In this Jubilee year, explore traveling on pilgrimage to faith destinations
Discover new destinations visiting majestic sanctuaries with religious walks and revive faith
Basilica of the Lord of Miracles in Guadalajara de Buga, Valle del Cauca, Colombia. Our Lord of Miracles of Buga, also known as the Lord of Miracles, is a statue of Jesus Christ in the form of a crucifix, which appeared in the 16th century floating in the Guadalajara River in what is now the city of Guadalajara de Buga, in the Cauca Valley, Colombia. The story goes that in September 1573, an indigenous woman, who earned her living as a washerwoman, noticed a small but shiny object being carried by the current in the middle of the Guadalajara River. She picked it up and discovered it was a small crucifix. Pleased with her find, upon returning home, she built an altar for the small crucifix using an ordinary wooden box. According to tradition, one night the tiny wooden crucifix began to grow into a life-size image of Christ. News of this spread throughout the Cauca River Valley, and many people began to gather at the site, where a hermitage was built, transforming the woman's humble home into a sanctuary. A wealthy family in the region decided to donate land to build a large church, the first hermitage to venerate the holy crucifix on the site where it was discovered. The crucifix had already grown from a small crucifix to almost the height of a person, and was already known as the Lord of Miracles. A major obstacle to facilitating the pilgrimage to the sanctuary was the lack of a bridge for visiting faithful to cross the river. According to accounts from this period, after collective prayers during the rainy season, a natural phenomenon occurred that solved the problem caused by the lack of a bridge. During heavy rains, the river suddenly and spontaneously diverted from its original channel. It began to flow in such a way that a new channel was formed many meters from the old one. From that moment on, the chapel was located on the same side of the river as the city of Buga.
The prerogatives of Lord of Miracles, from September 5th to 14th of 2025. The prerogatives of the Lord of Miracles of Buga are performed by the faithful and pilgrims who come to the temple to give thanks for favors received and to pray for the blessings they seek from Him. Pilgrims come to his sanctuary to implore physical and spiritual healing, peace, forgiveness, and divine intercession, recognizing him as a source of spirituality. The main prerogatives that the faithful seek from the Lord of Miracles of Buga are: Healing and health: Devotees pray to him for their own health and that of their loved ones, as they trust that he is the healer of bodies and souls. Peace and well-being: They pray for personal peace and that of their families, seeking spiritual well-being and tranquility. Forgiveness of sins: It is common to implore forgiveness and the promise of a new life when coming before him. Intercession and spiritual strength: Pilgrims dedicate themselves to his service to strengthen their faith and pray for the resolution of their daily problems. Divine blessing: The faithful recognize in Him a source of blessing, considering that from His cross emanates the grace of God for humanity.
The Jubilee 2025, proclaimed by Pope Francis, is a Holy Year with the motto "Pilgrims of Hope," which runs from December 24, 2024, to January 6, 2026, beginning with the opening of the Holy Door in Rome. It is a time for spiritual renewal and reconciliation with God and others, promoting forgiveness and conversion, calling for social action, and encouraging solidarity and service to those most in need. The Jubilee is marked by cultural and religious events at shrines around the world to obtain plenary indulgences. For this reason, the Basilica of Our Lord of Miracles in Guadalajara de Buga is one of the most popular temples in Latin America chosen by pilgrims to visit during this period.
San Pedro Cathedral, located in Buga, Colombia, is renowned for its stunning colonial architecture and historical significance. The cathedral, which dates back to the 16th century, is a prime example of Spanish colonial design, featuring intricate details and a grand facade. It serves as a central place of worship and a key cultural landmark in the city.
Enjoy alternative culture tourism knowing about the local customs, ecoturism, bird watching and cuisine
Musseum of Sugarcane. The sugarcane industry in Colombia's Valle del Cauca began in the mid-16th century when spanish conquistadors introduced the crop, quickly establishing the region as a sugar-producing center. The Hacienda Piedechinche, now the Sugarcane Museum, was built in 1715 and is a National Monument showcasing the colonial architecture and culture of the Cauca Valley, especially linked to sugar production. The house and its original elements, such as furniture, tile roofs, and wattle and daub walls, have been restored and remain intact, offering a glimpse into life at that time. The museum also presents the evolution of the panela milling and production process through historic ranches and mills, and is notable for its great gardens and the history of the Colombian sugar industry.
Sonso Lagoon. The Laguna de Sonso Nature Reserve is located just 10 minutes from the city of Guadalajara de Buga in the Valle del Cauca Department in Colombia. It contains the last extensive remnant of original natural wetland remaining in the Cauca River Valley in western Colombia, and was declared a nature reserve in October 1978. It comprises a series of marshes and lagoons on the east bank of the Cauca River, between the municipalities of Buga, Yotoco and Guacarí. It has an area of 2,045 ha (7.90 sq mi), lying at an altitude of 935 m (3,068 ft). The reserve has been designated as a protected Ramsar site since 2017. The lagoon is a sanctuary for more than 180 species of birds, including terrestrial and aquatic species, and welcomes numerous migratory birds. These include the Marsh Vulture (considered a symbolic species and a key indicator of ecosystem health), the osprey, the cocoi heron, the grey whistling duck, the grey woodpecker, and various species of tanagers and flycatchers.
Calima Lagoon. Calima Lake is one of the largest reservoirs in the Americas, with an area of 19,034 square kilometers. It is located between the municipalities of Calima El Darién and Restrepo. The lake is part of the hydroelectric project to generate energy for the C.V.C department (Corporación Autónoma Regional del Valle del Cauca). Construction of the reservoir began in 1961 and ended in 1966. In later years, it would become a tourist attraction; therefore, hotels, recreational centers, and subdivisions were built around it. Its winds are very conducive to the practice of water sports such as sailing, water skiing, windsurfing, kitesurfing, among others, since they are the best winds in the Americas and third in the world.
Santiago de Cali is the capital of the Valle del Cauca department, the third most populous city in Colombia, and one of the oldest cities in the Americas. It is known as the world capital of salsa, with a wide range of nightclubs and bars where you can listen to, dance, and learn about salsa music. It is also one of Colombia's main sports centers. In 2019, it was recognized by the World Travel Awards as a cultural destination city in South America, thanks to its cultural, sports, and tourism offerings. Santiago de Cali is also a business city whose infrastructure offers all the facilities for business meetings, accommodation, shopping, dining, and entertainment.
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