VILLA DE LEYVA
POPULATION: 15.000
TEMPERATURE: 18°C
ALTITUDE: 2.150 m.a.s.l.

Rich in indigenous and colonial history and surrounded by spectacular natural scenery, this Colombian heritage site is the perfect place to start or finish your trip to Colombia due to its proximity to Bogota.

Villa de Leyva displays well-preserved XVII century colonial architecture, fossils of life from the Jurassic and Cretaceous periods and archaeological sites of the Muisca people, the most important indigenous group of the northern part of South America.

Close-by, in the Iguaque Flora and Fauna Sanctuary (3.700 m.a.s.l), you can visit the sourse of the legend of “EL Dorado” and explore high Andean forest and moorlands. Comfortable and inviting, Villa de Leyva entices with a series of lavish festivals spread over the calendar year from the Festival de la Luces (fireworks), to the Festival de las Cometas (Kites) to a Festival de Gastronomia for good measure.

Given its location, Villa de Leyva makes for an excellent base from which to explore the surrounding towns and villages in Boyacá such as the exotic sounding; Raquira, Sachica, Sutamarchán and Tinjaca. And so, where better than to fill your lungs with fresh countryside air, hike and horse ride, amble along the atmospheric cobblestone streets of this historic town and then enjoy the first rate cuisine on offer in Villa de Leyva’s many restaurants.

  Click here to see What to do in Villa de Leyva.