Guateque Guatoc
Municipality and town
Church and colonial building in Guateque
Flag
Location of the town and municipality of Guateque in Boyaca Department
Guateque Location in Colombia
Coordinates: 5°0′20″N 73°28′20″W / 5.00556°N 73.47222°W / 5.00556; -73.47222
Country	Colombia
Department	Boyacá Department
Province	Eastern Boyacá Province
Founded	28 January 1636
Founded by	Diego Morales et al.
Government
• Mayor	Iván Camilo Camero Alfonso (2020-2023)
Area
• Municipality and town	36.04 km2 (13.92 sq mi)
• Urban	1.82 km2 (0.70 sq mi)
Elevation	1,815 m (5,955 ft)
Population  (2015)
• Municipality and town	9,603
• Density	270/km2 (690/sq mi)
• Urban	7,176
Time zone	UTC-5
Website	Official website

Guateque is a town and municipality in the Colombian Department of Boyacá, part of the subregion of the Eastern Boyacá Province. Guateque's urban center is located at an altitude of 1,815 metres (5,955 ft) on the Altiplano Cundiboyacense at distances of 125 kilometres (78 mi) from the department capital Tunja and 112 kilometres (70 mi) from Bogotá, capital of Colombia. It borders the municipalities of La Capilla, Tenza, Sutatenza, Somondoco of Boyacá and Tibiritá and Manta of Cundinamarca.^[1]

Etymology

Guateque is derived from the original name Guatoc, meaning "Stream of the ravine" or "Lord of the winds".^[2]

History

In the centuries before the Spanish conquest of the Muisca, the central highlands of Colombia were inhabited by the Muisca. The Muisca practiced different rituals related to their religion. On the hill within the municipality that they called Guatoc, the people organized religious festivities.^[1] The cacique of Guateque was an important leader within the loose Muisca Confederation, as gold mining was executed in Guateque.^[3]

While Catholic missionaries were already working in Guateque since 1556, the modern town was founded on January 28, 1636, by a group of Spanish leaders.^[1]

Economy

Despite the urban character of Guateque, almost half of its economy is based on agriculture and livestock farming. Predominant agricultural products are maize and tomatoes.^[1]

Born in Guateque

• Víctor Carranza, "the czar of emeralds"
• Francisco Estupiñán Heredia, politician
• Enrique Olaya Herrera, president of Colombia

Gallery