the Alpargata Guacamayera was set up as a programme to explain the making process and preserve this tradition. The programme includes guided activities in handicraft making. If you are planning to take part, check in advance whether it is currently offered.

Laguna Negra and the Landscape

Laguna Negra in the vereda of Alizal offers a different perspective on the municipality. It is considered a tourist attraction in Guacamayas and lies between two mountains. This makes it a focus for the landscape alongside the handicraft themes: at Laguna Negra, the view turns to the surroundings between the mountains; basketry and the alpargata, by contrast, focus on materials and production. When considering Guacamayas in light of your nature and cultural interests, you can weigh these different aspects as you plan.

Festivals and Local Landmarks

Corpus Christi celebrations take place in June; in December, there are community fairs and year-end celebrations. The annual calendar thus offers two different seasonal occasions. If you want to plan your trip around a celebration, check the specific dates in advance.

The parish of San Diego de Alcalá is next to the main square in Guacamayas. It adds a named religious site to the landscape, handicrafts and celebrations.

Find the Right Holiday Rental for Your Travel Plans

When searching, compare the location details and information for each holiday rental with your own plans. This can help you choose accommodation based on which themes you would like to explore during your stay. If you are planning a trip together, it may be helpful to discuss your interests and the best time to travel first, then choose accommodation to match.

Discover more destinations: Guateque, Nobsa, Belen, Cómbita, Jenesano, Chiquinquirá, Tibasosa, Sachica

For the broader travel overview: Boyacá.