---

The primitive town of Buga was founded by Giraldo Gil de Estupiñán in 1555, when it was burned by the Indians it moved to Babaya. Since then this municipality of the Valley, had a series of changes in its administration, since given its strategic importance it had to endure frequent variations in politics and in the management of public interests.

During the time of the conquest, their lands were populated by diverse and brave warrior tribes that offered resistance to the invasion by the conquerors. The name of this city comes from the tribes that populated the high valleys of the Central mountain range, where "Buga La Vieja" was founded.

Etymologically speaking, the name of Buga is of Caribbean origin, if one takes into account that the Pijaos, the Quinamanoes and Bugas were of Caribbean descent, coming from Antillean archipelagos, they penetrated the interior of the country through the Colombian rivers, to settle in Sierras and Valleys.

It was rebuilt in the territory of the Quinamanoe Indians in the region called ´´Babaya´´ which was located in the mountainous part, at the foot of the Cerro de Pan de Azúcar. The second foundation received the name of ´´Guadalajara de Buga´´ and a third with the same name, to later become the capital of the province between 1834 and 1887, the year in which it was organized as a Municipality, in 1908 it was the capital of the Department of Buga for twenty months until the creation of the Department of the Valley.

The exact date of its foundation is unknown, which was carried out in 1555 anyway, being transferred to the Cordillera and again to the Valley. In 1569 the mayor Ruy Baez de Sosa offered his lands to move the city to the banks of the Guadalajara river, the transfer took place on March 4, 1570, with his first Lieutenant Governor and Chief Justice, Captain Luis Velásquez; its first mayor, Captain Melchor Velásquez de Valdenebro, founder of Toro and first ´´Alférez Real´´ Captain Diego Lazo de la Vega, who also served as mayor.

In 1810 Buga was part of the confederate cities of Valle del Cauca. The King of Spain, Don Felipe II, granted it the title of City, at the end of the 16th century, and granted it his coat of arms for the many services rendered to the crown.

The Foundation carried out on March 4, 1570 in a place very close to what is now SENA land, called Sepulturas, is officially accepted as the definitive foundation of Guadalajara de Buga, although some time later it was transferred to the Right Bank of the Río Piedras, today Río Guadalajara, its original square being today the ´´José María Cabal´´ park, the framework of its original constructions.





Buga "La Ciudad Señora" is surrounded by flat areas, slightly undulating which rise to the foothills of the mountain range. With an area of ​​832 square kilometers, the city has four climatic floors, so its livestock and agricultural production is varied. It has industrial crops of sugar cane, corn, sorghum and other cereals.

The main rivers of the city are the Sonso, the Guadalajara and the Loro, as well as several streams. In the religious history of the country, the temple of the Miraculous Christ of Buga is the object of an intense transport and trade of Pilgrims.

General information:

Location: Buga is one of the 41 municipalities in the department of Valle del Cauca.

Height: 969 m.a.s.l., climate 23 ° C.

Temperature: 23 degree centigrade

Population: 114,439 Inhabitants Approximately.

Main products: Cotton, Soy, Corn, Millet, Coffee, Sugar Cane, Barley, Potato, Banana and Beans.





Fairs and Festivities: In the month of July, the Agricultural Exhibition Fair is held. In the month of August, the Song Festival is held, “Festibuga Internacional”.

Gastronomy: White Manjar, Preserves and Jellies, Crystallized Lemon and Orange.

---