Guacamayas: Crafts, Laguna Negra and Festivals

Guacamayas can be explored for trip planning through several distinct themes: fique and straw basketry, the alpargata tradition, Laguna Negra, and festivities throughout the year. If you are looking for a hotel in Guacamayas, you can first consider whether you would rather connect your stay with crafts, a named landscape destination, or a festival. The details help distinguish these points of interest and tailor your trip to your interests.

Fique and straw basketry

Basketry combines different materials and stages of work. Baskets are made using a coiled weaving technique; colored fique threads are then wrapped around a frame made of white straw. This makes it possible to distinguish the basket’s structure and its colorful wrapping as two elements of the same process. The baskets are made from natural fibers, with straw and fique playing specific roles in the technique described.

In the municipality of Guacamayas, artisans make colorful woven goods from fique and straw. These include bags, baskets, dolls, mats, and fruit bowls. The examples show different forms of craftsmanship, not just basketry. Anyone interested in traditional craft techniques will find a concrete connection here between the materials, the technique, and the objects made from them.

The Guacamayera alpargata tradition

Another use of fique can be seen in the traditional alpargatas from Guacamayas. Historically, their uppers were made of fabric, while the soles were made of fique. Fique therefore serves different purposes in two craft traditions: as colored wrapping on baskets and as sole material for alpargatas. This comparison brings the variety of material uses to life without equating the two production methods.

The demonstration workshop for the Guacamayera alpargata was established as a program to explain the manufacturing process and preserve this tradition. The workshop is associated with guided craft-making activities. If you are considering a visit, check in advance whether it is possible and under what conditions.

Laguna Negra and the parish by the main square

Laguna Negra in the hamlet of Alizal is considered a tourist attraction in Guacamayas and lies between two mountains. It is a named landscape destination to consider when planning a trip; the location also places it in Alizal. The parish of San Diego de Alcalá is located next to Guacamayas’s main square. The two places appeal to different interests: the landscape between the mountains is the focus at Laguna Negra, while the parish’s location by the main square is its distinguishing feature. This can help you decide whether to include a landscape destination or a religious landmark in your plans.

Festivals in June and December

The festival calendar also offers a specific point of reference for timing. Corpus Christi celebrations take place in June; in December, there are community Masses and year-end festivities. These months provide two different points of reference if you would like to plan your trip around the celebrations. If a festival is important to your plans, check the dates in advance.

When choosing the focus of your trip, you can consider several questions: Would you like to learn about basketry and the alpargata tradition, are you interested in Laguna Negra as a landscape destination, or is a particular festival period the deciding factor?

Discover more destinations: Santa Rosa de Viterbo, Sogamoso, Zetaquira, Sutamarchán, Iza, Sachica, Arcabuco, Ramiriquí

For the broader travel overview: Boyacá.