Duitama

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Duitama is a city and municipality in Boyacá Department, Colombia. It is the capital of Tundama Province and sits on the high plains of the Andes at about 2,590 meters above sea level. The town is located roughly 195 kilometers northeast of Bogotá and 50 kilometers northeast of Tunja.

The climate is cool and often cloudy, with temperatures typically ranging from 7°C to 19°C and averaging around 15°C. The area covers about 267 square kilometers, with most people living in the urban core.

History and name: The region was home to the Muisca people and was known as Tundama after the local chieftain. Duitama’s name comes from the Muysccubun language and means something like “tribute to me.” It was part of the Muisca Confederation before Spanish conquest in the 16th century. The Spaniards, led by Gonzalo Jiménez de Quesada, arrived in the 1530s, and Tundama was killed in 1539. Modern Duitama was officially founded in 1819, grew with the railway in 1923, and later expanded with road connections and new industry.

Today, Duitama is nicknamed “The Pearl of Boyacá.” A popular tourist spot is Pueblito Boyacense, a village with well-preserved colonial houses. In 1995, Duitama hosted the UCI Road World Championships, becoming the second city in Latin America to do so.