Colombia, a land of diversity and cultural richness, is home to a fascinating traditional game called Tejo, a kind of Colombian-style pétanque. Deeply rooted in Colombianhistory and tradition, Tejo offers a unique experience for intrepid travelers in search of adventure and discovery.
Join us as we explore the origins, rules andcultural impact of this iconic Colombian sport, which continues to bring people together around competition, camaraderie and the celebration of Colombian culture.
The origins of tejo: a history dating back to pre-Columbian civilizations
Long ago, long before the noise of cars and the lights of cities filled the air of Colombia, there was a game, a tradition among the indigenous peoples of the departments of Cundinamarca and Boyacá. This game was Turmequé.
Imagine, over 500 years ago, in the fertile lands where the town of Turmequé (from which the name of the game derives) once stood, a vibrant center of life and exchange. The Muiscas, the indigenous peoples of these lands, used to gather here for many things: trading products, bartering, but also for something very special – sporting competitions. Among these was the game of Turmequé.
At the heart of this tradition was a precious, shiny gold disc called “zepguagoscua”. This disc, obtained by bartering with other regions of the country, was the centerpiece of the game. It wasn’t played by just anyone, but by the caciques, the “important people” of the town, the people of upper Turmequé. The Muiscas skilfully threw the disc onto a dirt pitch, trying to explode the “mechas” – gunpowder balls introduced by the Spanish Conquistadores – which were laid out on the pitch.
A myth of the time is that when the Spaniards arrived and discovered the polygamy of the natives – and in particular of the caciques, who could have more than one wife – they expressed their categorical disagreement with such an ideology which, moreover, contradicted all Christian thought. This is why the Spaniards decided to use shuffleboard as a decisive element in converting the monogamous caciques; this was done through a contest between all the caciques’ wives, and the one who won kept the cacique.
The game has evolved over time. The golden disc gave way to a metal one, but the spirit of competition remained. Today, it’s called Tejo. Players compete, individually or in teams, to see who can blow the most wicks and win the game.
And Tejo isn’t just a Colombian affair. No, it has traveled beyond our borders, to Ecuador, Venezuela, and even Spain, Mexico, the USA and Peru. Colombian champions compete against others in a competition that transcends borders and eras, carrying with them the legacy of their Muiscas ancestors.
Tejo today
In the 1960s, shuffleboard was formalized as one of Colombia’s national sports, and in 2000 it was elevated to the status of national sport. It now has its own anthem and official rules, offering a variety of playing methods for top-level competitions.
For Colombians, Tejo is more than just a game; it’s central to their cultural identity. It embodies thespirit of camaraderie, friendly competition and celebration that characterizes Colombian culture. Tejo matches are often accompanied by traditional music, creating an immersive experience for participants and spectators alike. Tejo is also known as “bolo aéreo”, “turmequé” or “juego explosivo” (explosive game).
At the heart of the practices and rules that animate Tejo, there is a sacred tradition, an indisputable truth that unites the players: the generous consumption of beer. It’s an unspoken obligation, an integral part of the experience of those who devote themselves to this ancestral sport (at a non-professional level, of course). So every popular tejo center will also have its own bar service.
How to play tejo
There is an exhaustive manual detailing all the rules of shuffleboard, which is mainly used in championships. However, it is important to note that these rules are rather basic and can vary from one center to another, from one region to another, even from one family to another.
Tejo set elements
To play tejo, here’s what you need to know. According to the official rules, and it’s very precise!
- Playing area(Área de juego): the tejo playing area is 19.5 metres long and 2.5 metres wide. The distance between pitches is 17.5 meters, with a 2.5-meter throwing area from the pitch.
- Fields(canchas): each field is made up of 5 elements:
- A wooden board(tablero de madera) 1.5 metres high and 1 metre wide.
- A clay or paste modeling box(caja de greda o plastilina) measuring 1 meter wide by 1 meter long.
- A central metal ring(bocín) in the clay box.
- Powder bags, like firecrackers(mechas de pólvora) in the shape of a triangle.
- Metal pucks(tejos metálicos): the pucks have a maximum diameter of 9 centimetres at the base, a height of 4 centimetres and a base diameter of 5.5 centimetres. Thus, the “tejo” represents both the name of the game and the heavy metal disc that is thrown during play.
- Puck cleaning tools: usually, a fique (Andean plant) bag, a hook for removing the pucks from the clay or modeling clay, and a surface flattening plunger (a metal element used to press the surface of the clay or modeling clay) are included.
Points system
Here are the different ways to score points:
- Mano – 1 point: awarded to the team whose puck is closest to the metal ring(bocín).
- Mecha – 3 points: when the thrown puck hits the mecha and causes a sufficiently visible explosion, flames or smoke.
- Embocinada – 6 points: when the puck enters the ring without bursting the powder.
- Moñona – 9 points: when the puck is completely in the ring AND the firecracker explodes at the same time.
For a throw to be considered valid, the puck must hit the targets directly, without touching any external elements such as the ground, the boards, the edges of the pitch or others.
Teams & order
To begin, all players take up a position on one of the two available pitches. Throwing rounds are decided by drawing lots; if players are playing in teams, throws must alternate between the teams (player 1 from team 1, followed by player 1 from team 2, then player 2 from team 1, and so on).
Once the throwing order has been established, the first player, often referred to as the “leader”, throws the puck. The other players then follow, and the point is won by the team whose puck is closest to the central point, often marked by a whistle.
Where to play tejo in Colombia
Although Tejo is played throughout the country, certain regions are particularly renowned for their passion for this ancestral game. For example, the town of Duitama, in the department of Boyacá, is renowned for its picturesque canchas de Tejo, offering visitors a unique opportunity to immerse themselves in this age-old tradition.
Tejo is not very popular in northern Colombian cities such as Barranquilla or Cartagena. By contrast, it is most popular in the Andean regions .
Here are a few places to play tejo:
Armenia
Canchas De Tejo Cordillera – Polideportivo Barrio La Unión, Armenia, Quindío
Bogotá
Club Social y Deportivo de Tejo El Porvenir del Norte – Cra. 57a #74a33, Bogotá
Club de Tejo La 76 – Carrera 24 # 76-56, Cra. 24 #76, Bogotá
Tejo La Embajada – Cra. 24 #76-20, Bogotá
Bucaramanga
Club Deportivo de Tejo la Joya – Calle 36 #6 Oeste-1 a 6 Oeste-47, Bucaramanga, Santander
Cali
Social Club Los Amigos – Cl. 49 #8a-23, Comuna 8, Cali, Valle del Cauca
Medellín
Cancha Brasilia – Aranjuez, Medellín, Aranjuez, Medellin, Antioquia
Cancha de Tejo Polideportivo Sur – Cra. 46 #43A-167, Zona 8, Envigado, Antioquia
Pereira
El Tejo del Oso – Cl. 13 #13 23, Pereira, Risaralda
Salento(would you like to visit Salento?)
Cancha De Tejo Los Amigos – a 3-98, Cra. 4 #32, Salento, Quindío
