Villa de Leyva a “National Heritage Site”, is located in Colombia, South America, in the department of Boyacá. Founded in 1571, it lies some 177 km. from Bogota and three hours’ driving time from there along excellent roads. It lies in a sunlit valley at an elevation of 2,145 meters above sea level with a dry climate and average temperatures of 18º Celsius. Walking along its streets, museums and stately homes, the visitor has a chance to become acquainted with the various periods of Colombia’s history within a unique urban and architectural setting that reflects the indigenous settlements of Latin America.

As part of this legacy we find the Museo del Carmen (religious art), the Paleontological Museum (prehistory), the house where the 1st Congress of the United Provinces of New Granada was held (historical), the Juan de Castellanos house (historical), the Royal Liquor Distillery (historical), the home of Independence hero and martyr Antonio Ricaurte (historical), the museum and home of Independence leader Antonio Nariño (historical), the museum of painter Luis Alberto Acuña (art), and the Dominican, Franciscan, Augustine and Carmelite convents (architectural), all of which contribute to many of the legends, anecdotes and history of this town.

 In the surrounding area, as if leaping backward through time in a semi-desert valley, we find surprising relics of earlier times.

The Fossil museum with its rich collection of items from the Cretaceous period displays the remains of a chronosaur, a marine animal that lived some 110 million years ago - soon a theme park honoring this and other fossils will be opening. In addition, there is “El Infiernito”, the Monquirá archaeological park, where we can find the ruins of a 2,000 astronomical observatory pre-dating the Muisca culture.

Other sights include the ancient sea’s Blue Wells, vineyards with fine wines, an ostrich farm, desert gardens, olive groves, the latter being a tree that has been the heritage and emblem of our region and which we must preserve as legacy for future generations, along with the rest of the region’s environment.

All of these sights can be visited in a leisurely manner via hikes, cycling, horseback or by car along the small, romantic trails that make Villa de Leyva an ideal leisure destination.

The valley’s travel circuit is filled with innumerable attractions that are the pride of the neighboring municipalities’ heritage: Sáchica, Sutamarchán, Tinjacá, Ráquira, Santa Sofía, Gachantivá, Arcabuco, and Chíquiza.

After visiting Villa de Leyva, you will carry back the memories of its people and treasures in your heart.