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Lake Tota (Lago de Tota) is the largest natural lake in Colombia. It’s located in the department of Boyacá and is a great place to spend a relaxing few hours.
Introduction to Lake Tota
Lake Tota was sacred to the indigenous Muisca people. It measures 55.1 square kilometers (21.3 square miles) with a length of 12 kilometers (7.5 miles), a width of 7.2 kilometers (4.5 miles), and a maximum depth of 62 meters (203 feet). The nearest towns are Aquitania and Tota.
The average water temperature is 13 °C, which allowed for the introduction of rainbow trout. Unfortunately, they fed on the grease fish (pez graso), which was native only to Lake Tota, leading to its extinction.
Italo-Venezuelan scientist Agostino Codazzi (1793-1859) organized the first scientific expedition of Lake Tota between 1850 and 1859. This constituted the first stage of the Chorographic Commission (Comisión Corográfica). Manuel Ponce de León (1829-1899) led the second stage between 1860 and 1862.
There are five islands in the lake, including Isla San Pedro (also known as Isla Grande); Isla Santo Domingo; Isla de Cerro Chico; Isla de La Custodia; and Isla Santa Helena. Lake Tota is also an important sanctuary for many endangered species of birds. A handful of protected areas have been established around the lake.
Playa Blanca
Playa Blanca is a beach on the western shore of the lake and the most popular place to visit. Since July 2024, it’s open Saturdays, Sundays, and holiday Mondays, and access is restricted to 2-hour shifts for 100 people each, 4 times a day. Advance reservations through the Corporación de Boyacá website are highly recommended. Admission is COP$2,000 (as of February 2025), payable on-site, and visits are guided.
The sand is powdery white, much like Playa Blanca on the Caribbean coast. The views of the lake and mountains in the background are beautiful from the shore. Unfortunately for us, it was an overcast day and the colors weren’t as brilliant as they could have been.
While Playa Blanca is a beach, it’s no longer possible to swim. You’re now allowed in the water only up to your knees. During our visit, there were two people who were brave enough to swim in the frigid water.
Activities at Lake Tota
In the past, activities at Playa Blanca included swimming, jet ski rental, cruises, camping, ATV rental, and horseback riding. There was also a small restaurant and accommodation. Some private establishments around the lake still offer these activities.
Where to Eat at Lake Tota
You’ll find a few restaurants on the road circling the lake. We stopped at one for lunch.
Arco Iris del Lago
When we finished enjoying Playa Blanca, we went to Arco Iris del Lago, a restaurant nearby. It sits down a steep path on a peaceful corner of the lake.
The views of Lake Tota from the restaurant are just as beautiful as at Playa Blanca.
The food, however, wasn’t as good as we expected from the reviews. Marisol had trout, which is caught fresh from the lake, and I had chicken. Both were dry and not very tasty. We also had a canelazo which was terrible.
