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Colombian Towns: History and Scenic Views
4.5
16 Ratings
Villa de Leyva
This tour provides a whole experience: landscapes, history & culture. You’re going to visit some of the oldest towns in Colombia, get to know the history, and see stunning landscapes on the way up.
This tour provides a whole experience: landscapes, history & culture. You’re going to visit some of the oldest towns in Colombia, get to know the history, and see stunning landscapes on the way up.
Duration:
9 hours
Cancellation:
24 hours
Highlights
- Monasterio Del Santo Eccehomo - This place is a national heritage both for its architecture and its wide history. Initially, it was devised as a rest house, then it became a monastery and finished its construction in 1695. During the War of Independence the friars were expelled, who returned only until 1868.
- Pozos Azules - Villa de Leyva’s…
- Monasterio Del Santo Eccehomo - This place is a national heritage both for its architecture and its wide history. Initially, it was devised as a rest house, then it became a monastery and finished its construction in 1695. During the War of Independence the friars were expelled, who returned only until 1868.
- Pozos Azules - Villa de Leyva’s Blue Ponds are famous for their crystalline appearance given by the minerals and sulfur of the waters. They are not only attractive for their waters, but also for the desert landscape where they are found.
- Casa Terracota - A clay house that occupies five hundred square meters in Villa de Leyva is considered the largest pottery in the world. It is the Terracotta House, a brick-colored structure that the architect Octavio Mendoza cooked as potters when they produce pots and other decorative objects. This is a construction project that, according to its creator, “turns the land into habitable architecture.”
- Plaza De Mercado De Villa De Leyva - With 14,000 m2, the Villa de Leyva is one of the largest squares in America. In this cobbled space, a water fountain and the church of Our Lady of the Rosary stand out. In the surroundings, visitors find restaurants, hotels, museums and craft shops, among other buildings, that respect the colonial architecture characteristic of this municipality.
- Villa de Leyva - Lunchtime. Let yourself be enchanted by the flavors of local cuisine.

What's Included
- Private transportation
- Tickets
- Lunch
- All Fees and Taxes
- Insurance policy
- Bilingual guide
- Private transportation
- Tickets
- Lunch
- All Fees and Taxes
- Insurance policy
- Bilingual guide
What's Not Included
- Snacks
- Alcoholic beverages
- Snacks
- Alcoholic beverages
Additional Information
- Esto son tiempos estimados, estamos en una ciudad capital que tiene como cualquier otra área metropolitana trafico. El viaje es por tierra, en vehículo. Revisa horas de recogida disponibles si tu preferencia es regresar mas temprano.
- Esto son tiempos estimados, estamos en una ciudad capital que tiene como cualquier otra área metropolitana trafico. El viaje es por tierra, en vehículo. Revisa horas de recogida disponibles si tu preferencia es regresar mas temprano.
Location
Monasterio Del Santo Eccehomo
8 km From Villa de Leyva
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Customer Ratings
4.5
(16 Ratings)
5 stars
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1 star
Kara
Nov 30, 2025
Leyva magic and daylong adventure - We booked this 48 hours before we hoped to enjoy it. Pariaso Tours was incredibly responsive and professional at every turn. Communication was easy through WhatsApp. The tour can be in English or in Spanish, which was very helpful as well. Our guide and driver were timely, arriving right on time. Our car was comfortable and clean, and Ana, our guide, welcomed us with water and snacks and a thoughtful note.
The tour included an amazing stop at the Convento del Santo Ecce Homo, a Dominican convent built in 1650, which is just stunning and like a historic time capsule. Then on to Leyva, which was charming and a delight. Next we headed to Casa Terracota, which was a delight. We could have next proceeded to a group of pools for a small hike or done a short horseback ride. However, time was running out, so we happily headed back to Bogota.
The tour also included a phenomenal lunch at a restaurant in Leyva, featuring delicious Colombian fare in a relaxed, casual ambiance.
A very long day trip from Bogota (budget 4 hours one way), but an excellent way to see the countryside and learn more about the country as a whole. You cross into another state, see lagoons, cows, flower flower greenhouses, blueberry growers, and more. And if you are going to do it, you are in excellent hands with Parioso Tours.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
600marwinh
Feb 8, 2024
Preserved and beautiful town - I must say it is one of the most preserved and beautiful towns I've ever seen. From the moment I arrived, I was captivated by its charm and authenticity. The cobbled streets of Villa de Leyva add to its old-world charm and give it a unique character. Walking through the town feels like stepping back in time, with its well-preserved colonial architecture and historic buildings. It's a photographer's dream, with picturesque scenes at every turn.
What impressed me the most during my visit was the exceptional service I received, the level of hospitality of the staff was outstanding. The company takes pride in their country and goes above and beyond to ensure visitors have a memorable experience.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Theodoros_f
Dec 19, 2023
Outstanding Tour and Tour Guides! - What a better way to explore Colombia’ countryside from going on a private tour with Fabian and Santiago and explore the Vila de Leyva, Raquira and several other attractions! Both Fabian and Santiago have been an outstanding company and helped us learn more about Colombia, and all the places we visited and their history. Our first highlight was the Vila de Leyva, a very beautiful town 180 kms from Bogota. We did several stops throughout our journey to admire other places, but also take a drink or snack. The town of Vila de Leyva is a must see! We walked around the alleys, we took hundreds of pictures in the plaza and of course explored the little shops. We also ate a typical delicious Colombian lunch in local restaurant (included in the tour). Afterwards, we visited a group of beautiful lagoons and a dinosaur museum (the clay house was unfortunately closed on this day), a fantastic monastery, and we moved later towards the fairytale town of Raquira! Before going there, we visited an open air museum of artefacts made of the city of Raquira! This town was extremely beautiful and one of our highlights of our visit in Colombia! The lights, the amazing shops with handcrafted souvenirs, the drawings… we weee speechless! I want to thank again Fabian and Santiago for their amazing company, professionalism and Colombian heart!
Review provided by Viator
Janet_s
Nov 4, 2023
Great way to see the countryside of Colombia - It was our first trip to Colombia and we had four nights in Bogota. We found this excursion and thought it would be great way to explore outside of the city and feel like we had a better view of Colombia, and it didn't disappoint. Ana was our guide and she was amazing! Smart, articulate and a warm personality made for a great guide for the day, or should I say friend (how she made you feel). On the drive out she was able to share information on Colombia's history and a lot of interesting facts. For each stop she could provide us additional details. With a driver focused on the road, she could be in discussion with us. It's a long drive to and from, so she also provided the talent of knowing when to chat.
The description outlines everything very nicely. Do be aware it is a long day, but worth it! They provide a range of pick up times, I believe that start at 7:00. I chose the 8:00. In hindsight, I wish I would have chose the 7:00 or 7:30.
Review provided by Viator
Jeff_y
Oct 23, 2023
A Fantastic Day Trip to Villa de Leyva - Villa de Leyva has always been on our list when visiting Colombia. We were fortunate to take this excellent private tour by Paraiso Travel last week on a Saturday with the fantastic guide Anna and driver Fabian. It was a long drive from Bogota to Villa de Leyva- about 3.5 hours. But the beautiful scenery of Colombian countryside, the conversation with Anna to learn about this beautiful country, plus some spontaneous roadside stops for snacks and ice cream make it such a fun drive. In addition to Villa de Leyva, we also visited Convent Santo Ecce Homo- a monastery north of the city. It was a surreal experience- highly recommended! Clay house was another good surprise- just have to wait until you see it and learn the whole story of the architectural wonder. When we got to the town center of Villa de Leyva, it was already dusk. But the town was ALIVE! It was so vibrant and charming! This is one of the best tours we have around the world. Thank you Anna for such an unforgettable experience of your beautiful country!
Review provided by Viator
Laura25p
Aug 29, 2023
The best day trip ever! - This was an incredible day trip!
Cesar and Rodrigo were fantastic. I highly recommend you request them for your tour.
We asked for a 6am pick up and they were there on time. Our first stop was Villa de Leyva. We worked the itinerary backwards as there was a kite festival in Villa de Leyva so we wanted to get there early. It is such a beautiful town. We spent a total of an hour there, walking around the town. We stopped in el Museo del Chocolate for a yummy snack. We then headed over to Casa Terracota, a Gaudí inspired house made entirely out of clay. We then went to Pozos Azules which are 6 or 7 bluish green lakes. You walk the entire area at your pace. The great thing about being on a private tour is that you get to decide whether to stay or just head to the next attraction, which is what we did. We only saw 2 of the lakes before heading to our next stop. Note that you are not allowed to swim in the lakes. We then went to Monasterio Ecce Homo, a beautiful monastery in the countryside. By this point, we worked up an appetite. We headed over to another town, Sutamarchan, and had the most amazing lunch. Lastly, we ended up in Ráquira, famous for its colorful pottery.
The entire trip was so much fun and we got to see so much of the countryside. Cesar and Rodrigo’s energy made the entire experience that much more enjoyable!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
49jespersigurdsson
Jul 28, 2023
traditional art form - Villa & Raquira's culture is beautiful, its architecture and traditional designs truly capture the essence of this traditional art form. Every corner of the state reflects the rich heritage and history behind Raquira's ceramics. It's a must-visit destination for anyone seeking an authentic cultural experience.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Eriberto
Mar 16, 2023
Fantastic. - Spectacular experience! The place and the service is fantastic! The staff strives to provide an unparalleled experience.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Lynn_b
Apr 21, 2024
Awful & unprofessional - We will be expecting a refund for a large part of the costs.Such a lot of money for such a terrible experience.The driver however was excellent in the bad weather.Please send a link so I can give you details
Review provided by Viator
Rose_m
Mar 27, 2024
Insufferable Guide - Johnathan, our guide, began by informing me I needed to work on my Spanish as it was “rusty!” He obviously did not like Americans. On our very long trip to Leyva he spoke to his driver and looked at his phone. There was no conversation. When I tried to ask questions it was an inconvenience. We arrived at the city after a painful 2 1/2 hours. He knew nothing about the city. We walked and walked as though he was lost. I don’t believe he ever was a guide for this trip. We continued to the ceramic house which was amazing and self explanatory. As he was taking photos, it was obvious he’d never been there. I highly recommend a visit to this incredible house. It’s a Dali experience:). I felt he is very political which does not serve well for a guide. He was arrogant and appropriating the African culture with his dreadlocks and pants well below his underwear. That would be fine if it hadn’t been so contradictory with his beliefs. The man is intelligent, but loathes his job. It was the most painful tour we’ve had in our many trips around the world. The van was also beyond description. The suspension was gone and it died in one of the towns. We waited perhaps 1/2 hour for a jump for the battery. There was NO air conditioning and the air blowing insulted the eyes and ears. Go to the ceramic house, by PLEASE avoid Johnathan for any tour.
Review provided by Viator