The Lache were an indigenous, agrarian people in the highlands of what is now central Colombia's northern Boyacá and Santander departments, primarily in Gutiérrez Province and García Rovira Province. Los Laches y Chitareros y sus caminos a la llegada de los españoles They were part of the Cocuy Confederation and spoke Chibcha, trading predominantly with other Chibcha speakers, such as the Muisca, Guane, Pijao and Chitarero. Trade included salt and textiles, as well as food stuffs. The Lache farmed maize, potatoes, quinoa and cotton, among other crops.
In the 17th century, Lucas Fernández de Piedrahita wrote of the habit of the Laches in bringing up younger male children as culturally female.
The name Lache is preserved in a barrio of Bogotá known as Los Laches.
Municipalities belonging to Lache territory The Lache inhabited the highlands of eastern Santander and northern Boyacá and a small part of northwesternmost Casanare. Lache people territories Indigenous groups of Boyacá and surroundings - Banco de la República
Name Department Altitude (m)urban centre Map Capitanejo Santander 1090 Carcasí Santander 2080 Cepitá Santander 3000 Cerrito Santander 2220-4200 Concepción Santander 2005 Enciso Santander 1484 Guaca Santander 2401 Macaravita Santander 2320 Málaga Santander 2235 Molagavita Santander 2196 San Andrés Santander 1617 San José de Miranda Santander 2381 San Miguel Santander 2200 Chiscas Boyacá 2368 Chita Boyacá 2964 El Cocuy Boyacá 2750 El Espino Boyacá 2128 Guacamayas Boyacá 2296 Jericó(shared with Muisca) Boyacá 3100 Panqueba Boyacá 2258 La Salina Casanare 1400 San Mateo Boyacá 2500 La Uvita Boyacá 2700
See also
Muisca Conquest of the Lache, Chibcha, U'wa Guane
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