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Voykit pocket guide · Colombia
Tunja
Spend 1–2 days in Tunja: see the colonial centre and key museums, then catch a bus back to Bogotá or Villa de Leyva.
Tunja, capital of Boyacá at 2,820 m, offers a compact historic centre, several colonial churches and museums, plus easy bus links to nearby towns. One full day covers the main sights; a second day lets you explore surrounding attractions like Puente de Boyacá or the Hunzahúa Well.
- Country
- Colombia
- Best months
- Dec–Mar, Jun–Aug
- Avoid
- Apr–May (rainy), Sep–Nov (cool and foggy)
- Stay
- 1–2 nights
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- COP
- Money
- Currency is the Colombian peso (COP, $). Cards work in hotels, malls and many restaurants; cash is needed for small shops, markets and rural areas.
- Daily spend
- Budget COP 30,000–45,000 excl. bed · Mid COP 45,000–80,000 excl. bed · High COP 80,000+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- Claro (best coverage), Movistar and Tigo SIMs in malls and at airports; passport required and IMEI registration may apply for longer stays — check.
- Emergency
- Police / ambulance / fire 123
- Plugs
- Types A, B · 110–120 V · 60 Hz · US-style plugs.
- Tipping
- Restaurants: 10% propina voluntaria offered on the bill.; Guides: COP 20,000–50,000 per person per day.; Taxis: Round up.
- Water
- Tap water is safe in Bogotá and Medellín; drink bottled on the coast and in rural areas.
- Toilets
- Put paper in the bin in most places; bring tissues for bus stations.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Coffee (café) | COP 1,500–2,500 |
| Arepa with cheese | COP 2,000–3,000 |
| Chicken soup | COP 5,000–8,000 |
| Taxi (city) | COP 3,000–4,000 |
| Minibus ride | COP 1,400 |
| Museum entry (most) | Free–COP 5,000 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- BOG · El Dorado International Airport
- 2 h 30 min bus to Tunja
Typical fares
- Bogotá → Tunja, bus
- about COP 18,000, 2 h 30 min (check)
- Taxi minimum fare
- COP 3,000 (check)
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
City centre is walkable; minibuses (COP 1,400) and taxis (minimum fare COP 3,000, typical trips ≤ COP 4,000) connect to the bus terminal and outskirts.
See and do
Known for
- Colonial architecture
- University town
- Religious festivals
- Puente de Boyacá historic bridge
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Puente de Boyacá | Bus from terminal, about 20 km (12 mi) southwest on Route 55Bus from terminal, about 12 mi (20 km) southwest on Route 55 | ≈ 45 min |
| Hunzahúa Well | UTP campus bus or taxi, 5 km (3.1 mi) northUTP campus bus or taxi, 3.1 mi (5 km) north | ≈ 30 min |
| Villa de Leyva | Minibus from terminal, 45 min, COP 6,000 | ≈ 1 h |
Sleep
- Hosteria San Carlos
- Colonial house near Plaza Bolívar, single rooms ~COP 35,000
- Hotel Hunza y Centro de Convenciones
- Larger hotel with spa, central location
- Hotel Posada de San Agustín
- Cozy, free breakfast, rooms ~COP 119,830
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Excuse me / Sorry | Disculpedisˈkulpe |
| Thank you | Graciasgraˈθjas |
| How much is it? | ¿Cuánto cuesta?ˈkwanto ˈkwesta |
| Where is the bathroom? | ¿Dónde está el baño?ˈdonde esˈta el ˈbaɲo |
| Can I pay with card? | ¿Puedo pagar con tarjeta?ˈpweðo paˈɣar kon taˈɾxeta |
| I need a taxi | Necesito un taxineθeˈsito un ˈtaksi |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Handshake, cheek kiss between women and mixed pairs; avoid: Launching into requests without a greeting
- Politeness: 'Con gusto', 'a la orden'; avoid: Blunt commands
- Topics: Coffee, football, food; avoid: Escobar jokes, drug talk
- Showing valuables: Keep phones away; avoid: 'Dar papaya'
Scams and watch-outs
- Altitude can cause mild sickness; stay hydrated.
- Nightlife ends at 1:30 AM; Sundays are very quiet.
- Check bus schedules in advance; some lines change seasonally.
Tunja is generally safe for tourists; petty theft can occur in crowded markets—keep valuables close.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Tunja yet. Suggested stay: 1–2 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Colonial architecture
- University town
- Religious festivals
- Puente de Boyacá historic bridge
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Tunja official website: www.tunja-boyaca.gov.co
- Wikivoyage: Tunja, revision 5110140 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5110140
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Tunja
A esta dirección, por favor
To this address, please
My hotel (write the name and address in the local script)
- Police / ambulance / fire123
US consulate in Bogotá; Colombian embassy in Washington, D.C.
Voykit · checked 2026-09
Printed from Voykit (/tunja). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.