Guatavita city - Cundinamarca

Distance from Bogotá: 75 Km.
Altitude: 2668 m.s.n.m.

Guatavita is a municipality of Cundinamarca department, its name in Chibcha language means “end of farming”, was founded in 1593. Its economy depends from cattle farming, agriculture and mining industry producing charcoal because its soil is productive.

It is an ancient population, very popular thanks to its architecture, restaurants and a beautiful lagoon which is placed in the highest part of a mountain, surrounded by vegetation.  Many indigenous rituals were practiced there; such rituals gave birth to the leyend of El Dorado.

Its main atttraction is Guatavita rounded lagoon located in a meteoric crater. It was used to be a sacred lagoon for the Muiscas.

Guatavita Lagoon

It is located 80 Km away from Bogotá city.

Guatavita lagoon was discovered in 1537 by Jimenes de Quesada, was one of the sacred lagoons of Muiscas where a ceremony was celebrated, the “Cacique” had a bath in the lagoon(his body was covered by gold). It is one of the origins of El Dorado legend. The lagoon was tried to be drained several times in order to find the hidden treasures, the most important discoveries were of Lazari Captain who find several gold pieces, Antonio de Sepúlveda in XVI century who found emeralds.

The legend seems to suggest that the lake was made by a giant meteor which fell some 2000 years ago, and left a huge circular hole shaped like a volcanic crater. The Indians interpreted the phenomenon as the arrival of a golden god who lived thereafter at the bottom of the lake. Then, the lake became an object of worship, where gold, emeralds and food were offered for protection and misfortune.