Things to do on a trip to Villa de Leyva

Villa de Leyva is one of the most beautiful towns in Colombia, and an obligatory stop when passing through Boyacá. This quiet town of colonial heritage is a favourite destination for Colombians for a weekend getaway, and in addition to its charm, it has certain monuments such as the largest square in Colombia and many perfectly preserved colonial-style buildings. But that’s not all, there is much more to do in Villa de Leyva.

In this post we tell you the essential stops for your visit so you don’t miss anything. The municipality is located in an exceptional enclave between Bogotá and Tunja. It is surrounded by natural sites worth seeing, such as the Pozos Azules and the Valle Escondido (Hidden Valley). Every year it also hosts the famous Kite Festival, which brings together professionals and amateurs from all over the world in the Plaza Mayor. If you want to know more, read on and we’ll tell you everything you need to know.

What are the best places to see in Villa de Leyva?

1. Plaza mayor and main streets

The Plaza Mayor is the most famous corner of Villa de Leyva, and is a must-see. It is 120 metres long and 120 metres wide, making it the largest square in America. The square is also home to numerous colonial buildings, including the parish church and a small Mudejar fountain that for many years supplied water to the entire town. The image of the square is complemented by the mountain range in the background, which makes the landscape even more enchanting.

After seeing the square we recommend visiting Carrera 9 and 10, two of the most pleasant and lively streets in the town. In these two streets you will find numerous souvenir and craft shops, restaurants and bars. The best thing to do is to lose yourself in the narrow streets leading off them.

2. Kite Festival, the best thing to do in Villa de Leyva

One of the most anticipated events of the year takes place during the month of August, attracting countless tourists: the Kite Festival. During the celebration, professionals and amateurs gather in the Plaza Mayor to fly kites of all sizes and shapes. It is a real spectacle of colour. There are also organised competitions. If you decide to travel in summer you should be aware that the city is full of tourists, so we recommend booking well in advance.

3. The Terracotta Ceramic House

The Terracotta House is one of the most interesting stops in Villa de Leyva. It was designed by the architect Octavio Mendoza and covers over 500 square metres. Built using 400 tons of clay, it was fired as if it were a vase. That is why it is considered the largest ceramic piece in the world.

The house, which took more than 17 years to build, is 2km from the city centre, so you can walk or take a taxi. Admission is 23,000 pesos a day and 30,000 pesos on public holidays. There is a discount of 7,000 pesos for children and it is free for children under 7.

4. Museums to visit in Villa de Leyva

In Villa de Leyva there are several museums worth seeing. One of them is the Museum of Antonio Ricaurte, an army officer famous for his actions during the war of independence. The museum tells his story and has several collections of military artefacts. The museum is open from 9:00 to 12:00 and from 14:00 to 17:00. Access is free of charge. In the same village you can also visit the Casa Museo de Antonio Ricaurte, with the same opening hours and price, as well as the Casa Museo del artista Luís Alberto Acuña, which costs 6.000 pesos.

If you go with children, the Chocolate Museum is one of the best things to do inthe town. Here you’ll learn about the production and history of this sweet. You can also buy local products and very different varieties of chocolate.

Travel Tip: To organize your trip we recommend using Passporter totally free. You can be inspired by the experiences of other travelers, choose the places that interest you most, create the travel route with a geolocated map, upload all important documents such as reservations and invite your friends so that everyone can participate in the organization of the trip.

What to see around Villa de Leyva?

1. The Hidden Valley and the Spring Mill

This beautiful valley is only 12km from Villa de Leyva. You can take a 2.5 hour excursion and visit the museum of the Molino de Primavera, which tells the story of a 17th century mill, showing the milling techniques and instruments of the time. To get there you can go by car, taxi or with organised excursions that leave from Villa de Leyva.

2. Iguaque National Park

The Iguaque National Park offers a sea of possibilities for nature lovers, and the best part is that it is only 10km from Villa de Leyva. In its almost 7,000 hectares you can go hiking, and visit the Sanctuary and the Sacred Lagoon that has given rise to numerous legends in the region. Along the streams that flow from the lagoon, a lush forest has grown, which is home to a great variety of animal species. For mountaineering enthusiasts there are also hikes of over 2000 metres, where the views are incredible.

Organise your travel itinerary with Passporter, completely free to use, easy and practical. Get inspired by the experiences of other travellers and choose the places that interest you most by adding them to your route map.

3. Pozos Azules

In the village of Sopotá, only 3km from the municipality, are the Pozos Azules. This one of the best excursions to do in Villa de Leyva. They are a set of artificial pools with a very characteristic blue colour resulting from the mineral composition of the soil. This incredible natural complex covers 60 hectares and can be explored on foot, on horseback or by bicycle. The Pozos Azules are open every day from 8:00 to 17:00 and the entrance fee is 12.000 pesos, used for the maintenance of the natural site.

What to see in 1 day in Villa de Leyva?

Villa de Leyva is a relatively small municipality and its historic centre can be explored on foot. This means that the town can easily be seen in a day, during which time you will have time to walk the main streets and squares, see the museums and the parish church. However, there is much more to do in the surrounding area, where there are both theme parks, such as the ostrich park, the Casa Terracota and natural sites such as the Pozos Azules, the Valle Escondido and the Iguaque National Park. Therefore, to get the most out of your visit, we recommend spending at least 3 or 4 days in the area.

Find out what else to see in Colombia: Things to do on a trip to Colombia?

Where and what to eat in Villa de Leyva?

Villa de Leyva has a great places to eat; you will find both traditional and international restaurants. The most typical dish of the region is the cocido boyacense, made with chicken, bacon and potatoes. And for sweets, don’t miss the Beso de Novia, made with corn and sugar. These are some of the best restaurants in the city where you can try these and other traditional dishes.

• La Maria Bistro: is a traditional restaurant with a very good reputation among locals and tourists. They use mainly local produce and the restaurant is beautiful. The price of the meal per person is around 20.000 pesos.
• La Tienda de Teresa: is an ideal restaurant for a very cheap meal. They also serve breakfast and dinner, and you can try local dishes for between 4,000 and 12,000 pesos.
• El Rincon Gourmet de la Villa: If you are a foodie, this is the restaurant for you. For around 50.000 pesos you can enjoy a signature dinner with a mixture of flavours and incredible dishes.

Where to stay in Villa de Leyva?

Despite being a very quiet town, Villa de Leyva is very touristy, so you’ll have no trouble finding places to stay. The best area is the historic centre, as it is within walking distance of the main tourist attractions. Another good neighbourhood very close to the centre is San Francisco. If you prefer something cheaper, there are several campsites and inns in the outskirts of the town, where taxis are a good option for getting around. Here are some of our favourite places to stay.

• Casa del Carmen: this is a cosy guesthouse with a pretty interior courtyard located just 400m from the village square. It has both family rooms and double rooms and prices start at 50€ per night. Breakfast is also included in the price.
• Selina Villa De Leyva: a wonderful hotel with an outdoor swimming pool and garden. They offer double and family rooms and accept pets. The establishment also has a bar, restaurant and offers breakfast for 4€. Prices for a night start at 33€.
• La Alhambra Hotel Boutique: this luxurious 5-star hotel is a wonderful option to disconnect. It has a garden, outdoor pool, spa and bar. They also offer room service and breakfast is included in the price. The price per night starts at 70€.

How to get to Villa de Leyva?

The best way to get to Villa de Leyva is to fly to the nearest airport, Bogota airport, 170km away. Being in the capital, is one of the best connected airports in the country. Once at the airport you have to take a bus which takes 3 hours and costs 23,000 pesos. The other nearest airport is Bucaramanga, which is 280km away, but could be a good option if you want to see the area and the pretty town of Barichara.

Another option is to travel from Santander by bus. You have to change in Tunja, and from there Villa de Leyva is only 1 hour away and the ticket costs 10,000 pesos.

What should I consider before travelling to Villa de Leyva?

• The temperature in Villa de Leyva is between 18ºC and 30ºC, which means that temperatures are mild all year round but it’s a good idea to take some warm clothes.
• The National Wind and Kite Festival is held every year in August.
• The city is safe, but be careful and watch out for your belongings.
• The official currency in Colombia is the Colombian peso.
• The official language is Spanish.
• The best time of year to visit is from early June to early September and from late December to mid-January.
• Cash is recommended for small shops.
• Tap water is safe to drink, but your stomach may not be used to its mineral levels. It is best to drink bottled water.
• Cover yourself for possible medical emergencies: travel insured.

How to prepare what to see on your trip to Villa de Leyva?

Register or download the Passporter App and discover all its useful features.

• Get inspiration from the experiences of other travellers.
• Create your own itinerary and add the app’s suggestions to it.
• Add the spots you are most interested in, as well as the restaurants and bars where you want to eat (you can use the points of interest listed in this post as a reference).
• Organise your itinerary by days and according to their location (you can take inspiration from the routes presented in the post).
• Check the travel budget that the app calculates for you based on your travel stops, restaurants, and leisure activities.
• Make the necessary modifications and you are ready for your trip.
• Finally, share your experience. Upload photos of every place you’ve visited to the app and recommend to other travellers all the things to do in Villa de Leyva.

If you have any doubts about how to plan your itinerary, you can read our post: How to create your travel itinerary with Passporter.

FAQs about a trip to Villa de Leyva