It borders Cucaita, Tunja and Ventaquemada in the east, Ráquira in the west, Sáchica, Sora and Cucaita in the north and Ventaquemada, Ráquira and Guachetá, Cundinamarca in the south.

Sa is a noble title; Ma is a proper name; Cá means a sovereign enclosure.

Around the lagoon were three native settlements called Patagüy, Foacá and Sáchica.

Samacá was ruled by the zaque of nearby Hunza and the modern town was founded on January 1, 1556 by Juan de los Barrios.

Samacá has a potential for growth; in the last decade the economy has risen tremendously.