[3] Charalá has a tropical rainforest climate (Köppen: Af) with consistent temperatures, cool nights, and abundant rainfall.

The name Charalá is Chibcha, the language of the Muisca and was given to honour the Guane cacique of the village; "Chalala".

Charalá was located at the border of Guane territory and the Muisca Confederation of which it formed an independent unity.

Modern Charalá was founded by one of the conquistadors who was part in the Spanish conquest of the Muisca; Martín Galeano, on July 23, 1540.

[3] Main economical activities in the municipality are agriculture (coffee, sugar cane and maize) and marble mining.