Tenjo: Heritage, Majuy and Rural Discoveries

Tenjo combines a protected historic center with the Majuy mountain range and experiences in rural landscapes. Muisca culture, religious art, orchid conservation and interactive activities offer a variety of highlights. You can shape your trip around whether you want to learn more about Tenjo’s history, explore nature or spend time in the countryside.

Majuy: Landscape and Muisca History

The Majuy mountain range covers more than 3,000 hectares and connects the municipalities of Cota, Tabio and Tenjo in the department of Cundinamarca. It also has cultural significance: Majuy is considered a sacred place by the Muisca. They traveled through its wooded terrain to draw strength from nature and worship the goddess Chía. Landscape and history are closely connected here, giving this natural area not only its impressive scale but also an inherited spiritual significance.

Those interested in the nature of the Sabana will find interpretive trails at Mirador Cuevas. They explore natural formations, native vegetation and landscapes typical of the Sabana. Las Cuevas, in turn, is part of an environmental protection area safeguarded by the Corporación Autónoma Regional de Cundinamarca. The Forest of Orchids in Tenjo focuses on something different: it specializes in orchid conservation and display.

Historic Center and Religious Art

Tenjo’s historic center was declared a National Monument in 1993. It includes Parque Principal and, among other sites, Templo Colonial, Iglesia Santiago Apóstol and Casa Chitasugá. Together, these sites offer a cultural focus where visitors can discover different aspects of the town. At Casa Chitasugá, visitors can walk through the historic corridors and view works by regional artisans and artists.

The Museo de Arte Religioso in Templo Doctrinero offers a dedicated look at religious art. Its collection includes paintings of the Virgen del Rosario de Santo Domingo and Santo Tomás de Aquino, a main-altar altarpiece covered in gold leaf, and polychrome wood carvings of La Dolorosa. These works give visitors a specific art-historical focus, distinct from the corridors and artworks at Casa Chitasugá.

Experiences Among Fields, Animals and Butterflies

The Ruta de la Lechuga is a rural cycling tourism route through Tenjo. It follows paths between villages and through agricultural landscapes to lettuce fields. Lettuce farming has been one of the municipality’s economic drivers since the mid-20th century. The route thus combines an active outing with a glimpse into the town’s agricultural character. In the countryside, Ecogranja Villa Juan offers, among other things, farm walks, encounters with animals and nature trails. Check directly with the farm for current availability before visiting.

The Parque Monarca theme park is dedicated to the study and conservation of arthropods, especially butterflies, and offers educational, interactive experiences. Faunáticos focuses on recreational activities involving animals, family-friendly areas and experiences that combine entertainment, learning and well-being. Those traveling with children can take these explicitly interactive and family-oriented features into account when choosing activities to enjoy together. Here, too, it is best to check directly in advance for current availability.

Choosing a Vacation Rental That Suits Your Plans

A useful first question when choosing a vacation rental in Tenjo is which side of the town you want to shape your stay. If you are especially interested in history and art, you could make the historic center, Casa Chitasugá and the Museo de Arte Religioso the focus of your plans. Nature lovers could center their plans on Majuy, the interpretive trails at Mirador Cuevas or orchid conservation. For a more active day in the countryside, consider the Ruta de la Lechuga cycling tourism route; farm walks, animals and nature trails offer another way to spend time in a rural setting.

These different interests lend themselves to a range of itineraries, without requiring you to focus on just one theme: you can explore art and history as well as nature, agriculture or interactive activities.

Discover More Destinations

Discover more destinations: Bojaca, Puerto Salgar, Hato Viejo, Choachí, Guayabal de Síquima, Anolaima, La Verbena, Pacho.

For the main travel overview: Cundinamarca.