title: Cucaita
text: # Cucaita
  
  Cucaita is a municipality in the Central Boyacá Province, part of Boyacá Department, Colombia. The urban centre is situated on the Altiplano Cundiboyacense at a distance of 20 kilometres (12 mi) from the department capital Tunja. Cucaita borders Sora in the north, Tunja in the east and south and Samacá in the south and west.
  
  ## Etymology
  
  The name Cucaita is derived from Chibcha and means either "Seminary enclosure" or "Shade of the farming fields".
  
  ## History
  
  The area of Cucaita in the times before the Spanish conquest was inhabited by the Muisca, organised in their loose Muisca Confederation. Cucaita was ruled by the zaque of nearby Hunza.
  
  Modern Cucaita was founded on August 12, 1556 by friar Juan de Los Barrios.
  
  ## Economy
  
  Main economical activities of Cucaita are agriculture (predominantly onions and peas), livestock farming and minor carbon mining.
  
  ## Born in Cucaita
  
  * Rafael Antonio Niño, former professional cyclist
  
  ## Gallery
  
  * View of Cucaita
  * Central square
  * Church of Cucaita
  * Church interior
  * Monument to Rafael Antonio Niño
  * Rural Cucaita
  * Farmfields
  