Tibana: Culture, Crafts and Landscape

When looking for hotels in Tibana, you can plan your stay around cultural attractions, crafts, or landscapes. Several of the destinations featured here are in the municipality of Tibaná; their location details can help you get your bearings: the Sendero del Oso is in the Vereda Chiguata, and the Taller de Artesanías is in the Vereda Ruche. This makes it easy to include destinations within the municipality in your travel plans. First, consider whether you want to focus your stay on festivals and traditional crafts or on the landscape.

Arriería, Festivals, and Architecture

The Festival Cultural y de la Arriería is an important cultural landmark for the municipality. In 2020, it reached its 24th edition, which was held virtually. Competitions held as part of the arriería tradition judged the best horse, the arrieros’ clothing and traditional attire, and their skill. The competitions offered a cultural spectacle for locals and tourists alike. The festivities honoring the Virgen del Carmen, the municipality’s patron saint, are also considered traditional. If you want to plan your trip around these celebrations, check the specific event dates in advance.

Another cultural destination is the Templo de San Laureano in the municipality of Tibaná. The temple is built of hewn stone and is considered one of the oldest and most representative architectural legacies of Nueva Granada. Its architecture adds a distinct perspective on the municipality’s built heritage to the themes of festivals and tradition.

White-Straw Crafts in Tibaná and Guacamayas

The craft of making items from white straw began in Tibaná and Guacamayas more than 40 years ago. It uses a spiral-wrapping technique. Both the material and the method are integral to this craft: anyone interested can focus not only on the finished pieces but also on how they are made.

A 2025 portfolio describes the Taller de Artesanías in the Vereda Ruche, with a white-straw weaving workshop and an exhibition of traditional crafts. This combines hands-on craftwork with an opportunity to view the pieces. If you want to include this experience in your plans, ask in advance about opportunities to take part.

Scenery Along the Sendero del Oso

The Sendero del Oso is in the Vereda Chiguata, in the municipality of Tibaná, near the border with Chinavita. The trail connects the Mamapacha and Bijagual massifs. From there, you can take in the provinces of Márquez and Lengupá, as well as the mountain range of Valle de Tenza in the province of Neira. The Sendero’s highlights include both the connection between the massifs and the expansive views. For travelers who prioritize scenery when choosing a destination, this offers a different focus from festivals and crafts.

Ruta del Maíz: Posada, Trails, and Rural Cuisine

The Posada and the trails of the Casa del Viejo are located on the Ruche–Baganique section of the Ruta del Maíz. There, traditional rural cuisine is associated with the founders of the Festival de la Arriería. On this section, trails and culinary traditions come together with a theme that also features in the festival. If you want to include the Posada or the cuisine in your plans, check current visiting options in advance.

The different highlights can help you choose: the Sendero del Oso focuses on the connection between the massifs and the views, while the Ruta del Maíz section features the trails of the Casa del Viejo and rural cuisine. Festivals and crafts offer other points of interest. You can plan your trip around whichever of these themes you want to shape your stay in Tibana.

Discover more destinations: Iza, Chivor, Gachantiva, Zetaquira, Socha Viejo, Santa Rosa de Viterbo, Sogamoso, Papayal

For the broader travel guide: Boyacá.