Villa de Leyva is a beautiful colonial town. It is part of the “Network of Colombian Heritage Villages”, located in the province of Ricaurte in the department of Boyacá.
Moreover, the town was founded in 1572 under the name of Villa de Santa María de Leyva and later recognized as a national monument in 1954 because of the beauty of its colonial architecture.
It is located 40 km west of Tunja, capital of the department, and 165 km from Bogota, capital of the country.
This town is very famous for its historical importance and its magnificent square. In fact, the Plaza Mayor of Villa de Leyva is the largest in Colombia and one of the most imposing in South America with its 14 thousand square meters.
The Diversity of Nature in Villa de Leyva
In addition to its colonial architecture, Villa de Leyva is characterized by its varied rural landscapes, and ecosystem ranging from paramo to desert. Also, the town is framed by two branches of the eastern mountain range of the Andes.
Due to its great offer, Villa de Leyva is ideal to encounter history, science, art, culture, and nature. It also has an important value in terms of paleontology, anthropology and archeology.
If you want to know more about the paleontological richness of Villa de Leyva visit our entry The Paleontologist’s Perfect Fossil Trip in Villa de Leyva, Colombia.
Villa de Leyva Natural Attractions
Iguaque Flora and Fauna Sanctuary.
This park belongs to the National Natural Park System, created by Agreement No. 33 of 1977. It is located between the municipalities of Villa de Leyva, Arcabuco, and Chíquiza.
The park has an area of 6,750 hectares, and it is associated with the Pómeca River basin to the north and the Hoya del Río Chíquiza to the south. Additionally, the sanctuary has eight lagoons formed in the cloudy páramo. There you can see deer, weasels, and three species of woodpeckers, among other animals.
The entrance to Iguaque Park is through the road that leads from Villa de Leyva to Arcabuco. The Sanctuary is open to the public for ecotourism and it offers three cabins located in the sectors “Carrizal”, “Chaina” and San Pedro de Iguaque.
Nature Highlights Around Villa de Leyva
Iguaque Sanctuary
The Iguaque Flora and Fauna Sanctuary protects Andean forest and páramo ecosystems above 3,000 meters, accessible via a rewarding 6-8 hour round-trip hike to the sacred Laguna de Iguaque. The trail passes through oak forest and frailejón-studded grasslands, with occasional sightings of white-tailed deer and mountain birds including the Bearded Helmetcrest hummingbird.
Fossil Sites
Villa de Leyva sits on Cretaceous-era seabeds that have yielded remarkable fossil discoveries, including a 7-meter Kronosaurus and numerous ammonites. The El Fósil museum and the paleontological research center bring Colombia’s ancient marine history to life, with fossils visible in the exposed rock formations throughout the surrounding landscape.
Desert Landscapes
The semi-arid terrain surrounding Villa de Leyva creates landscapes more reminiscent of the Tatacoa Desert than the lush Andes. Cactus-studded hillsides, eroded badlands, and clear night skies make this an excellent stargazing destination — the Observatorio Astronómico de la Tatacoa has been replicated here with public viewing events during clear nights.
Blue Lakes (Pozos Azules)
A series of small turquoise-blue lakes created by mineral deposits dot the landscape outside town, providing a photogenic stop that contrasts with the surrounding arid terrain. Though small, their vivid coloration makes them one of the most-photographed natural features in Boyacá.
Combining Villa de Leyva with Other Destinations
Villa de Leyva connects naturally with other Boyacá nature destinations — Monguí and its Ocetá páramo to the east, and the broader Andean Region circuit. The town also serves as a gateway to the heritage town network of Boyacá. A 3-4 day stay allows time for the Iguaque hike, fossil sites, and surrounding landscapes.
Sara Colmenares holds a Doctor of Science (D.Sc.) in Ecology from the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro and a Master’s degree in Botany from the same institution. Her doctoral research focused on palm ecology in the Atlantic Forest, supported by the Rufford Foundation conservation grant.
A published researcher in the Brazilian Journal of Plant Physiology and a member of the Association for Tropical Biology and Conservation (ATBC), Sara has presented her work at international conferences across Latin America and beyond. She was awarded the COLCIENCIAS “Virginia Gutiérrez de Pineda” fellowship, one of Colombia’s most competitive academic distinctions for young researchers.
Sara founded the Sula nature tourism brand in 2018, applying her scientific expertise to develop birding and wildlife experiences across Colombia’s six natural regions. Her fieldwork took her from the cloud forests of the Andes to the Amazon basin, the Pacific coast, and the plains of the Orinoquía. She combined deep ecological knowledge with firsthand experience to create content that is both scientifically accurate and practically useful for nature travelers.
She holds a B.Sc. in Biology from the National University of Colombia, where she also taught plant ecophysiology. She speaks Spanish, Portuguese, and English.