Translating from Chibcha as “place of bath”, Moniquira is a riverside town in the Colombian department of Boyaca. It lies within an important coffee, sugar cane and maize-growing region between Bogota and Bucaramanga. Moniquira is renowned for its “panelitas de leche” and the guava jelly dessert known as “bocadillos”.
Things to do in Moniquirá
In the heart of Moniquira is Parque Simon Bolívar, a leafy green space with walking paths and benches for observing the local comings and goings. It’s watched over by the magnificent Basílica Menor Nuestra Señora Del Rosario with its elegantly decorated red-and-blue facade. Rising above the church are twin spires while the interior houses beautiful stained glass windows.
A short drive west of Moniquira is the Alto del Granadillo, which offers spectacular views across the region. In addition to driving to the lookout, it can be accessed on foot and there are several mountain biking trails in the immediate surroundings. Impressive views across Moniquira are also on offer from the terrace of the Granadillo restaurant.
If you drive south-east from Moniquira, you’ll arrive at the Cascada de la Cumbre, a picturesque waterfall that tumbles down a rocky hillside. Closer to Moniquira is the Cascada El Salto del Zorro, which plunges into a small pool at its base. On the road leading south from Moniquira is the Puente de Minas, a hand-built stone bridge straddling the Rio Moniquira.
Getting around Moniquirá
Moniquira is around 1.5 hours’ drive from Tunja and 3.5 hours from Bogota. El Dorado International Airport is just under four hours away and has flights to destinations across the globe. Regular buses connect to Moniquira and the town centre is small enough to explore on foot. Renting a car is the most convenient way of getting around the area.