Cundinamarca

Cundinamarca is a department in central Colombia that surrounds the capital, Bogotá, across the high Sabana de Bogotá plateau and the warmer valleys and mountains beyond it. Its identity blends Muisca indigenous heritage, Spanish colonial towns, salt and flower industries, and the fast-moving influence of the nearby capital.

Cundinamarca's landmarks reflect this layered history. The underground Salt Cathedral of Zipaquirá, carved inside a former salt mine, is the region's best-known attraction, while the sacred Guatavita lagoon is tied to the legend of El Dorado. Colonial-era centers in towns such as Zipaquirá, Chía and Facatativá preserve churches, plazas and traditions that date back centuries.

Beyond the plateau, the department's varied geography offers Andean páramos, cloud forests and warm river valleys. Protected areas including Sumapaz and Chingaza national parks shelter high-altitude ecosystems, while destinations such as Girardot on the Magdalena River and the garden city of Fusagasugá give visitors a different climate and pace.

Cundinamarca is also one of Colombia's key agricultural and agro-industrial regions, known for flower exports, dairy, panela and food processing. Its closeness to Bogotá makes it a practical base for business, while local markets, bakeries and restaurants serve regional dishes such as ajiaco, almojábanas and cuajada con melado.

For travelers, Cundinamarca works as both a day-trip destination from Bogotá and a region worth exploring at a slower pace, with colonial towns, nature reserves, thermal springs and warm-weather resorts. Business visitors benefit from its proximity to El Dorado International Airport and the capital's commercial and conference infrastructure.