Knowing the best time to visit Tunja will help you plan out your vacation here. While it’s not exactly as “touristy” as other towns in Colombia, Tunja’s laid-back charm and abundance of colonial architecture, museums and historical monuments makes it a great escape from the hustle and bustle of more metropolitan Colombian destinations such as Bogota and Medellin.
But knowing the best time to visit Tunja will allow you to make the most out of your vacation in this quaint city 3 hours away from Bogota. Here’s a little guide to the best times to visit the city:
Climate. Climate-wise, Tunja makes for a year round destination thanks to its pleasant weather almost all throughout the year. Temperatures never seem to exceed 20 degrees Celsius anytime of the year, even during the warmest months which falls on February to March.
You only have to worry about the rainy season, which often falls on May to August and October. So if you do visit Tunja during this time of the year, bring an umbrella.
Festivals. The best time to visit Tunja is during festival seasons. Tunja is known for its three major festivals: Aguinaldo Boyacense, Semana Santa and the International Cultural Festival.
The Aguinaldo Boyacense is celebrated every December 16 to 22 and is one of the oldest festivals in the country (first celebrated in 1955). The festival features parades, floats, orchestras, musical events and children’s sports and activities among others for 7 days.
Semana Santa, on the other hand, is a religious event in Tunja which celebrates the passion, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. The Holy Week or Semana Santa starts off during the night before Palm Sunday and continues until Easter Sunday. During Semana Santa, expect processions and other religious events and activities.
The international Cultural Festival is celebrated on from the last week of August to September. During the festival, artists from Colombia and all over the world come together to promote peace and brotherhood to different forms of art, from music to film.
