Villa de Leyva where time stands still between stone and sky
A colonial town of cobblestone streets, festivals, Jurassic fossils and landscapes ranging from semi-desert to Andean moorland.
15,000
Inhabitants
18°C
Temperature
2,150 m
Altitude a.s.l.
3 h
from Bogotá
The town
A living monument to Colombia's colonial heart
Surrounded by spectacular scenery and rich in indigenous and colonial history, Villa de Leyva is one of Colombia's best-preserved heritage towns. Its proximity to Bogotá makes it the perfect place to begin — or end — your journey through the country.
Here, 17th-century architecture coexists with fossils from the Jurassic and Cretaceous periods and the archaeological sites of the Muisca, the most important indigenous group in the northern part of South America.
Nearby, in the Iguaque Flora and Fauna Sanctuary (3,700 m a.s.l.), the legend of El Dorado was born: a world of high Andean forest and moorlands waiting to be hiked.
Must-see
What makes Villa de Leyva unique
Cobblestone Main Square
One of the largest squares in South America, paved in stone and lime, framed by white-washed balconies.
Cretaceous fossils
Fossil museums and paleontology centers showcase Jurassic finds within arm's reach.
Iguaque Sanctuary
Andean forest and moorland at 3,700 m, home to the sacred Muisca lagoon.
Festivals year-round
From kites to lights, with jazz, independent film and gastronomy in between.
Neighboring villages
Ráquira, Sáchica, Sutamarchán and Tinjacá: crafts, wine and longaniza sausage.
Blue Pools & desert
Semi-desert landscape with turquoise pools, canyons and trails for horseback riding or cycling.
Natural Reserves & parks
Adventure parks with unique activities, as well as nature reserves where you can appreciate the great diversity of plants and animals in the region, as well as farms with ostriches and other animals.
Restaurants & Coffee Shops
A wide variety of restaurants and dessert shops where you can savor local cuisine or dishes from around the world. Unique cafes where you'll learn to appreciate this exquisite beverage, highlighting why Colombia is one of the world's best coffee-producing countries.
Your refuge in the Andes is waiting
Book a room at Renacer Casa Refugio and discover Villa de Leyva at the pace of someone here to stay.