Tocancipá


Tocancipá is a municipality and town of Colombia in the Central Savanna Province, part of the department of Cundinamarca. Tocancipá is situated in the northern part of the Bogotá savanna, part of the Altiplano Cundiboyacense in the Eastern Ranges of the Colombian Andes with the urban centre at an altitude of. The capital Bogotá, which metropolitan area includes Tocancipá, is to the south. Tocancipá borders Gachancipá and Zipaquirá in the north, Cajicá and Zipaquirá in the west, Gachancipá and Guatavita in the east and Guasca and Sopó in the south.

Etymology

The name Tocancipá comes from Muysccubun and means "Valley of the joys of the zipa".

History

The area of Tocancipá was inhabited early in the of the Altiplano. The archaeological site Tibitó is located within the boundaries of Tocancipá and evidence of inhabitation has been dated to 11,740 ± 110 years BP. At the time of arrival of the Spanish conquistadores in 1537, Tocancipá was part of the Muisca Confederation, a loose confederation of different rulers of the Muisca. The zipa of Bacatá ruled over Tocancipá.
Modern Tocancipá was founded on September 21, 1593 by Miguel de Ibarra.

Tourism

, a family-oriented amusement park, is located in Tocancipá. The town also hosts the Autódromo de Tocancipá, a race track where vintage and GT races are held.

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