About Nobsa

Nobsa is a quiet and quaint town with both its feet planted firmly in the past. A small agricultural community straddling the Andes, that prior to the Spanish conquest was inhabited by the Muisca civilisation. The name in Chibcha, the language of the Muisca people, means "decent bath of today", possibly attesting to the River Chicamocha that flows through the town. 125km from Bogotá, this charming colonial spot makes for an ideal starting point for exploring this beautiful region of mountains, rivers and valleys, and our collection of the best places to stay in Nobsa often benefit from spectacular views.

Nobsa is widely considered to be the handicraft centre of Boyaca, the department it stands in. Its traditional industries (alongside mining and agriculture) flourish, and the town is the host of the annual "Ruana" festival, paying homage to the traditional woolen garment made here. The clothing cousins to ponchos, the ruana is made at the loom and originally worn by the Muisca tribespeople who inhabited the area. The town itself is full of small artisan shops that manufacture and sell them in all colours, sizes and designs. On any day, you can see the makers weave them at the loom.

The town has a mixture of modern and colonial buildings. On a stroll around you'll encounter beautiful centuries-old buildings, particularly near the grassy main plaza, which makes for a wonderfully calm respite in the shade of trees. If you're fortunate enough to be in Nobsa on "Ruana Day", the third Sunday of every May, you will be entertained by the sounds of local musicians.

Dotted around the town are intriguing sculptures made by local artisans, and there is also a pretty church that is well worth seeing. While Nobsa is a lovely little town, it also proves to be an excellent starting point for exploring the wider area.

What Not to miss

You cannot go to Nobsa without buying a "ruana" from one of the many artisan shops that specialise in the making of them.
The zoo in Tibasosa is 5 miles away and makes for a wonderful day out. Watch out for the leopards!
The Muisca Museum in Sogamoso is 4 miles away, holding a fine array of ancient artefacts and showing how this advanced civilisation lived and worshipped, with life-sized replicas of their houses and temples.
The Cathedral of San Martin de Tours in Sogamoso is a stunning building, with striking exteriors and interiors. There is a rare and moving depiction of a Nazarene being crucified inside. The church in Nobsa is quite pretty too, but nowhere near as dramatic or beautiful. The church in Tibasosa is worth seeing if only for the backdrop of mountains that loom behind it in this charming colonial town.
Lastly, be sure to pay a visit to Marques de Puntalarga, a vineyard located just outside the town.

Nobsa is a delightful place that is deeply proud of its heritage. Whether you want to soak up the history and culture of the pre-Colombian Muisca civilisation that preceded the Spanish conquest, or you're looking for a quiet rustic place to retreat to, our collection of the best places to stay in Nobsa will have you covered.

The best places to stay in Nobsa

For traditional comfort

Hosteria San Luis De Uguenca offers high-end accommodation in picturesque settings, plus it's got an atmospheric restaurant and pretty gardens.

For an apartment or villa

Our partner Booking.com has a wide range of self-catering apartments and villas.

Travel information

As Nobsa is near the equator weather won’t vary too much and you can generally count on it being warm, however, to avoid getting the umbrella out aim to visit in the months of December and January or between July and August.
Fly to Bogotá Airport and get a bus to Nobsa, the bus journey takes roughly 3 hours.
If you want to rent a car, contact our partner Rentalcars.