Santa María: Festivals, River Tradition and Local Cuisine

Get to know Santa María through its community festivals, a tradition celebrated by the river, local cuisine, and its historical and natural connections. This mix offers different ways to explore the municipality: you can take an interest in nature and biodiversity, discover local festival themes, or focus on food, tradition and history. If you’re looking for a holiday rental in Santa María, it helps to first consider which of these aspects you’d like to shape your stay most.

Festivals at the crossroads of nature and community

An official post from 2022 describes the Festival de Aves de Santa María as a community event celebrating the biodiversity of the Llanos-Boyacá Piedmont. Its focus on nature goes hand in hand with its community spirit. If you’re interested in the biodiversity of the Piedmont, this offers a cultural way to engage with the subject. If a festival is a deciding factor for your travel dates, check whether an event has been announced for your planned dates before making arrangements.

The municipality of Santa María also celebrates the Festival Gastronómico y Artesanal and the Festival de Integración y Turismo. Their names already signal different themes: one focuses on gastronomy and crafts, while the other centers on integration and tourism. Alongside the Festival de Aves, they present a broad range of festival themes, from biodiversity to food, crafts, integration and tourism. If you’re planning to travel specifically for one of these festivals, check the announced dates in advance.

Local cuisine and river tradition

At Finca ecoturística La Isla in the municipality of Santa María, visitors can sample local cuisine and drink coffee. This gives your culinary interests a specific destination in the municipality. If you’re planning a visit, ask in advance about current visiting and tasting options.

The residents of Santa María keep alive the traditional “paseo de olla” by the river. This tradition adds a connection to riverside life to the festival themes and reveals another aspect of local culture. With children, you can talk about how a tradition kept alive by residents differs from a named festival. This makes food, community and riverside life distinct themes to consider when planning your trip.

Historic routes and nature

If you’re interested in history and routes, “Por los caminos de arriería” offers a different focus. The experience includes the former Camino Nacional del Meta, along the section between Santa María and San Luis de Gaceno. Its historical connection to the former route adds another perspective alongside the festival themes and river tradition. For planning your trip, the specific section named between the two towns is the key point of reference.

The Sendero Hyca Quye is associated with the Distrito Regional de Manejo Integrado Cuchilla Guaneque. Special authorization is required for entry. If you’re including this trail in your plans, bear in mind that authorization is a specific entry requirement. The two route experiences therefore differ: “Por los caminos de arriería” offers a historical connection to the former Camino Nacional del Meta, while authorization is an important planning consideration for the Sendero Hyca Quye.

Which focus suits your trip?

A simple comparison can help you choose a holiday rental in Santa María: would you rather explore festival culture, gastronomy and river tradition, or are you more drawn to biodiversity and history? The first set of interests leads to the festivals, local cuisine at Finca ecoturística La Isla and the paseo de olla. The others turn your attention to the celebration of biodiversity, the historic Camino Nacional del Meta and the Sendero Hyca Quye, where authorization is required. If several themes appeal to you, consider which one you’d like to make the main thread of your trip.

Discover more destinations: Jenesano, Duitama, Belen, Güicán, Tunja, Aquitania, Santa Rosa de Viterbo, Iza

For the main travel overview: Boyacá.