Villa de Leyva

Villa de Leyva is a whitewashed colonial town in the Colombian Andes, known for its large cobbled plaza, cool air and a handful of sights that fit into a long weekend.

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Villa de Leyva is a colonial town in the Boyacá department of central Colombia, about 2,100 meters up in the Andes. Founded in 1572, it keeps much of its Spanish-era layout: a large cobbled central plaza, white houses with tile roofs, and narrow streets. The town is the main draw, along with the Museo El Fósil, which holds a large marine reptile fossil found nearby.

Plan two or three days: enough to walk the old streets, see the museum and spend an evening in the square. The town suits history fans, couples and travelers who want a calm base in the mountains. The climate is cool and mostly dry. Pack a warm layer, since evenings are cold even on sunny days. Weekends and holiday periods bring the most visitors, so book a room early for those dates.

Villa de Leyva in five

Pack a warm layer for cold nightsThe town sits at about 2,100 m in the Boyacá highlands, so evenings and early mornings are cold even when the days are sunny. Bring a jacket you can wear on the plaza after dark and on the bus.Clothing
Carry Colombian pesos in small notesBakeries, small restaurants and some taxis take cash only. Withdraw pesos in Bogotá or another larger town before you travel.Money and costs
Get an eSIM before the bus leaves BogotáMobile signal can drop out in the hills and on rural roads around town. Download offline maps for the plaza, your hotel and your return transport before you leave.Phones and eSIM
Confirm the Bogotá bus with the operatorThe road trip from Bogotá takes several hours, and departure points change between companies. Confirm the bus company, terminal and seat the day before, and ask your hotel which stop to use.Getting around
Wear flat, grippy shoes on the cobblesThe Plaza Mayor and the side streets are laid with large stones that turn slippery after rain and catch heels. Choose shoes you can walk in for a full day of sightseeing.

Things to do in Villa de Leyva

See all attractions in Villa de Leyva

Historic building illuminated at night with people outside

Museum · Villa de LeyvaMuseo del Carmen - Religious Art

Sight · Villa de LeyvaColombian Highlands, Tours & Expeditions

Museum · Villa de LeyvaCASAMUSEO ANTONIO RICAURTE

Free trip plannerPlan a trip to Villa de LeyvaPut the places you like in Villa de Leyva on a map, give them days, and let one button order each day. Free, with no account.Plan a trip

Need to know

Currency: Colombian peso (COP)
Entry: Visa-free short stays for many passports; check Migración Colombia before you fly Read more
Emergency: 123 general emergency line
Tipping: Service of about 10% is often added to restaurant bills; check first
Time: UTC-5, no daylight saving

Weather by month

Rainy days
Days with storms

Best
Good
Mixed
Poor

JanuaryPartly cloudy12 rainy daysHigh18°Low8°Dry, cold nights
FebruaryRain16 rainy daysHigh18°Low9°Dry, sunny
MarchRain25 rainy daysHigh18°Low9°Drying out
AprilRain23 rainy daysHigh17°Low10°Rainy season
MayRain23 rainy daysHigh17°Low9°Rainy season
JuneRain22 rainy daysHigh16°Low9°Rain, quieter
JulyRain21 rainy daysHigh16°Low9°Dry, holiday crowds
AugustRain15 rainy daysHigh17°Low8°Dry, sunny
SeptemberRain13 rainy daysHigh18°Low8°Showers return
OctoberRain20 rainy daysHigh17°Low9°Wet spells
NovemberRain23 rainy days1 day with stormsHigh17°Low9°Wet, quiet
DecemberRain17 rainy days1 day with stormsHigh17°Low8°Holiday rush

Average daily high and low in Villa de Leyva, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.

Right now in Villa de Leyva

Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.

Feels like: 14°
Humidity: 66%
Wind: 12 km/h
Chance of rain: 26%

Villa de Leyva

04:22 PM

Monday, November 2

GMT-5

Today23°12°26%Monday: Cloudy. High 23°, Low 12°. Chance of rain 26%.
Tue24°12°26%Tuesday: Drizzle. High 24°, Low 12°. Chance of rain 26%.
Wed24°12°54%Wednesday: Drizzle. High 24°, Low 12°. Chance of rain 54%.
Thu25°12°88%Thursday: Rain. High 25°, Low 12°. Chance of rain 88%.
Fri22°13°92%Friday: Rain. High 22°, Low 13°. Chance of rain 92%.
Sat22°12°69%Saturday: Drizzle. High 22°, Low 12°. Chance of rain 69%.
Sun22°11°21%Sunday: Drizzle. High 22°, Low 11°. Chance of rain 21%.

Updated 03:51 PM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com

Money

Mid-market rate1 USD = 3,192 COP

Amount

Converted to

COP · Colombian Peso

Rates from Nov 2, 2026 · Rates By Exchange Rate API

Day trips by train

Ráquiraby car on rural roadsA pottery town where you can watch clay pieces being made and buy them directly from workshops.
Pozos Azulesby car or taxi, a short drive from townBlue-green limestone pools in the hills, a good half-day stop for a walk outside town.
Tunjaabout 1 to 1.5 hours by carThe capital of Boyacá department, with colonial churches and a central historic core.

Before you go to Villa de Leyva

eSIM for Villa de LeyvaOffline maps and rural signal gapsRead the guide

Insurance for Villa de LeyvaCover for cancelled buses and altitudeRead the guide

Cash and cards in ColombiaWhere cash is needed and what to carryRead the guide

Stays on the plaza or outside townWalking distance or quieter edgesRead the guide

Rules for Villa de Leyva, checked

Check whether your passport qualifies for visa-free entry on Migración Colombia before you book flights.Source
Your passport must be valid for your stay. Carry the original when you travel between towns.Source

Plan around Villa de Leyva

Where to stay in Villa de Leyva

Stays on the plaza, the edge of town and the countryside compared

Read the guide Getting to Villa de Leyva

Buses from Bogotá, car routes and getting around town

Read the guide Money and costs in Colombia

Cash, cards and typical daily spending for one traveller

Read the guide Visas and entry for Colombia

Who can enter visa-free and what to check before you fly

Read the guide Tours and tickets

Day trips and guided options around Boyacá

Read the guide All of Colombia

Cities, regions and planning for the wider trip

Read the guide

Villa de Leyva FAQ

Is Villa de Leyva worth visiting?

Yes, for a slow colonial town with a large stone plaza, a fossil museum and easy walks into the countryside. It is less useful if you want nightlife or a busy beach town. Plan at least two nights to see the plaza and one walk outside it.

How do you get to Villa de Leyva from Bogotá?

Take a bus from Bogotá, which takes several hours by road, or drive yourself. Confirm the company, departure terminal and return time the day before, because schedules differ between operators.

Can you visit Villa de Leyva as a day trip from Bogotá?

It is possible, but the road trip is long in each direction, so you would spend much of the day travelling. Stay at least one night if you want to see the plaza and the museums without rushing.

What is the best time to visit Villa de Leyva?

January, February, July and August are the driest months, with the most sunshine for walking. June and July are also school holidays in Colombia, so expect more visitors and book beds early.

What is there to do in Villa de Leyva?

Walk the Plaza Mayor, visit the Museo El Fósil to see a large fossil marine reptile found near town, and take a day trip to the blue limestone pools called Pozos Azules. Ráquira, the pottery town, is a common day trip by car.

Do you need a car in Villa de Leyva?

Not for the town itself, which is small enough to walk. A car or taxi helps for the pools, Ráquira and the rural roads, where public transport is less frequent.