Las Lajas Sanctuary

Las Lajas Sanctuary is a basilica-style church built in a steep canyon over the Guáitara River near the town of Ipiales in Nariño Department, Colombia, and is a major pilgrimage destination.

The sanctuary is notable for its neo-Gothic stone architecture that spans the gorge and for the rock image of the Virgin that draws devotees and visitors. Terraces and a bridge link the church to viewpoints on the canyon rim and provide dramatic views down the gorge.

The site has been a focus of popular devotion since reports of a miraculous image and event on the rock wall in earlier centuries; the present stone basilica dates to the early to mid 20th century and replaced earlier chapels at the site.

The sanctuary sits in a deep canyon of the Guáitara River near Ipiales in Nariño Department, close to the Colombia-Ecuador border in southern Colombia.

• Access: The nearby town of Ipiales is the usual base for visits and provides road access and services for pilgrims and tourists.

What to See #

• Main basilica: The main neo-Gothic basilica spans the canyon and houses a venerated image of the Virgin set against the rock face behind the altar.
• Bridge and terraces: The stone bridge and terraces connect the sanctuary to the canyon rim and provide panoramic views of the Guáitara River gorge below.