WHAT TO SEE AND DO IN VILLA DE LEYVA

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Day 6: What to see and do in Villa de Leyva

A route for the things to see and do in Villa de Leyva It is the programming we have for today after yesterday visiting Laguna de Guatavita, which immediately became for us one of the essential places to see in Colombia.

Knowing that today in Villa de Leyva It is quieter, we take the opportunity to sleep a little more and after enjoying the facilities of Casa Provenzal, our accommodation in Villa de Leyva these two nights, and taste the delicious breakfast that Concha prepares us, at 9:30 am start the route for the places to see in Villa de Leyva that we have pointed out as essential in the itinerary of the trip to Colombia in 46 days.

Villa de Leyva

Villa de Leyva is one of the 17 Colombian towns declared "good of cultural interest at national level" by the Ministry of Tourism and Culture. And in addition to this, we would add after visiting it, which is one of the most beautiful places in Colombia.
Founded in 1572 by Hernán Cortés de Villalobos, this photogenic city, in which colonial houses and cobbled streets stand out, has become over time a famous destination not only for its beauty, but also for its mild climate and dry, which attract many locals every year who even end up staying in the city for long periods.

What to see in Villa de Leyva

Although we had read that on weekends the city is usually full of people, we imagine that this depends on the time of the year, since at least we have been able to enjoy Villa de Leyva practically without tourism despite being a Friday and so we the locals said, according to what times even on weekends it is quite quiet.

How to go to Villa de Leyva

Located in the department of Boyacá, Going to Villa de Leyva from Bogotá is very easy, being the problem to make intermediate stops, as has been our case to visit the Salt Cathedral of Zipaquirá and the Laguna de Guatavita and then Barichara, on the route through Colombia for free.

From Bogotá you can go to Villa de Leyva by direct bus from the North Terminal in a journey of more or less 4 hours depending on the traffic. The price is 25000COP.
In case you want to make intermediate stops such as the Laguna de Guatavita, we recommend you to opt for private transport, which you can request at the accommodation, to save time. In our case we pay:

Bogotá to Zipaquirá (1:30 hours ride): 160000COP - This trip can be done perfectly by direct bus. We did it by taxi since that day there were problems due to a general strike.
Zipaquirá to Villa de Leyva with a stop in the Laguna de Guatavita (car journey is 5 hours plus visit to the lagoon): 280000COP. If it had been a direct route to Villa de Leyva, it would have been 190000COP.
Villa de Leyva to Barichara (4-hour journey): 400000COP

Another option for go to Villa de Leyva from Bogotá It is to opt for an excursion, with which you can get to know the city in one day, in a comfortable way and with a guide in Spanish. You can choose to book this Salt Cathedral Tour of Zipaquirá and Villa de Leyva or this Bogotá tour: tour of Villa de Leyva.

Villa de Leyva

What to do in Villa de Leyva

If there is something to do in Villa de Leyva it is to walk, although in addition to that there are several important points in the city that we advise you to visit to get to know the city, its history and above all, enjoy it to the fullest.
If you have several days, you can take advantage to know the surroundings including the Zaquencipá Valley area, known by this name by the indigenous people who inhabited the area, and where you can visit several museums dedicated to the geological and paleontological wealth of the area.

Plaza Mayor, one of the places to see in Villa de Leyva

With 120 meters x 120 meters the Plaza Mayor of Villa de Leyva is considered one of the largest squares in America. With a pavement of cobblestones, the square stands out not only for its dimensions but also for being surrounded by colonial buildings among which its parish church stands out and the mountainous landscapes that can be seen surrounding the square.
In addition to this you can see a small Mudejar fountain that for 40 years was the one that supplied water to the entire population.

Visit the Plaza Mayor, one of the things to do in Villa de Leyva

We recommend you take some time to enjoy the Plaza Mayor, which is one of the meeting places for travelers and locals, either sitting on one of its banks or steps or having a drink in one of its coffee shops. We assure you that you will not regret it.

Our Lady of the Rosary Parish Church

Painted in white, like practically all the buildings in Villa de Leyva, this small church is famous for being the place where Antonio Ricaurte was baptized and where Antonio Nariño, a politician and military, who was leader of the independence of Colombia was buried.
The interior, although colonial in style, stands out for being quite sober, and exhibiting some altarpieces and paintings by Colombian painters of the time.

Our Lady of the Rosary Parish Church

House of the First Congress

Known for being the place where the first laws of Colombia were drafted as a republic, during the First Congress of the United Provinces, the House of the First Congress is colonial in style and is located next to the Plaza Mayor.
Although the visit does not last long, it is one of the things to do in Villa de Leyva, since it is interesting to see the rooms in which you can still see furniture of the time and the interior patio that in hot days, is a true haven of peace.

House of the First Congress

Juan de Castellanos House, Casona La Guaca and Casa Quintero

These are three of the colonial mansions that you can visit in Villa de Leyva for free. They are located in race 9, one of the main arteries of the city and in them you can see the characteristic architecture of the time in addition to the interior courtyards, in some cases adorned with fountains and surrounded by shops or stores, as in La Casona La Guaca, which is what we liked the most.

Quintero House

Carmen Square

Very close to the Plaza Mayor is this beautiful and quiet square in which the Church of Carmen stands out and the image of the virgin that is located in the central area of the square. Although it is less traveled than other places in the city, we recommend you to visit it since it is one of the places to see in Villa de Leyva highlights.

Carmen Square

Recommended travel cards
Remember that in order not to pay commissions and always have the current change we recommend you use the N26 card to pay and the Bnext and Revolut cards to get money at the ATMs. They are the ones we use, They are free and will save you a lot.
You can find more information in this article about the best cards to travel without commissions.

Church of Carmen and Convent of the Carmelites

Built at the end of the 19th century, the Church of Carmen is one of the most beautiful buildings in the Plaza del Carmen, which we also recommend entering to see its two chapels, one of them dedicated to the Virgen del Carmen.
Next to the church is the Convent of the Barefoot Carmelites, in which several nuns live. In this case you can not access the interior, being a convent, but you can visit a small store that they have in the entrance area.

Carmen Museum

Located in the Plaza del Carmen, the museum is part of the convent of the Carmelite Fathers, who in 1971 decided to open it to exhibit some of his works. Although it is quite small and not many works are exhibited, it is considered one of the best in the country.

Hours: Monday to Friday from 10:30 am to 1pm and Saturday and Sunday from 2:30 pm to 5pm.
Price: 3000COP

Stroll through Carrera 9 and Carrera 10, one of the things to do in Villa de Leyva

Although it is clear that one of the Top things to do in Villa de Leyva It is walking, we recommend paying special attention to Carrera 9 and Carrera 10 which are the two main arteries of the city where you can enjoy atmosphere throughout the day and the comings and goings of the premises.
We also recommend you to walk around the area at different times of the day, since all streets and squares change completely both by sunlight and by the environment. It is also a pleasure for the senses to lose yourself in the streets of the center of Villa de Leyva while entering the charming shops of souvenirs, handicrafts and local cuisine.

Race 9

Antonio Ricaurte Park

Known for being another of the Villa de Leyva parks, Antonio Ricaurte Park is the one that is furthest from the Plaza Mayor, although it is perfectly accessible on foot. In addition to a green area, in which a sculpture by Antonio Ricaurte stands out, on one of the sides you can see the Convent of San Agustín, which after being abandoned, currently houses the headquarters of the Alexander Von Humboldt Biological Resources Research Institute .

Antonio Ricaurte Park

Antonio Ricaurte Museum

The other side of the park you can see the Antonio Ricaurte Museum, former home of Ricaurte also in colonial style, where you can visit different rooms and rooms in which several collections of military objects are exhibited in addition to panels in the that explains the life of the independentist.

Hours: Wednesday to Sunday from 9am to 12pm and from 14pm to 17pm
Price: free

Antonio Ricaurte Museum

Antonio Ricaurte House Museum

Known for being one of the most famous people in the city and Colombia, this house museum is one of the places to see in Villa de Leyva more famous. Inside you can see a colonial house from the period in which you can visit different rooms, in which there are also explanations about Antonio Ricaurte, its history and its relationship with the city, in addition to the courtyard and interior garden.

Hours: Thursday to Wednesday from 9am to 12pm and from 14pm to 17pm
Price: free

Luis Alberto Acuña Museum House

In this house, in which Acuña lived for 15 years, you can see many of the works of this Colombian artist, who stood out as a painter, sculptor and writer.
Although we do not visit it in the end, we want to leave the place noted, in case it is in your interest, to be able to visit.

Hours: from 10am to 18pm
Price: 6000COP

Chocolate Museum

Visiting the Chocolate Museum is one of the things to do in Villa de Leyva that we were most recommended through Instagram. Unfortunately we had so many things to see in Villa de Leyva In the end it was late and we couldn't visit it, but from what they told us and we could read, it's a unique experience if you like chocolate.
We leave it pending for next time!

Chocolate Museum

Terracota House, another place to visit in Villa de Leyva

Considered the largest ceramic house in the world, visiting the Casa de Terracota is another essential thing to do in Villa de Leyva. Although it is located practically two kilometers from the Plaza Mayor, we recommend you to walk to also see the other side of Villa de Leyva, that less touristy, in which the locals live their day to day.
The house, designed by the Colombian architect Octavio Mendoza Morales, promotes an alternative lifestyle in harmony with the environment and the place where it is located, with a special vision of the four elements (earth, air, water and fire) .

Terracotta House

The visit is done for free and will not take you more than 30-45 minutes and there they explained that the construction began in 1999 and finished in 2016, although in the end the house has not been built, since today It continues to be modified and developed.

Hours: Monday to Sunday from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Price: 15000COP

Try the Bride Kisses

Another of the things to do in Villa de Leyva is to taste one of the most famous desserts of Colombia that is none other than girlfriend kisses Typical of Villa de Leyva. These sweets made in a traditional way by root families are made with a starch base of corn, sugar, egg and flavoring and are delicately wrapped as if they were giant candies of sponge cake and meringue.
Although you can buy them in many shops in the city, we recommend you go to the store Mrs. Carolina, in Race 9, where you can see how they are made and packaged.

Other things to see and do in Villa de Leyva

If you have more time you will visit Villa de Leyva with more days, we leave you three places that we could not visit but that we believe, can be very interesting if you have more time in the city.

Mirador El Santo: to enjoy unique views of Villa de Leyva.
Paleontological Museum
The Fossil Museum
These last two points you can visit from Villa de Leyva by taxi for about 75000COP.

Villa de Leyva

Tips for traveling to Villa de Leyva

Although we know that you don't need to know much more to know the city, we want to leave you some tips to visit Villa de Leyva.

Follow the entire list of things to do in Villa de Leyva that we propose in this post will take you a full day, although if you do not want to visit any of the museums, you can know the city in half a day.
In case you choose to visit it at noon, you can do it in conjunction with the Guatavita Lagoon and in the afternoon continue to Barichara or sleep in Villa de Leyva and continue the route the next day.
Another option is to do some of these excursions from Bogotá: Salt Cathedral Tour of Zipaquirá and Villa de Leyva or this tour Bogotá: tour of Villa de Leyva.
Remember that Villa de Leyva is at an altitude of 2143 meters, which although it is not excessive, it can cause some symptoms such as fatigue, shortness of breath if you make efforts ... etc

Villa de Leyva

Where to eat in Villa de Leyva

Although there are dozens of options where to eat in Villa de LeyvaWe went to two restaurants that, after the experience, we have to say, exceeded all expectations.

EntrePanes: This restaurant is one of the most recommended in Villa de Leyva, especially if you want to try something different from Colombian cuisine. We ordered a Greek pita plus steamed chicken sandwich, beer and water for 60000COP.
La María Bistro: considered the best gastronomic option in Villa de Leyva, this place, in addition to its beautiful support for the local economy with seasonal and local products. They have a fairly large menu that includes pizzas.

Where to sleep in Villa de Leyva

Our accommodation in Villa de Leyva was, for two nights, Casa Provenzal, located in one of the quietest areas of the city.
In addition to an excellent treatment by the staff, especially Concha, both the rooms and the common areas are designed with care and care and make you feel at home as well as having an interior patio, with several months and a giant chess, where it is A pleasure to have breakfast.
Breakfast is included in the price of the rooms, which Concha prepares and is excellent! Having only 13 rooms and being one of the most recommended hotels in the city it is important to book early, especially if you travel in high season.