Güicán: Culture, legends and the Sierra within the municipality

Güicán brings together religious traditions and cultural sites in the town center with scenic destinations within the municipality and nearby surroundings. If you are looking for a hotel in Güicán, this distinction can help you identify your travel interests: the church and main park are in town; some of the landscapes and places to visit mentioned are in the municipality or the wider surrounding area.

The Sierra and the municipality

The Sierra Nevada El Cocuy or Güicán covers part of the municipality of Güicán. It includes the high-altitude areas of Ritacuba, El Castillo, El Pan de Azúcar and El Cóncavo. The area is shared with the municipality of Tame in Arauca. The Sierra Nevada de Güicán is considered a worthwhile destination, with peaks and snowfields.

Individual places within the municipality also have their own significance. The El Chorrerón area is located on the Corralitos property in the municipality of Güicán de la Sierra. The Peñón de la Gloria, also known as Peñón de Los Muertos, is also considered a worthwhile place to visit within the municipality. Local stories about mass suicides by the U´wa are associated with it. If you are interested in the landscape or the stories passed down through generations, you can consider these as different reasons to learn more about Güicán and its municipality.

The church, main park and religious traditions

In town, the church and main park offer two concrete points of reference for exploring Güicán’s culture. The church houses the image of the Morenita de Güicán, which is the subject of a legend about miracles and healings. The tradition connects the image with people seeking miracles or healing. A tradition associated with the Gruta de Cuchumba tells that the Tunebos found the Virgen Morena there.

The Monumento a la Dignidad U´wa, a colossal statue, stands in the main park. Other distinctive representations depict a spectacled bear with a frailejón, a species of collared lizard, a bearded man and a tigrillo. They refer to species and the traditional history of the Sierra Nevada de Güicán. Thus, the park brings together references to local wildlife and plants with depictions connected to history; the statue adds a distinct element of its own.

The patron saint festival of the Morenita de Güicán de la Sierra includes religious celebrations, a pilgrimage to the parish church, a cattle market and livestock exhibition, public dances, fireworks, bullfights and a solemn procession with the Virgin. If a festival is important to your travel plans, check the event dates in advance.

Routes and other places to visit

In the area near the destination, the Camino de Mal Paso has a five-kilometer interpretive trail with six stops. The tourism association Convite leads the route, which takes four hours. The stops explore traditional customs and how they have changed over time and through the influence of other cultures. The agricultural calendar is considered the main attraction.

The thermal springs in Vereda San Luis are also among the places to visit within the municipality. If you plan to visit, check the current visitor requirements in advance. A post dated November 3, 2017, mentioned Refugio la Casona de San Luis at the Balneario, Hotel Ecológico El Nevado and El Chorrerón in connection with Güicán de la Sierra, describing them as providers of tourist wellness services with natural attractions and mineral-rich water. Consider this historical context as a complement to the destination’s scenic and cultural themes, and check visitor requirements before making specific plans.

Discover more destinations: Los Curos, Sachica, Tibiritá, Firavitoba, Moniquira, El Cocuy, Santa María, Nobsa.

For the broader travel overview: Boyacá.