Villa de Leyva Adventure: Top 5 Thrilling Tours & Activities

Villa de Leyva, that incredibly stunning colonial town way up in the Colombian Andes, is, that’s right, more than just pretty cobblestone streets and whitewashed buildings. I mean, sure, it’s got those too, and it’s brilliant for wandering around and soaking it all up, soaking up the history. But actually, tucked away in the surrounding landscapes are these fantastic chances for all kinds of heart-pumping, memorable escapades. If you are someone who likes a bit of oomph in their sightseeing, here’s, like, a rundown of five awesome adventure tours to really set your pulse racing in Villa de Leyva.

1. Hike to Iguaque Lagoon: A Muisca Sacred Site

Honestly, the Iguaque Lagoon is quite a beauty, but, in a way, that part is obvious! What makes it especially remarkable is this: its importance as a sacred spot for the Muisca people. That trek up to it isn’t exactly a stroll in the park, you know; it’s more, pretty steep in places, yet seriously worth every bit of effort when you make it to the lagoon. It is that quiet, that reflective and something quite unique. Tour companies normally will hook you up, I mean, typically, with a guide that knows the place back to front, telling all kinds of cool stories regarding the Muisca mythology and just what the lagoon means to them. The hike itself can stretch to around five or six hours, give or take, really just depending on the group’s pace. It’s, it’s quite a challenge; with some parts demanding a decent level of fitness, really, especially given you are at that altitude. Seriously, come ready for uneven terrain and bring layers – the weather in the mountains has a mind all its own.

2. Horseback Riding Through the Countryside

See, there’s, like, few things that make you feel more connected to a place than tooling around on horseback, now is that not the truth? It’s actually quite nice to let an experienced local lead you and your horse on trails which, that’s right, crisscross the hills, valleys and various other awesome views surrounding Villa de Leyva. Even if you have, just a bit, of horse-riding background – even nothing to speak of at all, really, actually, there are always ponies available that are perfect, really perfect for absolute beginners. The horses, very well looked after, and I mean, the guides really know the area well, you get that kind of insight you’d straight up not get hiking or on a bus. What makes this so much more enjoyable is, in a way, stopping to talk with farmers along the way and to stretch your legs in old colonial villages that have really stood the test of time. The lengths of the tours are, like, variable too, with, in some respects, options running from a gentle two-hour trot to longer adventures that hog an entire day.

3. Mountain Biking Down Barichara’s Royal Route

Now, for anybody who’s, just a bit, of an adrenaline junkie and also kinda enjoys a bit of history being rolled in, this is something right up that street. Barichara is a total knockout of a town, is that not so, not far away from Villa de Leyva and that ‘Royal Route’ which leads down to Guane. This ancient pathway is just that—breathtaking landscapes with, yet, just enough rocky patches in places to make things exciting, right? You’ll encounter all kind of challenges on the way down, steep slopes and winding tracks. Still, as always, the spectacular views definitely reward your hard work. Many tour operators typically offer everything in one go, like transport to Barichara, really sturdy mountain bikes and that essential safety gear, too. Also, don’t even sweat the level of experience required; they tend to customize trips around it so that whether it’s you’re an absolute whizz on two wheels or still a bit tentative. The time on the bike itself generally rolls on for, give or take, 3-4 hours, right? Leaving loads of time at the conclusion just to potter about beautiful Barichara before you head on back.

4. Rappelling and Caving in La Periquera Ecological Park

If scaling cliffs face-first or wandering about caves sounds appealing, then, like, definitely put La Periquera Ecological Park onto your itinerary. Its series of seriously stunning waterfalls and the opportunity just to try your hand at rappelling are really the calling cards of this spot. And I do mean some seriously high rocks – although, you know, safety comes first and skilled instructors help. There are, I’d say, cave systems inside the park too and you can take yourself through them. It gets properly dark and spooky inside these chambers. It is worth actually just arranging tours in advance – they can then handle all of the safety equipment as well as the experienced guides; I mean, they are going to ensure it’s, in some respects, an experience that’s both totally thrilling yet still perfectly safe. It typically runs around half a day set aside just to experience La Periquera completely. But, believe me, if adventure is right up your alley, you’ll not get bored.

5. Hot Air Balloon Ride Over Villa de Leyva

Alright, this, is that so, really does offer up a seriously special viewpoint for seeing Villa de Leyva’s wonderful colonial architecture and gorgeous surrounding countryside. Think, it must be, floating over, everything just so serene. You might want to think on booking a balloon ride bright and early; this being how conditions are likely to be at their very best with, that’s right, amazing clear light as a result. A fair amount of trips normally will provide you with bubbly, maybe, and bits of local delicacies just to eat as you soak it all in and to toast as that day comes. Now is that not so? It might very well just be the idyllic approach, too it’s almost, of properly appreciating that awesome region from that complete perspective, really a memorable finale. From starting position till landing, reckon for a total that probably gets somewhere between three and four hours, by the way.