Mariquita, Tolima

Mariquita, Tolima
Municipality and town
Flag of Mariquita, Tolima
Official seal of Mariquita, Tolima
Location of the municipality and town of Mariquita, Tolima in the Tolima Department of Colombia.
Location of the municipality and town of Mariquita, Tolima in the Tolima Department of Colombia.
Mariquita is located in Tolima Department
Mariquita
Mariquita
Location in Colombia
Mariquita is located in Colombia
Mariquita
Mariquita
Mariquita (Colombia)
Coordinates: 5°15′N 74°55′W / 5.250°N 74.917°W / 5.250; -74.917
Country Colombia
DepartmentTolima Department
Government
 • MayorAlejandro Galindo Rincón
Area
 • Municipality and town
293.3 km2 (113.2 sq mi)
 • Urban
5.91 km2 (2.28 sq mi)
Elevation
495 m (1,624 ft)
Population
 (2018 census)[1]
 • Municipality and town
37,770
 • Density130/km2 (330/sq mi)
 • Urban
27,907
 • Urban density4,700/km2 (12,000/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC-5 (Colombia Standard Time)

San Sebastián de Mariquita is a town and municipality in the Tolima department of Colombia, about 150 km (93 mi) northwest of Bogotá. This town and municipality contains several important Spanish settlements that were located here due to its vicinity to the Magdalena River. Today, Mariquita is frequented by tourists from the capital visiting attractions like the Medina Waterfalls (Cataratas de Medina) and the mint (Casa de la Moneda). The Spanish conquistador Gonzalo Jiménez de Quesada died there and is buried in the Primatial Cathedral of Bogotá. Today it is home to large hotels and haciendas, among them Villa de los Caballeros.

The population of the municipality was 32,642 as of the 2005 census.[2]