Villa de Leyva is tucked away in the Colombian countryside amid rolling green hills, less than 4 hours from Bogotá. In contrast to the brightly coloured colonial towns you’ll find elsewhere in the country, quiet and quaint Villa de Leyva is known for its whitewashed walls. This small pueblo is anything but a washout though!
The town oozes charm, with cobblestone streets lined with white-walled buildings, their red-tiled roofs decorated with cascading bougainvillea. It is best known for its huge plaza – the largest in Colombia – but there’s plenty more to discover in and around pretty and peaceful Villa de Leyva.
Contents
Villa de Leyva, Colombia – Travel Guide 🎒
Villa de Leyva Map & Resources
MORE INFO: (Opens a new tab)
- 🇨🇴 Backpacking in Colombia
- 💰 A Budget Guide to Colombia
- 📍 Nearby Places: San Gil | Bogotá | Parque Nacional Natural El Cocuy
- 🦖 Must Do Activity: Visit the Museo El Fósil
Best Time to Visit Villa de Leyva, Colombia 🌤️
Villa de Leyva is pleasantly warm year-round, with daytime temperatures hovering around 20°C. However, the town sits at an altitude of 2,149 metres above sea level, which means the evenings can get quite chilly. The driest months are July and August and the wettest months are March to May and October/November.
Owing to its proximity to Bogotá, Villa de Leyva is a popular weekend getaway spot for residents of the capital. From Friday to Sunday, the town bustles with local tourists enjoying a weekend in the country. Weekdays are a different story. The restaurants and bars are all but deserted and the once-lively plaza and streets take on a new calm.
During the week, you can stroll the streets with a sense of having stepped back in time to a Colombia of old. The ideal itinerary would fall across at least one weekday and one day at the weekend, allowing you to enjoy the two different worlds Villa de Leyva has to offer.
Where to Stay in Villa de Leyva, Colombia 🛏️
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Selina is one of Latin America’s most popular hostel chains and it has an outpost in Villa de Leyva. Just on the edge of the old town, Selina has an onsite restaurant, pool and social spaces, all of which have great views over the surrounding hills.
Casa del Carmen offers private rooms at very reasonable prices. It’s situated in an old colonial house with a central courtyard located close to Plaza Mayor.
Hostal Home Sant Angelo is a clean and comfortable hostel run by a couple of lovely Colombian ladies! The hostel is situated in a historic old house about five minutes’ walk from the city centre.
Hostal Renacer is tucked away on a pretty piece of land, and is a superb hostel, great for those looking for tranquillity and nature. A beautifully renovated old farmhouse with lots of outdoor spaces to hang out in, the hostel is located about a 20-minute walk from the town centre.
For a touch of luxury just a stone’s throw from Plaza Mayor, treat yourself to a stay at Hotel Casa Boutique Villa de Leyva. Choose either a double room or one of the surprisingly affordable suites, complete with roll top bath! Oooh la-la!
Things to Do in Villa de Leyva, Colombia 🥾
1. Hang Out in the Plaza 🍻
Across South America, plazas are at the centre of local life, and Villa de Leyva is no exception. Plaza Mayor is notable, not only for its grand scale, but also its wonderful views.
From here, you can get a sense of the town’s setting in the hills, with rounded green mounds stretching upwards in all directions. Grab a beer and enjoy the views. Watching life play out as locals gather to drink, talk and play music is a great way to spend an evening.
2. Enjoy Lunch in a Hidden Courtyard 🍝
Step off of Villa de Leyva’s main streets and into one of the many hidden courtyards that are waiting to be discovered. These pretty little squares are teeming with tables and rimmed by restaurants. Relax under the shade of a parasol and enjoy a leisurely lunch.
3. Venture Into the Countryside 🏞️
Explore the countryside around Villa de Leyva on one of the many hiking trails, including a 30-minute route that leads up to the Mirador EL Santo, which offers a great view over the town.
The hike through La Periquera Ecological Park takes a couple of hours and passes two waterfalls where you can cool off for a swim. Alternatively, hire a bicycle for the day (around 12,000COP; approx. $3USD per hour) to enjoy a countryside cycle. Whether you decide to explore on two feet or two wheels, expect fresh air, empty trails and lovely vistas.
4. Get Up Close to a Dinosaur 🦖
The land around Villa de Leyva has a rich paleontological heritage and is famous for the impressively large and well-preserved fossil of a kronosaurus (a giant marine reptile) that was discovered in 1977.
Museo El Fósil, a short drive outside of town, is a small but informative museum well worth a visit (entry costs around 20,000COP; approx. $5USD.) It’s a rare example of a museum being constructed around a paleontological find in situ, allowing the dino to remain where it has been for 123 million years!
If you’re really digging the dinosaurs, also check out the Paleontological Museum on the other side of town.
“El Fosil Museum was fascinating! It’s so interesting to see such an amazing discovery in the place that it was found. The interpretation was great and I learned so much about the prehistory of this area of Colombia.”
Lisa Barham, Writer at South America Backpacker.
5. Admire the Pozo Azules 💦
A short bike road outside of town leads you to the glorious, but manmade, Pozo Azules. Set in picturesque surroundings, these pretty pools (there are seven in total) are startlingly blue and clear. While, sadly, it is forbidden to swim in the pools, a walk around them is a pleasant way to pass a couple of hours. Entry costs around 15,000COP; approx. $3.70USD.
6. Visit the Chocolate Museum 🍫
Feast your eyes on the treats on offer at Museo del Chocolate, a shop-cum-museum. Inside you can find all sorts of chocolate-flavoured delights, including chocolate beer!
The small museum is hidden at the back of the store, a quirky little place that houses a plethora of chocolate-making paraphernalia and information about the production process. Entry is free when you make a purchase from the shop of at least 20,000COP (approx. $5USD) – which is all too easily done!
7. Go Shopping 🛍️
Villa de Leyva’s streets are full of stores selling local clothes, natural beauty products and handmade trinkets and jewellery. Take a wander through the cobbled streets and shop for some beautifully unique souvenirs.
8. Make Yourself at Home at Casa Terracota 🏠
This curious little attraction is, as the name suggests, a house built from terracotta. It was devised and constructed by Colombian architect Octavio Mendoza Morales and was intended to be his home.
Morales lived in the house for a short while, however, the unique structure began drawing attention from curious tourists who would enter the house without permission. The increased attention made living there too challenging and Morales moved out, turning the house from a home into a tourist attraction.
At around 38,000COP (approx. $9.40USD) for entry (or around 43,000COP; approx. $10.60USD if you visit at the weekend) it’s a fairly expensive experience, but a unique and interesting one nonetheless.
9. Discover an Ancient Astronomical Observatory ✨
In the Zanquenzipa Valley, just west of Villa de Leyva, lies a little-known archaeological gem. A series of ancient stone columns at the Monquira Archaeological Park are evidence of prehispanic cultures.
It’s thought the structures once formed a solar observatory that was used as a centre of sun worship and ceremony. The site is also known by the more sinister name El Infiernito (Little Hell), so called by the Spanish Conquistadors who considered it diabolical as a place of pagan worship.
10. Learn About a National Hero 🇨🇴
Antonio Nariño fought for Colombia’s independence in the 19th century and was one of the early leaders of the Colombian Republic. A reproduction of his house in Villa de Leyva is now a small museum dedicated to the national hero. It’s free to enter, but the interpretation is in Spanish only – Google Translate works wonders if your Spanish is limited.
Food and Drink in Villa de Leyva, Colombia 🌯
Owing to its popularity with tourists, there are plenty of nice places to eat in Villa de Leyva. However, by the same token, the prices are a little higher than you may be used to in this part of Colombia. Main dishes range from around 25,000COP to 50,000COP (approx. $6.20-12.40USD), but menu del días can still be found for around 18,000COP (approx. $4.50USD).
Casona El Ático is a pretty courtyard housing a collection of good restaurants including Yoko (pan Asian), La Pinta Carta Pizzeria, Tacología (Mexican) and La Tablita (microbrewery with tapas and sandwiches). Come for the food and stay for the view, live music and good vibes.
Pepo Arepa is the place to go for some local arepas. Choose between one and four fillings for a relatively cheap and tasty meal.
Sushi Wok serves up tasty noodle bowls, rice dishes and ramen alongside its signature sushi dishes.
Peru Burger offers a range of yummy burgers, including veggie options.
La Pinta Pizzeria is a good option for when you’re in the mood for pizza or pasta.
Chocolatte Villa de Leyva is a small chocolate shop where all the products are made in house. It’s too delicious to be missed, and the bars make great gifts too!
“I loved the chocolate bars from Chocolatte Villa de Leyva, they look beautiful and taste amazing. There’s a huge choice of flavours and you can try them before purchasing. I highly recommend the sea salt bar – delicious!”
Lisa Barham, Writer at South America Backpacker.
Getting Around Villa de Leyva, Colombia 🚲
Villa de Leyva is compact and easily explored on foot (just be sure to watch your footing on the cobbles!).
To visit the surrounding countryside and attractions a little outside of town, you can hire a bicycle (expect to pay around 12,000COP; approx. $3USD per hour).
How to Get to Villa de Leyva, Colombia 🚎
Direct buses run from Bogotá to Villa de Leyva and the journey takes around 4 hours. If you miss a direct bus, you can also take one to Tunja and then grab one of the frequent minibuses to Villa de Leyva, which is around an hour away.
Where to Go Next: 🚍
Bogotá: Head for the bright lights of Colombia’s capital, where you can sample delicious food, enjoy the great museums and take a hike up Cerro Monserrate.
San Gil: Get an adrenaline hit in Colombia’s adventure capital. Fancy paragliding, whitewater rafting or canyoneering? All these exciting activities, and more, are available in San Gil.
Barichara: For more whitewashed colonial architecture and cobblestone streets, visit beautiful Barichara, widely considered Colombia’s prettiest town!
Lisa Barham
Lisa is a writer and traveller who left her nine-to-five in London for life on the road. Today, she spends her time solo backpacking, navigating through life and unfamiliar streets. After eating, hiking and surfing her way through Southeast Asia, she headed for a new adventure in South America, to travel through the continent learning Spanish, and a few other valuable lessons along the way!
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