Puente de Boyacá

Location:
15 minutes south, vía Bogotá

Tunja, Colombia

Historical Building

By Lorraine Caputo

You'll see it alongside the highway between Tunja and Bogotá, this large white monument to the Battle of Boyacá. On the seventh day of August in 1819, a small liberation force under the direct command of General Francisco de Paula Santander defeated a large column of Spanish troops. Simón Bolívar was overseeing the entire military campaign that day. The hallmark of this site is an 18-meter (59-foot)-high monument dedicated to Bolívar, designed by Ferdinand von Müller. Other structures include a triumphal arch, an obelisk to the Liberator and the Boyacá Bridge (Puente de Boyacá). Every Saturday a different Boyancense village leads the commemorative ceremonies, complete with honor guards (8 a.m.-5 p.m.).

Getting There
Busetas leave from the upper level of Tunja's bus terminal every half-hour ($1.30 each way).

Price Description: Entry is Free; only transportation costs.

Relative price: Budget

Open Hours from:Daily 8:30 a.m.

Open Hours to:Daily 8:30 p.m.

Travel Skills: None

You Need to Bring: Bring water, and a picnic lunch to save money. Otherwise refreshments are available at the monument.