Lache people


The Lache were an indigenous, people in the highlands of what is now central Colombia's northern Boyacá and Santander departments, primarily in Gutiérrez Province and García Rovira Province. They were part of the Cocuy Confederation and spoke Chibcha, trading predominantly with other Chibcha speakers, such as the Muisca, Guane, Pijao and Chitarero. Trade included salt and textiles, as well as food stuffs. The Lache farmed maize, potatoes, quinoa and cotton, among other crops.
In the 17th century, Lucas Fernández de Piedrahita wrote of the habit of the Laches in bringing up younger male children as culturally female.
The name Lache is preserved in a barrio of Bogotá known as Los Laches.

Municipalities belonging to Lache territory

The Lache inhabited the highlands of eastern Santander and northern Boyacá and a small part of northwesternmost Casanare.
NameDepartmentAltitude
urban centre		Map
CapitanejoSantander1090
CarcasíSantander2080
CepitáSantander3000
CerritoSantander2220-4200
ConcepciónSantander2005
EncisoSantander1484
GuacaSantander2401
MacaravitaSantander2320
MálagaSantander2235
MolagavitaSantander2196
San AndrésSantander1617
San José de MirandaSantander2381
San MiguelSantander2200
ChiscasBoyacá2368
ChitaBoyacá2964
El CocuyBoyacá2750
El EspinoBoyacá2128
GuacamayasBoyacá2296
Jericó
Boyacá3100
PanquebaBoyacá2258
La SalinaCasanare1400
San MateoBoyacá2500
La UvitaBoyacá2700