3-Day Villa de Leyva Colonial Experience – Colombia

It’s around a 4-hour drive between Bogota and Villa De Leyva by car, and you’ll make a unique stop-off along the way at the Zipaquira Cathedral. Built 200m underground in the tunnels of a former salt mine, it was originally a place of worship for the miners themselves and has since been expanded into an architectural masterpiece with the capacity to welcome visitors and pilgrims from all around. You’ll have plenty of time to explore the sub-terranean complex with a guide, before continuing your journey. On arrival in Villa De Leyva, you’ll check into a comfortable, colonial-style hotel near to the centre of the village with an open central courtyard where you can enjoy a drink when you arrive.

Today we’ll arrange a walking tour with a local guide for you to get acquainted with this small but interesting village. There are some great museums showing remnants of the area’s history, as well as an award-winning vineyard, a bizarre terracotta house and even an archaeological site on the outskirts which is home to many ‘fertility’ statues. The evening is free for you to stroll through the cobbled streets and plazas, taking in the tranquil atmosphere and picking out one of the many quality restaurants for your evening meal.

This morning it’ll be time to continue your journey, whether that mean heading north by land, or travelling back to Bogota to catch an onward flight.