Short Trips villa de leyva tour

Private Tour

From $0 - 3 days

an authentic view of villa de leyva and other colonial towns

The department of Boyaca is famous in Colombia for having the most beautiful and picturesque towns and villages in the country. Its breath-taking mountain landscapes and its historical memorials of Colombia's independence are features of this area that will intrigue you. This 3-day tour offers the opportunity to visit Villa de Leyva, one of the most beautiful colonial towns in Boyaca that seems to be frozen in time.

This interesting journey will also include a visit to the colourful village of Raquira, famous for its pieces of pottery, and the local community of Gachantiva, where you will be immersed in their regular activities to learn about their agricultural activities and how to cook traditional Colombian snacks.

EXPERIENCE TYPE History, Culture and Community Tourism

Tour Highlights

What to Expect

Accommodation

Essential Information

Tour Highlights

Zipaquira Salt Cathedral

Visit a Spectacular Architectural Masterpiece

The small town of Zipaquira is famous for its salt mines and for the Salt Cathedral now built inside the network of monumental chambers and tunnels that were left behind when commercial mining operations ceased. This cathedral is unlike any other in the world. Located 200 meters below ground, it features stunning sculptures, religious symbols, and a breathtaking sanctuary.

It was opened in 1995 and represents an eclectic mix of religion and architecture to maximise protection from the ever-present risks of working in a mine. The walk-through Stations of the Cross in the mine are a poignant representation of Jesus' last steps, and they culminate in a three-part cavernous subterranean cathedral.

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Villa de Leyva

A Colonial Town Frozen in Time

Villa de Leyva is undoubtedly the most famous town in the department of Boyacá. Located 4 hours driving from Bogota, this lovely town is renowned for its well-preserved cobblestone streets, whitewashed buildings, and expansive Plaza Mayor, one of South America’s largest town squares.

Founded in 1572 by Hernán Suárez de Villalobos and surrounded by picturesque mountains, Villa de Leyva is a historical gem, with beautiful churches, museums, and colonial architecture that transport visitors back in time. It was declared a national monument in 1954.

Villa de Leyva is also great for outdoor activities, including hiking, birding, and exploring nearby natural attractions.

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Gachantiva

Get close to the local community

Gachantivá is a small town only 30 min driving from Villa de Leyva. It located at altitudes ranging from 2,000 metres (6,600 ft) to 3,300 metres (10,800 ft) a bit higher than Villa de Leyva. Before the Spanish conquest this are was inhabited by the indigenous Muisca.

The people of Gachantivá are warm, welcoming, and deeply connected to their traditions, which include vibrant festivals, artisanal crafts, and agricultural practices passed down through generations. You will have the opportunity to learn about their traditions and sustainable farming activities, which reflect deep-rooted cultural pride and unity.

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What to Expect

Detailed Itinerary

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DAY 1 Travel to Villa de Leyva via Zipaquira

We will pick you up from your hotel to start our journey towards Villa de Leyva. Along the way, we will visit the Salt Cathedral of Zipaquira and other towns. The Salt Cathedral is located 50km north of Bogota and was built within the tunnels of a salt mine. It is 180m underground and has three sections representing the birth, life, and death of Jesus Christ. It is an amazing work of architecture and engineering.

Then, we will continue with our journey. We will make a small stop to visit the wonderful traditional village of Cucunuba, which has been trapped in time, with its narrow streets and colonial houses that still retain the majority of their original architecture.

After this wonderful visit that transports us in time, we will go to the town of Chiquinquirá, famous for its imposing Basilica of Our Lady of Chiquinquira, to which thousands of parishioners go in search of religious miracles or to show gratitude. At this point, we will have lunch before continuing our trip.

Once we've had lunch, we will continue our adventure towards Raquira, a small, colourful village with brightly painted facades and a jumble of crafts shops. This beautiful village is famous for its pottery and handicrafts made of clay, and it could be an interesting shopping spot.

Leaving Raquira, we will continue our journey to Villa de Leyva. Once we arrive, we will check in at the hotel. The rest of the day is for your exploration, transporting you back to Spanish colonial times.

Overnight: Villa de Leyva
Meal Plan: Lunch

DAY 2 Gastronomic Experience, Sugar Cane Farm and Santo Ecce Homo Convent

Today, we will visit Gachantivá, a picturesque town in Colombia’s Boyacá region known for its close-knit community and rich cultural heritage. We will spend time with the local community to learn about their traditions and sustainable farming activities, which reflect deep-rooted cultural pride and unity.

Early in the morning, we will go to a farm located an hour from the town, where we will have our traditional breakfast and learn from the gastronomic tradition of the region through a workshop of traditional cooking, for which we will interact with typical food such as corn, which is one of the most important because of its relationship with the ancestral natives and in the same way we will use traditional preparation techniques in a beautiful wood oven.

After this beautiful gastronomic activity, we will go to another nearby farm where we will learn everything related to the production of Panela, a product derived from sugar cane. There, we will learn everything from its cultivation, harvest, and transformation processes to its importance for habitual consumption in our local gastronomy. Later, we will have our lunch accompanied by a delicious, refreshing drink based on this product called aguapanela.

We will continue visiting the Convento Santo Ecce Homo, founded by the Dominican fathers in 1620. This is a spectacular stone-and-adobe construction with a lovely courtyard and floors paved with stones quarried in the region, containing ammonites and fossils, including petrified corn and flowers. We will return to Villa de Leyva at the end of the tour.

Overnight: Villa de Leyva
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch

DAY 3 Tour in Villa de Leyva. Travel back to Bogota

In the morning, we will visit some of the town's main highlights, including the Casa Antonio Nariño Museum, Catedral Nuestra Señora del Rosario, Parque and Iglesia del Carmen and other places of interest.

After lunch, we will start our journey back to Bogota. It will take approximately 4 hours. On our way to Bogota, we will stop at Boyaca Bridge, a very important historical place where the most important battle of the Colombian War of Independence took place. Upon arrival in Bogota, we will go to the hotel.

Overnight: -
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch

Accommodation

Villa de Leyva

Hotel Posada de San Antonio

Hotel Posada de San Antonio, located in the heart of Villa de Leyva, Colombia, is a charming boutique hotel that blends colonial elegance with modern comfort.

The hotel is housed in a beautifully restored 16th-century building very close to the main square. It features cosy rooms with stylish decor, wooden beams, and antique furnishings. Guests can enjoy the tranquil courtyard, lush gardens, and a restaurant offering local cuisine. Hotel Posada de San Antonio is a great place to experience the town’s rich history and serene ambience.

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Essential Information

What's Included

2 nights' accommodation (double occupancy)
Private ground transport
Meals as defined in the itinerary
Local English-speaking tour guides
Entry tickets to all tourist attractions mentioned in the itinerary
Daily insurance during the activities included in the itinerary

What's Not Included

Meals not listed in the itinerary
Tips and other discretionary expenses

How to Book

If you wish to book this tour, please click on the yellow "Book Now" button, select the date, number of people, complete the details and go through a secured online payment platform.

If you have any question or whish to change something, please do not hesitate to contact us.

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We had a FANTASTIC experience with Uncover. Nidia and her team organized the most magical 4-day trip to the Colombian Coffee Region. I am Colombian but needed assistance as I wasn’t familiar with the area. We went to the Cocora Valley, Rafting down a river, had a fabulous coffee farm experience and even visited a cacao farm where we got to make artisan chocolate. We traveled with our school aged children...

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Uncover Colombia did a wonderful job of providing me with a itinerary covering some of the best of Colombia's many highlights covering cities and villages, mountains and beaches, and more, and accommodating my own wishes and preferences. Every day was a different experience and a chance to see something completely different from my own life, not a moment was wasted and I never felt rushed.

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A perfect organization!

I'm the Italian President of CIGV (Club Internazionale Grandi Viaggiatori) and I decided to organize the trip to Colombia for 14 club members selecting Uncover Colombia agency. The program they made has been fantastic, touching the most interesting sites of this country but also their, guides, drivers and hotel selection I found simply perfect. Not a mistake, never a delay. I would recommend this agency to everyone...

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Great tour of Salt Cathedral

Myself and my wife did a private tour with Juan Carlos to the Salt Cathedral. The tour and Juan Carlos were both great. He had an intimate knowledge of the Salt Cathedral having worked there previously, and also knew a lot about the nearby town and local area. It's a really fascinating structure, and would definitely recommend visiting it if you're in Bogota.

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We had an amazing two weeks tour arranged by Uncover Colombia for our honeymoon. Nidia suggested great hotels and activities and made adjustments based on our feedback. All our tour guides were friendly, knowledgeable and professional with excellent English. Great activities in a beautiful country. They've got a UK-base so are ATOL protected - reassuring given uncertainty with travel at the moment.

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They Organized activities in Bogota, Medellin and Cartagena for the two of us. They modified the activities to our needs of seeing wilderness as well as a local culture. Been around the word a few times, we were a little demanding as well. They came thru on everything at a very reasonable price.. Pays to have local organizers like them who truly know Columbia and the needs of the Clients...

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Short Trips villa de leyva tour

an authentic view of villa de leyva and other colonial towns

Zipaquira Salt Cathedral

Visit a Spectacular Architectural Masterpiece