Would you like to know the best thing to do in Villa de Leyva to be able to decide how long you should stay?

I stayed over 2 weeks in Villa De Leyva, Boyaca. And I have to admit, there are a lot more activities than I was thinking.

Let see together the best Villa de Leyva’s highlights

👉 Psst, don’t forget to have a look at our selection of the best things to do in Colombia.

Villa de Leyva in a few ⏱️

Where is Villa de Leyva: It’s a small and lovely colonial town, in the department of Boyaca, situated at a 4-hour drive from Bogota.

How to get to Villa de Leyva: Read our Villa de Leyva Transportation guide

Romantic getaway: The peaceful vibe, the cobblestone streets, delicious restaurants, and SPA hotels are perfect for ending a trip.

Biking tour: Rent a bike and go on your own (or with a guide) to visit the various highlights around Villa de Leyva.

National Park: From Villa de Leyva, you can hike the Paramo of Iguaque.

Extreme sports: Go down a 40-m deep hole thanks to a rope.

Boyaca Colonial towns: There are several lovely colonial towns around Villa de Leyva, Raquira being the most famous one.

Dinosaurs: There are 2 Dinosaur museums with impressive fossils.

How long should you stay: I recommend 3 days.

Best Things To Do in Villa De Leyva

My first piece of advice is: don’t rush if you want to appreciate a Colombian colonial town.

1# Grab a cup of coffee on the plaza mayor

One of my favorite things to do in Colombia is to chill in lovely colonial towns.

I wake up early in the morning when the air is still fresh, and I wander between the colorful alleyways. Then, I choose a cafe where I can sit. It’s usually around the main square.

And, with my hot tinto – coffee – between my hands, I observe the passerby. It’s a parade of proud men wearing cowboy’s hats, smiling old grandma with their fruit basket and young kids in uniforms going to school.

It’s a joyful and precious moment.

Then I start planning my day.

My point is that you should take the time to enjoy where you are. You’re not Joe Dalton. You don’t have to rush because of Lucky Luke.

2# Chill out in the various parks

Park Antonio Nariño is 2 street away from the main square. Young students use to seat on the grass and play guitars.

My favorite thing to do was to buy a chocolate bread from a Panaderia Francesa. There are two of them in Villa de Leyva. I prefer Astral Bakery around the corner.

3# Casa Museo Antonio Nariño

Antonio Nariño was an intellectual who fought for the independence of his country during the nineteenth century. He also translated from French to Spanish the Declaration of the Rights of Man to spread the document all over the country. Antonio is one of the National Hero Of Colombia.

The museum is a reproduction of his house during his lifetime. The explanations are in English. It’s free and quick. It would be to bad if you’re not doing it in Villa de Leyva.

• Price: Free
• Duration: 1 hour
• Location: Near the Park Antonio Nariño

4# Cool off inside beautiful churches

Churches are interesting, and it’s always impressive to admire the sculptures on the buildings. But what I like the most about it is that I can escape the heat for a few minutes 🙂

• Church of Our Lady of Rosary – Plaza Mayor
• Iglesia del Carmen – 2 min from Plaza Mayor

5# Shop during the Saturday Market

Every Saturday, there is a market selling many fruits, clothes, and street food. It’s noisy and colorful. I love it. It’s from 5 am to 4 pm.

I recommend you to order some foods – Chorizo, potatoes, Yuka – and sit at the table with the other locals for breakfast. Be part of the scenery.

Go up the Calle 12 or 13 in the direction of El Santo –

6# Eat delicious meals

Because Villa de Leyva is highly visited by Bogotanos on weekends, there are many delicious restaurants.

Some are tourist traps. Fortunately for you, we spent our evenings to try most of them – What a terrible job ^^.

It’s a must-do in Villa de Leyva!

• Mercado Municipal is an upscale – but affordable – restaurant in Villa de Leyva. The food is fantastic, like the service.
• Cocina de la Gata serves delicious lunch for 14 000 COP
• Cafe Los Gallos is perfect for breakfast or a quick meal
• La Feria is my favorite restaurant. Delicious specialties from Boyaca and a fantastic atmosphere. Open Thu – Sat
• Italia is ideal if you’re starving for an excellent pizza
• La Cervecería HISCA, with good music, food, and craft beers.

7# Get an soothing massage

As I told you before, Villa de Leyva is perfect for travelers looking for a romantic stay.

Therefore, it’s super easy to book a massage.

Check with the following SPA hotels :

• Getsemani SPA Hotel
• Hotel SPA Duruelo

Map of the things to do in Villa De Leyva

What To Do nearby Villa De Leyva

There are many activities you can do by yourself around the colonial town. Don’t hesitate to combine them into 1 or 2-day excursion.

First, decide if you want to walk or rent a bicycle. Ciclotrip offers rental bike services with a perfect map or guided tours.

When it’s done, decide the places you would like to visit.

For me, none of them is unmistakable. But I really enjoyed bicycling in the countryside of Colombia.

List of the things do around Villa De Leyva:

• Casa Terracota | House made of Clay
• Pozo Azules | Artificial tiny lakes
• Museo Paleontológico | Fossil Collection
• El Fosil Museum for the Kronosaurus
• Vineyard Ain Karim | Villa de Marques
• Santa Ecce Homo | Convent with stones and fossils
• Hoyo de la Romera | Rappelling

1# Visit Casa Terracota

Casa Terracotta is a big house made of clay that travelers can visit. The architecture – that reminds Gaudi’ style – is interesting and it’s fun to get “lost” inside.

Price and duration (+)

2# Admire Pozo Azules

Pozo Azules are artificial pools with blue-green water. It’s not worth it to plan a trip to get there only, but you could stop if it’s on your way. Don’t expect to observe pretty water-colors if the sky is cloudy.

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3# Visit the Museo Paleontogico

Museo Paleontogico is a small museum with well-preserved fossils and a few explanations. 50 million years ago, there was an ocean instead of Villa De Leyva. Thus, the surroundings are a paradise for the Paleontologists. It’s a cool place for kids too.

There are some tours but you need to speak Spanish.

Price and duration (+)

4# Visit the museo El Fosil

Near the Museo Paleontogico, travelers can enjoy an impressive fossil of a Kronosaurus – an Old-huge-ugly-dangerous crocodile – at the fossil Museum. It’s a cool thing to do in Villa de Leyva with kids.

Price and duration (+)

5# Drink wines at the Winery Villa de Marques

Boyaca is one of the only regions in Colombia that makes wine. I tried a couple of them. There is room for improvement ^^

In Villa De Marques, you can visit the wine-growing holding and taste two of their wines (Cabernet Sauvignon, Sauvignon blanc & Merlot). They were actually correct!

It’s a lovely place to stop by if you like to wander barefoot between the vines with a glass of wine in your hand.

They also offer a quick talk to explain to the visitors how they make wine.

It’s a fun thing to do in Villa de Leyva if you’re a wine-lover (like us).

Price and duration (+)

6# Visit the convent Santa Ecce Homo

Santa Ecce Homo is a massive convent made of stone-and-adobe coming from the valley. Thus, travelers can admire many fossils and ammonites stuck in the rocks. 

Inside, there is a representation of the Christ with his eyes open and a pleasant courtyard. 

Price and duration (+)

7# Hoyo de la Romera: Rappelling and tree climbing

Hoyo de la Romera is an impressive deep hole based near Santa Sofia, 1 hour away from Villa de Leyva.

Once on-site, you have to rappel 40m down to arrive at the base of the cave. Then the guide speaks about stalactites and stalagmites while you wander around. The view from the bottom is quite awesome.

But what comes down must go up. To this end, you have to use ropes and tree roots to reach the top!

We did this activity with 90 Grados and it was a lot of fun. They took care of everything from transport to the snacks.

Price and duration (+)

Hiking around Villa De Leyva

From lagunes to short walks, there are many possibilities for hiking lovers:

• Mirador El Santo | 30 min
• La Periquera | 2-3 hours
• Laguna & Paramo de Iguaque | Day trip

1. Mirador El Santo

It’s an easy hike from town. Walk in the direction of the Marketplace and the Stadium. Then, follow the path to El Santo. 

From there, there is a beautiful viewpoint of Villa De Leyva and the surroundings. I love to do it early in the morning before breakfast. 

Price and duration (+)

2. The waterfalls in La Periquera 

La Periquera is an ecological park with two lovely waterfalls where you can swim. It’s a calm and pleasant place surrounded by the vegetation. Moreover, the park also offers some adventure activities for the kids. 

The place is also famous for its magic mushrooms.

Tips, Price, and duration (+)

Since 2019, it seems you can’t hike alone in la Periquera. You must wait for a tour at the entrance.

3. Laguna & Paramo Iguaque

Paramo de Iguaque is a hike for mountain lovers. The sceneries are astonishing, and it’s a great place to discover typical Colombian nature. Once at the top, you are rewarded with a beautiful lagoon – If no pouring rain.

The climate is always humid in Los Paramos. Expect walking on muddy paths and always carry with you a rain jacket, water, a hat, and sunscreen. 

Also, you have to start hiking between 8 – 10 am. The sooner is the better 😉

You don’t need to hire a guide for the Laguna Iguaque hike, but you can book a tour from an agency in town if you don’t want to bother with public transport. 

You can also organize private transport with the vehicles staying at the bus terminal. It should cost 150 000 COP – round trip.

The Paramo Iguaque Hike is an excellent thing to do in Villa de Leyva (if you’re in good shape).

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How many days should you stay?

As you can see, there are lots of activities and tours around Villa De Leyva. Moreover, it’s essential to stay at least 1 night to enjoy the colonial town’s vibe.

The ideal length would be 3 days.

An ideal itinerary for visiting Villa de Leyva would be:

• Day 1 – Early in the morning: Departure from Bogota to Villa De Leyva
• Day 1 – Afternoon: Wandering in the alleyways, lovely cafe, churches, hike to El Santo. 
• Day 2: Activity outside Villa de Leyva
• Day 3: Departure in the afternoon

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