Cajicá, Colombia

Welcome to Cajicá, a picturesque town located 39 km (24 mi) north of Bogotá, in the department of Cundinamarca, Colombia. It sits in the Central Savanna Province and is bordered by Zipaquirá, Sopó, Chía, and Tabio. With an altitude of 2,558 metres (8,392 ft) and average temperature of 14°C (57°F), Cajicá is a town worth exploring. The name Cajicá is believed to have originated from the two words ca (enclosure) and jica (stone), and was either derived from the cacique Cajic, or the stone enclosure or fortress. According to Ángel Luís Román, the area of Cajicá in the valley of Kaj was inhabited since approximately 12,460 BC. The town’s stone wall, described to have been four meters high and 80 centimeters thick, was constructed in two phases; an early phase made of wooden poles and a second phase, built between around 1220 and 1400, out of stone, rare for the Muisca. The Muisca fortress was strategically located on the Bogotá savanna, and rituals were performed by merchants and soldiers travelling through the valley on the road between Zipaquirá and Tabio, however, it remains unclear if this stone fortress was built in pre-Columbian time or after the Spanish conquest. The town’s church was first constructed in 1598 and both the original and successive churches were destroyed by earthquakes. The present-day church was completed in 1930. Today, 75% of the land of the present-day municipality is used for agriculture, but the town also derives a sizeable proportion of its income as a nearby country retreat for wealthy Bogotanos, including country villas and high-end restaurants. Explore Cajicá’s rich history, vibrant culture, and breathtaking landscapes. Plan your trip today!