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4.9/5 (995 reviews)

Colombia’s unspoilt interior is beautiful. Criss-crossed by rivers that carve valleys through the Andean mountains and studded with fertile farmland and verdant greenery, the area is renowned for its produce and traditional crafts. It’s also home to a string of colonial settlements that are both an architectural feast for the eyes and a taste of the tranquil Colombian lifestyle. Enter Villa de Leyva, a historic, white-washed town founded in 1572 by Hernán Suárez de Villalobos and perfectly-preserved in its own time capsule. Visit the spectacular (and largest) plaza in South America – the perfect setting for a spot of people-watching and perhaps an impromptu llama parade if you’re lucky – the pretty terracotta house, the largest piece of pottery in the world, and the Fossil Museum to gawk at a real-deal kronosaurus. The town is also an excellent base from which to visit the Iguaque National Sanctuary, a mystical, mist-shrouded landscape revered by the Muisca Indians.
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With culture and charm, plazas and pretty buildings, something for the history-lovers and even more for outdoor enthusiasts, Villa de Leyva is a taste of Colombia in a picture-perfect nutshell.
If you’re driving from Bogota, stop at the underground Salt Cathedral in the mountain town of Zipaquira, a masterpiece of architecture and mystery that is still in use today.
At only a three-hour drive from Bogota, Villa de Leyva is often busy at weekends with city day trippers.
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Dry Season — one of the best times to visit
Dry Season — one of the best times to visit
Wet Season — a good time to visit
Wet Season — a quieter time to visit
Wet Season — a quieter time to visit
Dry Season — one of the best times to visit
Dry Season — one of the best times to visit
Dry Season — one of the best times to visit
Wet Season — a good time to visit
Wet Season — a quieter time to visit
Wet Season — a quieter time to visit
Dry Season — one of the best times to visit
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