Guatavita: Colonial Center and Cultural Insights

Guatavita combines a historically colonial-style center with a new town built in the 1960s. There is also the Pueblitour with lunch, the Embalse de Tominé as a natural attraction in the municipality, and events from the 2026 XXXVII Festival de El Dorado “Nuestros Saberes Ancestrales.” This mix offers a range of ways to explore the area, from its streetscape and guided tours to nature and cultural themes.

Cobbled Streets and Colonial Architecture

Guatavita’s cobbled streets can be explored on foot. In the historic center of Guatavita (La Nueva), the architecture is colonial in style; the streets are clean, and the house façades are uniform and fully painted. The Nuestra Señora del Rosario church stands in the main square. The museum, market, and bullring are also distinctive features of the center. The streetscape, square, and range of facilities give the town center clear points of reference. Those interested in architectural styles can see the colonial influence in the character of the streets; the church adds a clearly identified religious landmark to the main square.

Another Architectural Period

The new town of Guatavita was built in the 1960s and is classified as architectural heritage in the categories of residential and civil buildings. It adds a different historical period to the colonial-style character of the historic center. The comparison involves two distinct perspectives: the streetscape and colonial architecture on the one hand, and the construction period and classification of the new town on the other. The categories refer to residential and civil buildings. This makes it possible to consider Guatavita’s architecture in a nuanced way, without assigning the buildings in the center and the new town to a single construction period.

Guided Tour and the Municipality’s Natural Setting

The Pueblitour is a guided tour of notable places in Guatavita and includes lunch. The tour and meal make it a clearly defined activity. In contrast, you can explore the cobbled streets on foot, taking in the colonial architecture and façades of the center. For trip planning, this offers a clear choice between a guided tour with lunch and exploring the town’s streetscape on foot.

The Embalse de Tominé is located in the municipality of Guatavita, in the department of Cundinamarca, and is one of the area’s most important natural attractions. It is a natural point of interest at the municipal level, while the colonial town center, with its church, market, and cobbled streets, offers a different focus. These two points of interest can be considered separately when planning a trip: the town’s architecture on one side and a natural attraction in the area on the other.

Cultural Events in 2026

The 2026 edition of the XXXVII Festival de El Dorado “Nuestros Saberes Ancestrales” featured performances dedicated to preserving Muisca memory and ritual dances drawing on the traditions of this community. As part of the festival, the Feria de Saberes Ancestrales y Artesanías gave artisans, growers, and knowledge holders a space to share their products and knowledge. The edition therefore brought together different cultural forms: performances and ritual dances on the one hand, and sharing products and knowledge on the other. The festival themes ranged from memory and tradition to crafts and the exchange of knowledge.

Choose a Location Based on Your Travel Interests

When choosing a vacation rental, your travel interests can help determine the location. If you want to focus on the streets, which can be explored on foot, and the colonial-style center, use these as your points of reference when searching. The Embalse de Tominé is another point of interest as a natural attraction in the municipality, while the Pueblitour offers a guided tour with lunch. First consider which of these aspects of Guatavita will shape your trip, then check whether the location of a particular vacation rental suits your planned visits.

Discover more destinations: San Francisco, Polinesia, Choachí, Villeta, Suesca, Tenjo, La Mesa, Vergara

For the broader travel overview: Cundinamarca.