Tabio: Culinary Tradition, Art and History

Tabio can be discovered through its many facets: a local speciality, handicrafts made from a variety of materials, historic churches and chapels, and places connected with nature and art. This mix offers several starting points for planning your trip—from an interest in regional food culture to historical and landscape-related themes.

A speciality and a wide variety of handicrafts

The tamal de calabaza is part of the culinary tradition of the municipality of Tabio. It is made with corn dough, pumpkin and natural seasonings; sometimes a little pork is added as a filling. The mixture is wrapped in banana leaves and steamed. The ingredients can vary. The combination of corn, pumpkin and cooking in a leaf makes this dish a tangible insight into local food culture—though not every version has to be the same.

Tabio’s handicrafts also offer a variety of materials to explore: the works include wood, wool, leather, ceramics, wrought iron and glass. The Toldos del Zipa handicraft programme was founded in 2012. Together, the wide range of materials and this named craft tradition provide a cultural point of reference for your trip alongside the local cuisine. If you are interested in design, you can take these themes into account when planning, alongside historic buildings and natural sites.

Churches, chapels and a historic route

The present-day church in Tabio was completed in 1904 by Father Andrés Avelino Pérez, named Santa Bárbara and consecrated on 28 December 1929. The Capilla de la Virgen de Lourdes in the Vereda Palo Verde was completed in 1884. It lies east of the Serranía de Tiquiza, which separates Tabio from Chía. These are two different chronological reference points for exploring the town’s history: the completion of the church and the year the chapel was built.

The Capilla de Santa Bárbara is built of stone and lies beside the Callejón del Zipa on a small hill. This brief description of its construction and location differs from the information about the Lourdes chapel and the present-day church. The religious buildings mentioned can therefore be considered according to their individual names, dates and features, without combining them into a single story.

Beyond Tabio, a historic ceremonial route lined with palm trees describes connections between Funza, Madrid in the La Punta sector, Tenjo and Tabio. It offers another regional-historical perspective on these places and their connections. When planning your trip, it helps to distinguish this regional context from the individual buildings in Tabio.

Nature, art and finding your way around

The Jardín Botánico de Tabio brings together nature, art and identity. Its first phase was inaugurated on 12 August 2000, with support from the Corporación Autónoma Regional (CAR), the municipal administration, environmental organisations and local leaders. This combination of garden, art and identity gives the site a different thematic perspective from the historic buildings.

The Parque Ecológico Carmen de los Juncales is an ecological park connected with the landscape and nature. It also features three monumental sculptures of human faces by Margarita Restrepo, designed to be touched and climbed on. The garden, park and sculptures appeal to different interests: the connection between nature and art, the landscape, and direct interaction with artworks.

Tabio’s Tourist Information Point (PIT) is located in the main park and provides guidance for planning a visit. When choosing your accommodation, it can help to first decide what matters most to you: food culture and handicrafts, historic buildings, or nature and art. These themes give you a basis for planning your trip without requiring all your interests to play the same role.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Cogua, Suesca, Sasaima, La Calera, San Antonio del Tequendama, Cota, Cajicá, La Concepcion.

For the broader travel overview: Cundinamarca.