Las Lajas Sanctuary hosts coral concerts on 31 October
Published on 10/31/2026 at 11:53 | Editorial responsibility: Rafael Müller, Editor-in-Chief AD HOC NEWSCoral programme and sacred setting
- Foundation Vocal Arte brings two concerts to the sanctuary in Ipiales on 31 October 2026.
- The programme includes choirs from Colombia and Ecuador and music from sacred and regional traditions.
- The present Neo-Gothic basilica was built between 1916 and 1949 above the Guáitara River canyon.
- Ipiales lies in Colombia's Nariño department near the Ecuadorian border.
Las Lajas Sanctuary (Santuario de Nuestra Señora del Rosario de Las Lajas) in Ipiales, Colombia, hosts two gala concerts on 31 October 2026 as part of the Circuito Coral por Nariño. The programme brings choral groups from Colombia and Ecuador to the basilica for an afternoon and evening of sacred, academic and regional music.
Las Lajas Sanctuary hosts two coral concerts
The concerts take place at 4pm and 6pm on 31 October 2026. Foundation Vocal Arte organises the Circuito Coral por Nariño, with support from the Government of Nariño and Colombia's Ministry of Cultures, Arts and Knowledge. A report by Radio Ipiales names the sanctuary as the venue and gives the concert date.
The 4pm programme includes Tinkuy and Tinkuy Chapinero from Bogota, together with Coro Chambacu from Cartagena. At 6pm, the programme lists the community choir of the Government of Pichincha and the Ecuadorian professional choir vOXMIRABILIS. The announced repertoire covers sacred and academic music, universal works and pieces representing the participating regions.
The coral programme meets a canyon basilica
The concerts use a building whose setting is part of its identity. The basilica stands in the canyon of the Guaitara River, on a stone bridge and against the canyon rock. Colombia's national film commission describes the church as a Neo-Gothic sanctuary in Ipiales built across the river gorge.
The present building was constructed between 1916 and 1949 and is associated with architect Lucindo Maria Espinosa Medina. Its rock face contains the venerated image of the Virgin of Las Lajas, linking the musical programme to the devotional focus that draws pilgrims to the site. The sanctuary's official website identifies the place as a parish and pilgrimage centre in Ipiales, Nariño, and publishes its religious news and celebrations.
Why the 31 October programme matters at the sanctuary
The concert date falls close to the Day of the Dead, which the organisers connect with reflection and remembrance through choral music. That framing gives the event a specific relationship with the sanctuary rather than presenting it as a concert in an unrelated city venue.
The programme also has a cross-border dimension. Colombian ensembles from Bogota and Cartagena share the bill with groups from Pichincha in Ecuador, while the venue sits in southern Colombia near the Ecuadorian frontier. The result is a cultural event tied to both the building's religious role and Nariño's regional exchange.
Visiting Las Lajas Sanctuary: what travellers from Western Europe should know
- The two concerts are scheduled at Las Lajas Sanctuary in Ipiales on 31 October 2026, at 4pm and 6pm.
- The announced access is to the concert programme at the sanctuary; the available report does not state a separate access restriction or closure.
- The sanctuary is in the Guaitara River canyon in Ipiales, in Colombia's Nariño department, close to the Ecuadorian border.
- The site includes a stone bridge and a basilica built against the canyon rock, so the visit takes place in a steep river-gorge setting.
- Spanish is Colombia's official language and the national currency is the Colombian peso.
- Entry requirements depend on your nationality; UK travellers can check the FCDO travel advice at gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice, Irish travellers the Department of Foreign Affairs at ireland.ie.
Searching for Las Lajas Sanctuary on social platforms
These links open searches for Las Lajas Sanctuary on each platform.
Frequently asked questions about Las Lajas Sanctuary
When do the Circuito Coral concerts take place at Las Lajas Sanctuary?
The two concerts are scheduled for 31 October 2026 at 4pm and 6pm.
What is Las Lajas Sanctuary?
It is a Neo-Gothic basilica in the Guaitara River canyon near Ipiales, built between 1916 and 1949 on a stone bridge.
Where is Las Lajas Sanctuary and how do you get there?
It is in Ipiales, in Colombia's Nariño department, near the Ecuadorian border. The confirmed event information identifies Ipiales as the reference city but does not specify a transport route.
