Colombia's national sport — it goes bang

Tejo night

Tejo is the game Colombia made its national sport by law in 2000. You lob a metal puck at a clay-filled box from across the court, aiming for small paper triangles of gunpowder — the mechas. Hit one and it goes bang. Miss and you buy the next round.

  • Level: Easy start
  • Book through SamS
  • Social
Travellers playing tejo at night under a corrugated roof: one man winds up a throw while others watch beside yellow-lined clay lanes.
Photo: SamS VIP Hostel (Instagram)

Tejo night

Ley 613 of 2000 declared tejo Colombia's national sport. The puck (the tejo) weighs around 680 grams and the target is a tilted box of clay with a metal ring, the bocín, set in the middle. Paper mechas packed with gunpowder sit on the ring's edge. Hit a mecha and it explodes; land inside the ring and you score more; do both at once — a moñona — and you're a legend for the night.

It is loud, it's social and it works whether you've never thrown anything in your life or you were the pitcher on your school team. Many hostels around Colombia run tejo nights, and SamS guests report organised outings to a local court. Ask at reception what's planned while you're in town.

What to expect

  1. 01 A quick lesson on grip and throw
  2. 02 Teams, scoring and plenty of trash talk
  3. 03 Mechas popping with a bang and a puff of smoke
  4. 04 A local crowd and, usually, beer

Wear & bring

Wear & bring

  • Closed shoes
  • Cash for drinks
  • Your competitive streak
  • Earplugs if loud bangs bother you

Before you sign up

  • Anyone who can throw underarm can play.
  • Tejo halls usually serve beer — ask about age rules at the venue.

Weather, river & operator

  • Gunpowder mechas: follow the court rules and stay clear of the boxes while others throw.
  • Outings depend on what's organised that week — ask reception.

Ask before you book

  • Whether there's a tejo outing while you're here
  • Where the court is and how to get there
  • What it costs and what is included

No prices here on purpose: they depend on the operator, the date and the group. Ask us and we’ll confirm current terms.

A tejo board: a clay-filled wooden box with pink paper mechas around the metal ring.
The target: clay, a steel ring, and paper mechas full of gunpowder. — Photo: Neil Taylor, CC BY 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons

FAQ

Is it safe?

The mechas are small paper packets that pop on impact. Follow the court's rules, stand back from the boxes and you'll be fine.

What's a moñona?

The best shot in the game: the tejo lands inside the bocín and blows a mecha at the same time. Worth 9 points and lifelong bragging rights.

Do I have to drink?

No. Beer is part of the tradition, but soft drinks throw just as well.

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