Cidade Turismo
Colombia
Villa de Leyva

Boyacá · Colombia

Villa de Leyva

Colonial town of Boyacá: one of the largest colonial squares in the Americas, cobblestone streets, white houses, marine fossils, the muisca observatory El Infiernito and the ceramics of Ráquira.

Andina

In the photo: Pozos Azules

Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.

Get it on Google Play Send your photos

Get to know the place

A region to enjoy
at your own pace.

Villa de Leyva is in the department of Boyacá, in the Colombian Andes, about 165 km from Bogotá and 40 km from Tunja, the department capital. It was founded in 1572 and has preserved the colonial layout almost intact: cobblestone streets, whitewashed houses with wooden doors and windows and clay roofs, around a Plaza Mayor of about 14,000 square meters, one of the largest colonial squares in the Americas. The town has been a national monument since 1954.

The surrounding region is dry, with reddish soil, and millions of years ago it was covered by the sea. That's why fossils appear everywhere: ammonites in the stones of buildings, paleontology museums and, a few kilometers away, the skeleton of a large marine reptile displayed at the site where it was found, in the El Fósil museum. Nearby, the archaeological park of Monquirá, known as El Infiernito, preserves stone columns erected by the muiscas.

In the surroundings are also the Pozos Azules, lagoons of blue-green color, the Dominican convent of Santo Ecce Homo from the 17th century, and Ráquira, the pottery village, with colorful houses and clay workshops. Throughout the year the town hosts festivals, such as the kite festival in August and the lights festival in December.

There is no airport: arrival is by road, from Bogotá or Tunja.

This destination brings together 1 city: Villa de Leyva.

Share: WhatsApp
Traveler, share your experiences through photos Up to 5 photos of each place you visited.

One destination, many paths

The cities on this trip

Start with one city or combine several in your itinerary.

Where Villa de Leyva is
Villa de Leyva

Contornos: Natural Earth (domínio público). Adaptação do Cidade Turismo.

How to get there: Villa de Leyva

✈ Aeropuerto Internacional El Dorado (BOG), in Bogotá · 180 km to Villa de Leyva

Confirm before purchasing. The gateway is Bogotá. From there, there are direct buses to Villa de Leyva, with a journey of about four hours, or buses to Tunja and another to Villa de Leyva. By car, the trip takes three to four hours, depending on the traffic leaving Bogotá.

Villa de Leyva
Boyacá · Villa de Leyva

Villa de Leyva

Villa de Leyva is a colonial town in Boyacá, founded in 1572, at about 2,100 meters altitude. The Plaza Mayor, made of stone and about 14,000 square meters, is surrounded by white houses with wooden balconies and by the church of Nossa Senhora do Rosário, from 1604. On the surrounding streets are the Museo del Carmen, of religious art, and house-museums. The surroundings, which were once seabed, contain fossils, the El Fósil museum, the muisca observatory El Infiernito, the Pozos Azules, the convent of Ecce Homo and Ráquira, the pottery village.

The local experience

Things to do in Villa de Leyva

Plaza Mayor de Villa de Leyva
Villa de Leyva · Boyacá · Plaza

Plaza Mayor de Villa de Leyva

The stone square of about 14,000 square meters, one of the largest colonial squares in the Americas, surrounded by white houses, by the igreja do Rosário and with a mudéjar fountain in the center.

Museo del Carmen
Villa de Leyva · Boyacá · Museum

Museo del Carmen

The museum of religious art of the Carmelite convent, in the praça do Carmen, with paintings, sculptures and devotional objects from the colonial period.

Museo El Fósil
Villa de Leyva · Boyacá · Museum

Museo El Fósil

The museum built around the skeleton of a large marine reptile, about 7 meters long, found by farmers in 1977 and displayed at the site where it was discovered.

Pozos Azules
Villa de Leyva · Boyacá · Lagoon

Pozos Azules

Artificial lagoons of bluish-green color, about 2 km from Villa de Leyva, set in a dry landscape with an easy trail around them.

See 3 more places in Villa de Leyva
Parque Arqueológico de Monquirá
Villa de Leyva · Boyacá · Archaeological site

Parque Arqueológico de Monquirá

The muisca site known as El Infiernito, with about 30 large stone columns and more than a hundred smaller columns in rows, at least 2,200 years old.

Convento del Santo Ecce Homo
Villa de Leyva · Boyacá · Convent

Convento del Santo Ecce Homo

Dominican convent founded in 1620, in a valley about 8 km from Villa de Leyva, with a stone cloister, colonial church and marine fossils visible in the floor slabs.

Ráquira
Villa de Leyva · Boyacá · Town

Ráquira

The town of Boyacá known as the craft capital of Colombia, with houses painted in bright colors and ceramic and clay workshops and shops, about 25 km from Villa de Leyva.

Before you go

Practical information

A little planning leaves more time to enjoy the journey.

When to go

From December to February and from June to August it usually rains less. In August the winds bring the kite festival; in December the lights festival fills the town. Weekends, Colombian public holidays and Holy Week are the busiest times; during the week the town is quieter. Bring a jacket for the nights at any time of year.

The seasons shown are the most usual ones; nature doesn't always follow the calendar.

How many days to stay

Two days: one for the town, the Plaza Mayor and the museums, and another for El Fósil, El Infiernito, the Pozos Azules and the convent of Ecce Homo. With three days, include Ráquira and a hike in the surroundings. As a day trip from Bogotá, the day becomes long because of the road.

Which city to stay in

The historic center, around the Plaza Mayor and the Plaza del Carmen, leaves everything within walking distance and has inns in colonial houses. In the outskirts, on the roads leaving the town, there are larger accommodations with gardens and valley views, quieter, but they require a car or taxi to get to the center.

Respect the place

Take your trash with you, follow the signs and support local businesses. In natural areas, follow the visiting guidelines.

Get your questions answered

Frequently asked questions about Villa de Leyva

How many days to stay in Villa de Leyva?

Two days allow you to see the town and the surroundings, such as El Fósil, El Infiernito and the Pozos Azules. With three, you can include Ráquira and the convent of Ecce Homo at a relaxed pace.

Is it possible to do Villa de Leyva as a day trip from Bogotá?

It is possible, but the road takes six to eight hours round trip. Ideally you should spend at least one night in town.

Is it cold in Villa de Leyva?

The town is at about 2,100 meters altitude. Days are usually sunny and nights cold; the average is around 18 degrees. Bring a jacket and sunscreen.

Do you need a car in Villa de Leyva?

Not for the center, which can be walked. For El Fósil, El Infiernito, the Pozos Azules, Ecce Homo and Ráquira, use taxi, car, bicycle or the tours sold in town.

Explore other destinations Search by state and city
Back