Colombia is a country deeply marked by the legacy of its Indigenous peoples. Before the arrival of European conquerors, vast civilizations such as the Muisca, Tairona, Quimbaya, and Wayuu already inhabited these lands. Their worldview, centered on respect for nature and the spirits, has endured through myths and legends that still inspire and fascinate today.
The most curious Colombian Indigenous legends
The Salto de Tequendama
The Salto de Tequendama, a waterfall about 157 meters high located in Cundinamarca near Bogota, is not only a tourist spot of great beauty but also the setting of a Muisca legend that speaks of love, tragedy, and transformation. According to tradition, the Muisca who inhabited the Bogota savanna suffered a great flood that submerged the region. The cause of this disaster was the wrath of Chibchacum, the god of water and earthquakes, who punished the inhabitants for their misdeeds.
Bochica, the civilizing god, arrived at the site and struck the rocks with his magical staff, creating the Salto de Tequendama so the waters could escape and bring life back to the savanna. However, there is another, more human and tragic version: during colonization, many Indigenous people, unable to bear slavery and oppression, threw themselves from the waterfall. According to the legend, before touching the water, their bodies transformed into eagles, flying free toward the sky. This story symbolizes the desperate search for freedom and the spiritual union with nature.
@camiloduque.z El Salto del Tequendama esta rodeado de historias
The legend of Yurupari: the origin of the Amazonian universe
In the Amazon region, Indigenous peoples tell one of the most complex and spiritual legends: the legend of Yurupari. According to the stories, Yurupari was born from the mystical union between a virgin woman and the sun. From childhood, he was an extraordinary being, endowed with wisdom and power. He brought with him norms and rituals that established the social and spiritual order of the communities.
The story of Yuruparí also explains the creation of sacred instruments like flutes and drums, used in ceremonies to connect with the spirits of the forest. This myth reflects the deep bond that Amazonian communities maintain with music, the forest, and the universe.
@rincondelmito_ La Leyenda De Yurupari | Mito Colombiano . . Explora la mística Leyenda de Yuruparí, un semidiós del Amazonas que enseñó las leyes y rituales sagrados a los hombres. Descubre el poder de sus flautas mágicas y el profundo respeto de las comunidades indígenas por sus tradiciones ancestrales. . . #paratiii #paratiii #ia #mitosjawa #mitosataufakta #mitosyleyendas #mitoscolombianos #fouryou #colombiamágica #leyendas #historiasescalofriantes #paranormal #leyendasdecolombia #historias #folkloreandino #misterio #cuentosdemiedo #culturalatina ♬ sonido original – EL RINCON DEL MITO
The legend of La Tunda: the deceptive spirit of the Pacific
In Colombia’s Pacific region, especially among Afro-descendant and Indigenous communities, there is talk of La Tunda, a mythical being that symbolizes the hidden dangers of the jungle and mangroves. La Tunda usually appears as a beautiful and seductive woman, who emits a sweet scent and tricks unsuspecting people mainly children and men by disguising herself as someone they know, such as a mother or a lover.
Once trapped, La Tunda feeds them enchanted shrimp or crabs known as “guarapo de tunda,” which makes the victim fall under her spell, lose their will, and remain under her control deep in the jungle. It is said that those who manage to escape return confused, weakened, and with a lost mind.
The legend of La Tunda serves as a warning to keep children from wandering alone into the forest and to alert adults about the dangers of trusting the unknown too much. Moreover, it reflects the close relationship that Pacific communities have with their natural environment and their deep respect for the mysteries that inhabit rivers and forests.
@pnico.nocturno ¿Crees que podrías confiar en tu madre si te llama desde la selva? Cuidado… podría ser La Tunda. Una criatura hermosa que imita a quienes más amas… solo para llevarte y jamás dejarte volver. Una pierna de molinillo la delata, pero nadie sobrevive para contarlo. 😈 Esta es la leyenda más aterradora del Pacífico colombiano y pocos se atreven a mencionarla en voz alta… Comenta si ya habías escuchado de ella… o si alguna vez alguien te llamó desde la oscuridad. #latunda #terrorlatino#leyendascolombianas#historiasdeterror#creepypasta#misteriosreales#terrorcolombiano#storytimeterror#mitosyleyendas#paratii#fyp#espectro #paniconocturno#capcut #youcut ♬ sonido original – Pánico Nocturno
The legend of Bachue: the sacred mother of the Muisca
Among the deepest and most emblematic stories of the Muisca people is the legend of Bachue. It is said that one day, from the sacred Lake Iguaque, emerged a woman named Bachué, accompanied by a small child in her arms. As the years passed, the child grew and became her companion. Together, they began to populate the land, giving rise to the Muisca people.
Bachue taught her children laws, agriculture, and respect for nature. Once her mission was complete, she and her husband returned to Lake Iguaque and submerged themselves in its waters, transforming into serpents, symbols of renewal and eternity.
Bachue represents the primordial mother, giver of life and spiritual protector. Her story reflects the Muisca’s profound relationship with water, the land, and the cycle of life. Today, Lake Iguaque is still considered a sacred place and is visited by those seeking to connect with ancestral energy and the spiritual memory of the territory.
@caos_visual_films #LeyendasIndígenas #MitologíaMuisca #CulturaAncestral #PueblosIndígenas #HistoriaDeColombia #LeyendasDeColombia #RaícesAncestrales #SabiduríaIndígena #DiosaBachué #LeyendaDeBachué #MadreDeLaHumanidad #BachuéLaMadre #BachuéMuisca #Bachué #Muiscas #LagoDeIguaque #OrigenMuisca #ArteAncestral #CortometrajeColombiano #HistoriasQueInspiran #LeyendaHechaArte #ParaTi #FYP #TikTokColombia #AprendeConTikTok #TikTokHistorias #TikTokCultura #StoryTime #ArteTikTok #NarrativaVisual #VideoCorto #sanpedrodeiguaque ♬ sonido original – caos_visual_films