Villa de Leyva Tour: Colonial Heritage & Fossils

Walk colonial plazas and stand before fossils 100 million years old

A private 2-day tour from Bogota to Villa de Leyva combines colonial architecture, fossil discoveries, and local wine culture with a bilingual guide, flexible pacing, and door-to-door transport. Day one explores the Plaza Mayor, Nuestra Señora del Rosario Church, and the Antonio Nariño Museum in the town center. Day two visits the Paleontological Research Center, a community fossil museum, the Saint Ecce Homo Convent, and Umaña Dajud Winery at 2,000 meters elevation.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1: Bogota to Villa de Leyva exploration

• Stop at Puente de Boyacá monument
• Explore Plaza Mayor of Villa de Leyva
• Visit Our Lady of the Rosary Church
• Tour Antonio Nariño Museum

Day 2: Villa de Leyva fossils and winery visit

• Visit Paleontology Research Center
• Explore Museo Comunitario El Fosil
• Tour Saint Ecce Homo Convent
• Visit Umaña Dajud Winery and tasting

The experience

Villa de Leyva's Plaza Mayor is the heart of the first day: a cobbled square ringed by colonial buildings, restaurants, and craft shops, anchored by the Nuestra Señora del Rosario Church built in 1604. Before reaching the town, the route passes the Puente de Boyacá, a National Monument marking Colombia's independence from Spain. Your bilingual guide leads you through the church's Baroque interior (altars, paintings, and period images), then into the Antonio Nariño Museum, a preserved 17th-century colonial house that traces the life and times of its namesake. The museum closes Wednesdays, so the itinerary adjusts if needed.

Day two turns to the region's prehistoric past. The Paleontological Research Center holds fossils older than 100 million years (Ichthyosaurs, Plesiosaurs, Sea Turtles) preserved from when this land lay beneath ancient seas. Nearby, the Museo Comunitario El Fosil adds a community perspective on the same geological story. The Saint Ecce Homo Convent, finished in 1620 by Dominican monks, stands as a reminder of Colombia's colonial ties to Europe. The day ends at Umaña Dajud Winery, perched at 6,500 feet above sea level: a guided tour of the vineyard follows, then a tasting of Colombian wine grown at high altitude. The winery closes Wednesdays and Thursdays. On those days, the guide substitutes another local experience.

Transportation and pacing are yours to shape. The guide meets you at your Bogota hotel or address, drives you both ways in a private vehicle, and adjusts the day's rhythm to your interests: lingering at a museum, taking time in the plaza, or moving through stops more quickly. All admission tickets come included, along with bottled water. A morning start is suggested to fit both days comfortably.

What’s included

• Private bilingual guide in English or Spanish.
• all admission tickets to the Paleontological Research Center, churches, museums, and winery.
• private door-to-door transportation from your Bogota address.
• bottled water throughout the tour.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish and Spanish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated 3 days ago

Good to know

Moderate physical effortInfant seats available

Operated by Bogota Driver Guide Service

Is this one for you?The tour moves at a pace you set with your guide, so you linger at sites that interest you and move through others more quickly. If you prefer a fixed itinerary and set departure times, a group tour may suit you better.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and Spanish.

What is the Paleontological Research Center in Villa de Leyva?

The Paleontological Research Center preserves fossils older than 100 million years, including Ichthyosaurs, Plesiosaurs, and Sea Turtles from when the region lay beneath ancient seas. The collection provides insights into the prehistoric species that once inhabited what is now Colombia.

Can I visit the Antonio Nariño Museum on any day of the week?

The Antonio Nariño Museum is closed every Wednesday. If your tour falls on that day, your guide will adjust the itinerary to include another stop in the town instead.

Does the tour include a winery visit?

Yes, the tour visits Umaña Dajud Winery, located at 2,000 meters (6,500 feet) above sea level. You receive a guided tour of the vineyard and a tasting of Colombian wine. The winery is closed Wednesdays and Thursdays. On those days, the guide replaces it with an alternative local experience.

What is included in the price of this 2-day tour?

All admission tickets to the sites visited are included, along with private door-to-door transportation from your Bogota address, a private bilingual guide, and bottled water throughout the two days.

Does the tour start early in the morning?

A morning start is suggested to fit both days comfortably, though the schedule is flexible. Your guide will coordinate the pickup time with you when you book.