VILLA DE LEYVA and Boyacá, Colombia off the beaten path

Three to four hours by road from Bogotá, Villa de Leyva is a colonial town founded in 1572, set at about 2,140 metres in the Andes of Boyacá. It is our home, and the starting point for a region of colonial villages, high-altitude lakes and páramos that most visitors to Colombia never see.

Things to do in Villa de Leyva

• Walk the cobbled Plaza Mayor and the whitewashed streets of the historic centre
• Visit the Casa Terracota, a house built entirely by hand from clay
• See the fossil of a marine reptile at El Fósil, a reminder that this valley was once under the sea
• Spend a morning with potters in Ráquira, the craft village of Boyacá
• Taste local cuisine and visit farms and workshops in the surrounding countryside

Beyond Villa de Leyva: Boyacá

• Lago de Tota: Colombia's largest natural lake, at around 3,000 metres, surrounded by onion fields and white-sand shores
• Monguí: a colonial village and the gateway to the Páramo de Ocetá
• El Cocuy National Park: glaciers and high Andean trails in the north of the department
• Tunja and the Puente de Boyacá: the colonial capital and the site of the 1819 battle that led to Colombia's independence

How to get from Bogotá to Villa de Leyva

The journey takes three to four hours by road, depending on traffic leaving Bogotá. We organise private transfers from Bogotá and El Dorado airport, so you can stop along the way and arrive without worrying about buses or connections.

Is Villa de Leyva worth it?

Yes, if you want to see a side of Colombia beyond the classic route. Two or three nights in Villa de Leyva let you explore the town and its surroundings at an easy pace; a week in Boyacá adds Lago de Tota, Monguí or El Cocuy.

More to see around Villa de Leyva

• Ecce Homo Convent: a 17th-century convent built with fossil-bearing stone
• El Infiernito: the Muisca solar observatory, a short drive from town
• Iguaque Flora and Fauna Sanctuary: a demanding hike to the lagoon the Muisca considered the origin of humanity
• Farmers' market: on Saturday mornings, with produce from the valley

When to visit Villa de Leyva

Villa de Leyva is pleasant all year. The driest months are December to March and July to August. Days are mild and nights are cool at around 2,140 metres, so bring a warm layer. Weekends and Colombian public holidays are busy; we suggest weekdays when your dates allow.

Day trip or overnight from Bogotá?

A day trip is possible, but it means six to eight hours on the road. We recommend at least one night so you can see the Plaza Mayor in the evening light and visit Ráquira or the fossil museums the next day.

Questions about Villa de Leyva