Villa de Leyva is a picturesque Colonial village nestled in the Andes Mountains about 3.5 hours from Bogota. It is truly one of the most stunning places in the country and an absolute must visit. With its small town charm, coupled with the endless activities and sites to see, it’s the perfect long weekend destination. Keep reading for the 12 best things to do in Villa de Leyva, Colombia on your trip!
Things to do in Villa de Leyva: Practical Information
- How far is Villa de Leyva from Bogota?
- Villa de Leyva is about 3-3.5 hours by car from Bogotá, depending on what part of the city you’re driving from. If you leave during rush hour, it will be longer.
- The trip is around 4-4.5 hours by public bus – depending on which station you leave from.
- How many days do I need in Villa de Leyva?
- 3 days is a great amount of time for a first trip to Villa de Leyva! You’ll be able to do almost everything on this list and really get a feel for the town.
- What is the altitude of Villa de Leyva, Colombia?
- Villa de Leyva sits at just over 7,000 feet, which is lower than Bogota by about 1,600 feet. Still, you may feel out of breath quicker, especially when hiking or walking long distances.
- Be sure to stay hydrated!
- Where should I stay in Villa de Leyva?
- I recommend staying right in the historic center of town! There are tons of hotels in this area and many offer parking. You’ll easily be able to find one you love and that’s in your budget.
- My biggest tip is just make sure that wherever you’re staying is easily walkable to the Plaza Mayor and you’ll be all set.
Beautiful Hotels in Villa de Leyva
- Hospedería Duruelo
- This is, in my opinion, the most beautiful hotel in Villa de Leyva – but I also got married here and am very partial to it.
- They have beautiful gardens, pools, a spa and a wonderful restaurant on site.
- Comparatively, this hotel is quite a bit more expensive than other hotels in Villa de Leyva, but it is still affordable.
- Hotel Casa Alcestre
- This beautiful hotel is located right off the Plaza Mayor and has a great restaurant, Mercé.
- Hotel La Corada
- Sie Casa Hotel
- This is the first place I ever stayed when visiting Villa de Leyva! It has a great location, very cute rooms and a nice terrace area. It’s also home to Chuska Cocina, a fantastic restaurant.
12 Incredible Things to Do in Villa de Leyva
1: Wander Through the Whimsical Casa Terracota
Visiting the Terracotta House is definitely one of the most unique things to do in Villa de Leyva! Just a 20-25 minute walk from the town center (or a quick drive), you’ll find the largest ceramic/piece of pottery in the world – a literal house made entirely out of terracotta.
Octavio Mendoza Morales, a Colombian architect and ceramist, designed the Terracotta House and everything, including all of the furniture, is made of clay. The house is 5,4000 square feet, two stories tall and very impressive!
At one point, the house was used as a home, but now it’s open for tourists to visit!
Keep in mind it’s closed Tuesdays and Wednesdays.
2: Ride on Horseback or Zoom by ATV to the Pozos Azules
The Pozos Azules, or the Blue Wells, are vibrant blue ponds that are located just a few kilometers from the center of Villa de Leyva.
They’re fun to visit as a stop on an ATV or horseback riding tour, but I would say they’re not worth a trip on their own.
Many horseback riding and ATV tours in Villa de Leyva stop at the Pozos Azules – so it’s a great way to see them without committing an entire outing to them. The horseback riding and ATVing are definitely the most exciting parts and so worth doing while in Villa de Leyva.
Most of these tours offer pickup in town and the tours begin close by. Both tours are so fun and were a highlight of my Villa de Leyva trip. The scenery in the area is amazing and both tours are such a fun way to explore.
3: Marvel at a Giant Kronosaurus Fossil
Just a quick drive outside of town, you’ll find the Fossil Museum. Here, you can see the enormous Kronosaurus fossil that’s over 110 million years old. Although it looks like a dinosaur, it’s actually a marine reptile – which somehow is even more wild.
Millions of years ago, when this part of Colombia was underwater, the Kronosaurus, along with other similar species, swam in the region.
In the 1970s, farmers in the region opened this museum after they began uncovering fossils on their properties. Opening the museum allowed them to preserve these fossils and keep them in the area they were discovered, so they wouldn’t be sent to larger museums in other cities/countries. This Kronosaurus fossil is one of the largest and most intact of its kind and truly impressive to see.
If you’re interested in Paleontology, there’s also an interesting Paleontology museum (Museo Paleontológico de Villa de Leyva) that’s walkable from downtown Villa de Leyva, however, the information in the museum is only in Spanish.
4: Discover the Town’s Past on a Guided Walking Tour
Villa de Leyva was founded in 1572 and was an important location in Colombia’s fight for independence. The stunning white washed colonial architecture and cobblestone streets really make the town unique and special to explore.
Just wandering the streets is fun, but if you’re interested in learning more about the town’s history, a guided walking tour is a great option.
One fun fact is that the impressive Plaza Mayor, at the town’s center, is one of the largest in all of Latin America! Your tour will likely start here and there’s so much to learn about in the square alone.
Book this walking tour in Villa de Leyva!
To visit even more sites with a local guide, check out this awesome tour of Villa de Leyva! Like the walking tour, it will include all of the major sites in town, like the Plaza Mayor, as well as a stop at the Terracotta House and optional stops at attractions like the Pozos Azules and Paleontological Museum.
5: Try a Milhoja—Then Try Another
This is one of the most delicious things to do in Villa de Leyva; trying a famous milhoja! Milhojas are a local specialty in Villa de Leyva and the recipe is similar to the well-known French mille-feuille.
In Villa de Leyva, milhojas are made with layers of puffed pastry, arequipe (dulce de leche) and cream. Of course, they’re served with a delicious cover of arequipe on top. They pair perfectly with Colombian coffee and are the ultimate midday snack or dessert.
You can find milhojas all over Villa de Leyva, but a few of my favorite spots include:
- The Milhoja Bakery & Coffee Shop
- La Galleta Pastelería Café
- Bombon Divina Cocina
6: Browse Artisan Shops for Handmade Souvenirs
Raquira, a town about 40 miles from Villa de Leyva, is known as the artisan capital of Colombia. However, I personally think that the shops in Villa de Leyva sell even better artisan items than in Raquira!
When you wander down the streets around the main square, you’ll find tons of shops selling beautiful leather goods, handmade wooden items, traditional clothing, jewelry and more!
Calle Caliente (also called Carrera 9), is a street right off of the Plaza Mayor with the best selection of artisan shops. Of course, there’s also other great ones to check out all over town.
7: Take a Colorful Day Trip to Ráquira
Like I mentioned above, Raquira is known to be the artisan capital of Colombia and you can easily take a day trip from Villa de Leyva! If you have a rental car, it’s a quick 40 minute drive, or you can go on a guided tour with transportation.
Transparently, Raquira’s stores have lost some of the artisan touch over the years. There are still several that sell beautiful handmade items, notably pottery, but there are also a ton that sell mass produced, imported items.
You’ll need to walk around the town, pop into the shops and determine which ones have the best items. It will be very, very clear whether or not the items being sold are handmade or imported.
One of my favorite pottery/ceramic shops is Almacen y Fabrica Todo. They have tons of beautiful, affordable, handmade options and we bought so much pottery ranging from colorful dishes and mugs to pots for plants.
Even though Raquira may not have as strong of an artisan tradition as it used to, the town is still beautiful, colorful and worth visiting. It’s truly a stunning little town and a great place to walk around and explore. There’s also a good selection of cafes and restaurants. I recommend going in the morning and staying for lunch.
Visit Mano del Artesano and the Casa al Revés
On your way back to Villa de Leyva from Raquira, be sure to make a stop at the Mano del Artesano (the artisan’s hand) and the Casa al Revés (upside down house). These attractions are right next to each other and honestly were the highlight of my trip to Raquira.
The views from the Mano del Artesano were incredible and the upside down house is fun for all ages!
From downtown Raquira, you’re less than 10 minutes by car to these stops.
8: Sip Coffee at Villa de Leyva’s Many Cafés
Colombia is known for having amazing coffee and Villa de Leyva has no shortage of awesome coffee shops and cafes. It’s so nice to sit in a cafe, enjoy a coffee, chat and people watch.
Below are a few of my favorites:
- Fuente de Cafe
- Café Artes Manoa
- The Milhoja Bakery & Coffee Shop
- Caffetos
9: Indulge Your Sweet Tooth at the Museo del Chocolate
If you’re a fan of chocolate (who isn’t?!) then the Museo del Chocolate is definitely one of the most delicious things to do in Villa de Leyva.
This chocolate shop, museum and cafe combo is beautifully decorated and filled with delicious local chocolate treats. When you purchase something at the shop, you get free entrance into the museum.
The cafe next door serves chocolate treats and it’s a fun place for all ages!
In addition to the famous chocolate museum, be sure to check out the smaller, local chocolate shops as well – like Chocolate Bean to Bar! Their chocolate is just as delicious and not quite as expensive.
10: Slow Down in the Plaza Mayor
The Plaza Mayor in Villa de Leyva is the second largest in all of Latin America, after the Zocalo in Mexico City. It’s huge, impressive and a fantastic place to enjoy a coffee, hangout and people watch any time of day.
Around the Plaza Mayor are several government buildings, restaurants, cafes and the beautiful Parroquia Nuestra Señora del Rosario church. All day long and into the night you’ll find people enjoying the beautiful plaza.
11: Visit the Casa Museo Antonio Nariño
Antonio Nariño was a politician and military official who played a large role in Colombia’s independence. He also lived in Villa de Leyva for part of his life and later died there.
His 17th century home is now a museum and it’s a very interesting stop to learn more about Colombian history and independence. Much of his original furniture remains in the museum and is very well maintained.
This museum is free to visit, making it one of the top budget friendly things to do in Villa de Leyva!
12: Hike to the Mirador del Santo for Breathtaking Views
If you’re looking for a stunning view of Villa de Leyva from above, Mirador del Santo hike is for you! This 1.4 mile round trip hike offers incredible views of Villa de Leyva and has a starting point right on the edge of town – just through the sports fields.
The path is steep, but very doable, and often, local, friendly dogs will accompany you on your hike. A sweet dog found us at the entrance to our hotel, did the entire hike with us, and walked us back to the hotel after.
At the top of the hike is a large statue of Jesus (how the viewpoint gets its name) and the statue combined with the views of town is really an impressive site.
I would budget 35-40 minutes for the hike up and a little less time to get down. This is another wonderful free thing to do in Villa de Leyva.
If you’re interested in doing more hiking while in Villa de Leyva, check out this La Periquera Hiking Tour with transportation!
How to Get to Villa de Leyva
Rent a Car
The easiest, and most efficient, way to get to Villa de Leyva is to rent a car and drive. If you’re already in Bogota, it’s easier to rent one from a pick up point right in the city rather than returning to the airport to get a car. The airport is in the opposite direction of Villa de Leyva, so you’ll be adding a lot of time to your trip.
Pico y Placa
Bogota has a traffic rule in place called Pico y Placa. This, essentially, means you can only drive on certain days of the week depending on what number your license plate ends in. Rental cars are NOT exempt.
This means you need to either pay extra and rent a car that is exempt from pico y placa (I recommend this), or you need to make sure you leave Bogota and come back days your license plate allows you to drive.
One thing to note, in Bogota Pico y Placa is only in place from Monday- Friday from 6am-9pm, so if you need to return on a day your license plate doesn’t allow, you’ll need to do it very early in the morning or very late at night. You can also always return on a weekend and completely avoid Pico y Placa.
If you speak Spanish, use Localiza to rent your car. I had a great experience and it’s easy to pay extra and rent a car without Pico y Placa restrictions. They also have multiple locations in Bogota. The downside is that their website is only in Spanish.
Hire a Driver
If driving to Villa de Leyva from Bogota doesn’t sound like something you want to do, hiring a private driver is a fantastic, affordable option. I’ve done this several times and it has always been seamless and easy!
The only downside to this option is that once you’re in Villa de Leyva, you won’t have a car. This isn’t a problem though, as you can call a taxi service to get anywhere you need to go in the area, or book day tours.
Additionally, mostly everything in Villa de Leyva is walkable, so there really isn’t a huge need for a car.
Check out some affordable, reliable options for private drivers to Villa de Leyva. You can book one way or round trip!
Take a Public Bus
From Bogota, there are two bus terminals that offer frequent buses to Villa de Leyva: Terminal Salitre and Terminal Norte. Terminal Norte is about 50 minutes closer to Villa de Leyva, so if you can leave from this terminal, I recommend it.
From both terminals, buses go frequently (every 1-3 hours) all day long and you don’t need to book in advance unless it’s a holiday weekend, or you want an advance ticket.
Terminal Salitre is the larger terminal and buses go more frequently. You can easily book a timed ticket online here. Terminal Norte is much smaller and it is hard to find schedules/book online in advance. I recommend just showing up, but you may have to wait up to 1.5 hours.
Can I Take a Day Trip to Villa de Leyva?
Day trips to Villa de Leyva are popular and they’re a good option if you’re short on time. However, keep in mind, it’s a long day with a lot of driving.
There are several companies that offer day trips with great stops and sites included. The best part of these tours is that you’ll be with a knowledgeable guide who will help you get the most possible out of your short trip.
If you have one extra day in Bogota, this is a great way to fill it! If you decide you love Villa de Leyva, which I know you will, you can always book a longer trip back.
Great day trips to Villa de Leyva from Bogota
- Private Tour to Villa de Leyva
- Day Tour to Villa de Leyva, Raquira, Pozos Azules and More
- Tour of Villa de Leyva, Ráquira, Pozos Azules and Puente de Boyacá
I hope this post with 12 incredible things to do in Villa de Leyva has been helpful as you plan your trip! If you have any questions, or anything you’d like to add to this post, let me know in the comments or DM us on Instagram, @twosistersabroad.
Be sure to also check out my Bogota and Cartagena guides for your Colombia trip!
- 10 Amazing Things to Do in Bogotá: Local Favorites & Hidden Gems
- Your Go-To Ultimate Cartagena Itinerary for First-Time Visitors
- 10 Amazing Things to Do in Cartagena: Explore Cartagena’s Best Attractions
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♡Kate
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