Tota Lake and Pueblito Boyancense
A beach day closer to the sky and the perfect end to a Boyacá tourWhat so see and do in Tota Lake and Pueblito
The Laguna de Tota is one of the largest lakes in Colombia, and is located at the surprisingly high elevation of 3000 mamsl, the lake and its nearby villages offer very beautiful views of the mountains, fresh fish, and even a small beach and water sports. Just 50km away from the Lake, in the city of Duitama, you will find one of the top tourist attractions of the region: Pueblito Boyacense, a commercial and cultural centre with replicas of the most beautiful towns of Boyacá and can be the prefect end to your tour.
We have packed these two destinations in one single day, but in non-COVID times each one of them, to enjoy all the activities they offer. However, if you don’t have much time, a quick visit to both of them is totally possible in one day and only a small detour on your way back to Bogotá.
Tota lake beach and nearby villages
The Tota Lake is roughly 60 km2 and located at the surprisingly high elevation of 3000 mamsl, which makes it a very special lake entirely surrounded by beautiful mountains, which offer spectacular views of this lake. If you only have little time, we recommend making a lunch break to eat some fresh Trucha in one of the several restaurants with a view to the lake.
If you have more time, you can explore some of the nearby villages (we recommend Iza and Cuítiva) or plan a beach afternoon at the small artificial beach which does not compare to a real beach (especially considering the cold weather) but offers some water sports and a nice view to relax.
Pueblito Boyacense
Pueblito Boyacense, started 20 years ago as a collective project of a group of around 15 artists that, with the help of donations and bank credits, embarked on an adventure to create the top tourists attraction of Boyacá in the city of Duitama: a commercial and cultural centre with small-scale replicas (rather representations in our opinion) of the most beautiful towns of Boyacá.
Besides the representation of the architecture and monuments of the most beautiful towns, the little town hosts dozens of shops, hotels, art galleries, and restaurants, together with residential houses. Information boards are missing, and we really recommend a walking tour (around 40 mins) to understand the different elements of the Pueblito, learn about Boyaca’s history and make the best out of your visit.
If you want to spend a bit more time here, you can stay in one of the hotels and save the entry and parking fees. If you skip the Pueblito on your way back to Bogotá, you can make a short stop in the area to visit the monument of Pantano de Vargas, which represents an iconic battle that was crucial for the independence of Colombia.
