✨De Sesquilé a Guatavita: viaje al corazón de la LAGUNA sagrada, y PUEBLOS bellos.[EP 102] #colombia

In this episode of Traveling by Car, we begin a new journey that takes us from Villapinzón, in Cundinamarca, to one of the most visited and enigmatic destinations in the department: Guatavita and its famous lagoon. A route where history, culture, and nature intertwine to offer us a journey filled with unforgettable landscapes and stories steeped in mystery. Our route begins in Villapinzón, a municipality just 86 kilometers from Bogotá, known as the birthplace of the Bogotá River. Here, the river that runs through much of the Cundinamarca-Boyacá plateau originates and, over time, has become one of the most important in the country. From there, we head towards the province of Guavio, a mountainous territory brimming with natural beauty, where every curve of the road surprises us with intense greenery, deep valleys, and fresh air that invites you to stop and breathe. The journey takes us to Sesquilé, a town steeped in Muisca history and tradition. Here we visited the emblematic General Martínez Landínez Castle, a neo-Gothic architectural gem built at the beginning of the 20th century. This imposing structure, in addition to being a regional icon, holds an aura of mystery, as its interior has been the setting for local legends and even film shoots. Sesquilé is also known as "the town of the Mataos," a nickname related to violent episodes in the past, but one that its inhabitants have embraced with pride and resilience, making it part of their cultural identity. From Sesquilé, we continued on to one of Colombia's most iconic and enigmatic places: Laguna de Guatavita. As we ascended the mountain paths, we came across the Laguna del Cacique Guatavita Protective Forest Reserve, managed by the CAR (Car Park). From the start, we noticed the attention to detail that made the visit a well-organized and first-class experience. Accompanied by a local guide, we discovered that this site is not only nature, but also a portal to the deepest roots of the Muisca worldview. The lagoon, circular in origin and surrounded by mountains, was considered a sacred place by the Muisca. Here they held ceremonies in which the chief, covered in gold dust, would immerse himself in its waters as an offering to the gods, while those present threw in pieces of gold and emeralds. Thus was born the famous Legend of El Dorado, attracting conquistadors, adventurers, and treasure hunters from around the world. However, this story is also marked by greed and destruction: the Spanish attempted to drain the lagoon, digging tunnels and opening a huge hole still visible today, leaving indelible scars on the landscape. Despite this, the lagoon mysteriously remains at the same water level, with no definitive explanation. Some call it the curse of El Dorado. Amidst myths, legends, and landscapes, we understood that the lagoon is not only a tourist destination, but a place that invites reflection: on the sacred, on what should never have been touched, and on how fragile the relationship between humankind and nature can be. After this experience, we returned to Guatavita, the new colonial town that was reborn after the construction of the Tominé reservoir in the 1960s, when the old Guatavita was submerged underwater. Walking through its impeccably maintained cobblestone streets is like traveling back in time: white facades, clay roofs, and open plazas that exude serenity. The Church of Our Lady of Sorrows, with its imposing presence, stands as a silent guardian of the submerged town and a symbol of a community's rebirth. Nearby, a small chapel on the second floor offers a special and intimate corner, accessible from the rectory. But Guatavita is more than architecture and memory. We visited the Wishing Well, a charming spot where tradition and fantasy combine in the custom of tossing a coin and making a wish. We then arrived at Lovers' Bridge, a romantic and symbolic place that invites you to seal promises beneath the magic of the landscape. Finally, we concluded our tour by the Tominé Reservoir, an immense body of water that turns golden as evening falls. There, the tranquility of the surroundings and the sparse presence of visitors gave us an unforgettable sunset, perfect for bidding farewell to a day full of history, nature, and discovery. This trip reminded us that in Colombia, destinations are not just landscapes to admire, but experiences that are felt and transform. If you haven't yet visited this region, we invite you to explore it with us, because every kilometer of this route is an encounter with beauty, tradition, and Colombia's deepest secrets.