Ubaté: Sacred Buildings, Pilgrimage Tradition and Routes

Ubaté brings together sacred architecture, an annual pilgrimage tradition and a variety of routes as travel interests. If you are looking for hotels in Ubaté, clearly distinguishing between these themes can help with planning: is your main travel interest religious architecture and worship, or would you also like to consider a cycling route or hiking trail? The following highlights offer specific starting points for deciding on the focus of your trip.

Sacred Buildings and Pilgrimage Tradition

The Basílica del Santo Cristo de Ubaté has a baptismal font; a rose window is set in the center of the façade. These two details point to different aspects of the building: the baptismal font is sacred furnishing, while the rose window is a façade feature. Its central position makes the façade’s design a specific point of interest. The building can therefore be considered from two distinct perspectives: its furnishings and its exterior design.

The image of the Santo Cristo has been venerated since 1923. Every year, pilgrims arrive, many from communities in Boyacá and Santander, to fulfill their vows before the image. This tradition is a recurring religious point of reference in Ubaté. It is distinct from the architecture of the Basílica: the focus is on veneration and pilgrimage practice, while the baptismal font and rose window characterize the building itself. For your trip planning, sacred architecture and the annual pilgrimage are therefore two distinct themes to focus on.

The Capilla de Santa Bárbara broadens the picture of sacred buildings in Ubaté. Built in the colonial style, it is dedicated to Saint Barbara, who is considered the patron saint against thunder. Here, the architectural style and dedication are the key distinguishing features; for the Basílica, they are the baptismal font and rose window. Comparing the two buildings can therefore appeal to both architectural and religious interests: colonial style and patron saint on one side, furnishings and a façade feature on the other.

Cycling Route and Hiking Trail

Outdoor activities differ in their mode of travel and point of reference. The Ruta de la Leche is a cycling route that begins at Parque Los Libertadores in the historic center of Ubaté. The tourist hiking trail to Cerro de La Teta is nearby; it is a little over one kilometer long and a little over two kilometers from the urban center. This gives you a clear comparison when choosing: cycling from a starting point in the historic center, or hiking a trail with a specified length and distance from the city center. You can weigh the activities against each other based on mode of travel and geographical location.

The trail to Cerro also has a historical dimension. It has been used as a royal road since 1800. In 2019, its opening to everyone was reported. If you would like to include it in a specific itinerary, please check the current trail conditions.

Discover more destinations: Aposentos, Bojaca, Anapoima, Pacho, La Palma, Susa, Agua de Dios, La Mesa.

For the broader travel overview: Cundinamarca.