The indigenous Muisca legend claims the falls were created by the deity Bochica to drain the waters of a great flood that covered the Bogotá savanna.
The Hotel del Salto, opened in 1928, was originally a luxury destination for travelers visiting the falls, later falling into disrepair before its 2013 renovation into a biodiversity museum.
The falls are situated at an elevation of approximately 2,460 meters above sea level.
Despite its popularity as a tourist site, the river's water quality remains a significant environmental challenge for the local municipality of Soacha.
Tequendama Falls is a 132-meter high waterfall formed by the Bogotá River cutting through a cliff in the Andes mountains. The site features the historic Hotel del Salto, an early 20th-century French-style mansion converted into a museum dedicated to environmental conservation. The waterfall historically experienced heavy water pollution due to the Bogotá River's role as the city's main drainage artery. Recent conservation efforts by the Ecological Farm Foundation of El Porvenir aim to restore the surrounding cloud forest ecosystem. The area serves as a transition zone between the high-altitude savanna of Bogotá and the temperate regions of Cundinamarca.
The garden terrace of the Hotel del Salto offers a direct, eye-level vantage point of the falls.
Bring a waterproof jacket as the mist from the falls often causes persistent damp conditions.
Wear hiking-appropriate footwear with good traction for navigating the uneven viewing platforms.
Plan to visit the Museum of the Tequendama Falls during the same trip to understand the site's ecological history.
Do not attempt to hike down to the base of the waterfall, as the paths are often poorly maintained and subject to landslides.
Closed on Mondays for routine maintenance.
Stay within designated safety barriers and viewing platforms, as the surrounding cliff edges are unstable.
