Villa de Leyva Getaway Andean Colombia This ride will allow you to explore the mountainous regions of Raquira, only half an hour south of Villa de Leyva and a few hours away from Bogota. During the ride, we will see beautiful landscapes of the mountain range and the valleys of Villa de Leyva, Raquira and Tinjacá. We will visit a typical rural small town (San Miguel de Sema), as well as two historic and cultural towns in the region: Villa de Leyva and Raquira. Short Getaway Center-based ride Meeting: Bogotá Airport: Bogotá Transfer: Bogotá Riders: Min 2 riders Max 4 riders Trip Brochure (PDF) Trip Rating

Packages and Options

Click here for updated current rates.

 

Transfer and Other Charges:

Pick-up and drop-off transfers can be arranged from Bogota city center (no airport transfer available). Pick-up is usually in the morning, but later transfers can be arranged if needed. On the last day, you will be dropped off in Bogota around 3-4pm.

Sample itinerary - subject to changes

Day 1 (Monday): Arrival
We pick you up from your Bogota hotel in the morning, and transfer you by car (approx. 3 hours) to the stables. We will have a quick lunch before starting our ride. 
We will stop in a typical rural “tienda” (very small store) where the countryman get together to drink a beer and talk. We continue riding towards San Miguel de Sema, a typical small town of the area. Here, we visit the beautiful church and have some snacks.
Around 5-6pm, we transfer you to your hotel accommodation, close to Villa de Leyva.
Riding: approx. 3-4 hours
Meals included: Lunch & Dinner
Overnight at a Hotel near Villa de Leyva

Day 2 (Tuesday): Ride to Fuquene Lake Viewpoint & Visit of Ráquira Town
After a good breakfast and a short transfer to the stables, our day ride begins. Today we are going to go up to the mountains range, taking different dirt roads and trails. We will pass
through oak forest and brooks. Once we reach the mountain top, we get a panoramic view over the valley. After we cross the mountain range, we get a great view over the Fúquene Lake.
Until the 1970’s Fúquene Lake was considered Colombia’s largest lake. Today only 3,000 hectares are left from the originally 10,000 hectares. This is due to the lake being dried in order to gain acreage for agriculture and stock farming.
We will stop at the viewpoint to enjoy the landscape, eat and rest. Once we get back to the stables, we will have a tardy and succulent lunch (between 2 and 3 pm).
After lunch, we can go visit Ráquira Town. Due to a vast ceramics tradition dating back to pre-Hispanic times, Ráquira is known as the handicrafts capital of Colombia. In addition to pots, pitchers, coffee cups, and kitchen utensils, there are anthropomorphic and zoomorphic figurines, pieces for Nativity scenes, piggy banks, etc. Local indigenous peoples (Chibcha) used them to prepare chicha (a fermented corn drink), store their food, and prepare their meals using various pots. Maybe because of this, Raquira is called “City of Pots” in the “Chibcha” language.
Riding: approx. 4-5 hours
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Overnight at a Hotel near Villa de Leyva

Day 3 (Wednesday): Visit of Villa de Leyva & Departure
We will have 1-2 hours to visit Villa de Leyva and its typical stores to see handcraft or to buy some souvenirs. Villa de Leyva is a small colonial town founded in 1572  by the Spanish. Therefore, the architecture style has a strong Spanish influence.
Around 11 am, we will start the travel to Bogota and we will have lunch on the way. On our way, we will visit the place where the battle of independence of Colombia took place in 1819.
We should arrive in Bogota around 2-3 pm
Meals included: Breakfast & Lunch

                                                Bogotá area

Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Average High Temperature (°F)	68	68	68	67	67	66	65	66	66	67	67	67
Average Low Temperature (°F)	43	45	47	49	49	48	47	46	46	47	47	45
Average High Temperature (°C)	20	20	20	20	19	19	18	19	19	19	19	20
Average Low Temperature (°C)	6	7	8	9	9	9	8	8	8	8	8	7
Average Precipitation (days of rain)	3	6	9	11	12	9	7	7	8	11	10	7

Source: NOAA


Seasons
Colombia is located in the tropics and therefore, weather is pretty consistent throughout the year.
The ride takes place in the mountainous area of the Raquira Region (Boyacá state), located between 2,200 and 2,800 meters above sea level.
The average temperature in this area is comprised between 14 and 24 centigrade during the day. However, as we ride in the mountains, you should keep in mind that weather and temperature can change quickly!
It is usually quite dry but there are some rainy days from time to time. 

We recommend bringing the following:
- light waterproof jacket
- cap or hat
- sunscreen
- sunglasses
- chaps or half chaps
- hiking boots
- helmet (bring your own or borrow one)

In order to provide you with a comfortable car transfer from Bogota to Villa de Leyva, we recommend that your luggage has the following dimensions or smaller:
- height: 64 cm
- width: 45 cm
- depth: 27 cm
If your luggage is bigger than this, please, let us know.

This list is only a guideline for you

Hidden Trails Travel Documents and Trip Voucher (contains important local tour contact info.)

Flight tickets

Passport

Visa (check with your consulate)

RIDING GEAR

Riding pants or Jodhpurs

Riding boots (short) + Minichaps

Riding helmet  (recommended for all trips)

Riding gloves

Hat (with chin strip) for sun protection

Lightweight Rain coat

PERSONAL CLOTHING

Jacket or sweater for cool evenings

Comfortable T-Shirts/Shirts

Jeans

Shorts

Underwear and socks

Pyjamas

Bag for dirty clothes

Trekking boots/ comfortable shoes

Swimsuit

ADDITIONAL THINGS TO BRING

Personal Toiletries

Insect protection

Personal medications

Sore cream (for an emergency)

Sewing kit

Torch/ Flashlight

Adapter for electric appliances

Camera and extra film or batteries

Belt pack

Address book and pen (for postcards!)

Sun glasses with strap

** No trip reports found with the tour ID you provided.

Accommodations
This is a stationary ride where all nights are spent at the same location.

Description
You will be accommodated at a hotel located just outside Villa de Leyva Town. The hotel is a country house built in the “colonial hacienda” style. It has 8 bedrooms and each room comes with private facilities. There is Wi-Fi access available for free.
We leave the hotel in the morning and come back after 5 pm as the sunset starts around 6 pm.

Room Occupancy
If we are unable to find another rider to share the room with you, a single supplement fee applies.
Single room accommodations are subject to availability.


Meals
All meals are included in this trip from Lunch on Day 1 to lunch on the last day.

Please, note that due to the remote location of the places visited during the ride, you will be served a set-menu (that we will send you before the trip) that showcases typical Colombian food.
Meals are varied and us as many local products as possible

Dietary Restrictions
We can cater to most dietary restrictions with prior notice.

Tack:		English
Horses:		Colombian creole & Trochadores
Pace:		40% walk, 20% trot, 40% canter A lot of short canters on flat terrain. S;ower in the mountains 4-5 hours per day in the saddle | Walk | Trot | Canter |
Level:		(3 to 5 out of 5)    Intermediate and higher
Age:		Min 18	Max 75
Weight:		Max 170 lbs
Riders:		Min 2 riders	Max 4 riders

Guide
Hernando, who speaks English, will be your guide. All his life, Hernando´s passions have been horses and hiking. During his childhood and youth, he spent vacations on his ranch surrounded by horses and places to hike.

Horses
Colombian “Criollo” Horses are famous for their endurance capabilities and ability to live in difficult conditions. They are intelligent, willing and sensible. These horses have a smoother stride, similar to what is internationally called a “gaited horse”, so that the rider is more comfortable and feels less fatigue.

Riding Terrain
The ride takes place in the mountainous area of the Raquira Region (Boyacá state), located between 2,200 and 2,800 meters above sea level.  
Most of the ride takes place on small unpaved roads and mountain trails. We will see different kind of landscapes, desert areas and fertile valleys.

Passports
Valid passport required by all nationals referred to in the chart.

Visas
Not required by nationals referred to in the chart above except:
1. nationals of Estonia who do need a visa (please note that nationals of Canada, Ireland, Malta and the USA are only permitted visa-free stays of up to three months);
2. US citizens travelling on diplomatic or official passports require a visa.

Note: Nationals not referred to in the chart above are advised to contact the embassy to check visa requirements (see Contact Addresses).
Types of Visa and Cost
Tourist: £27. Business and Tourist: Enquire at consulate (or consular section at embassy) for cost as it may vary with the exchange rate. US visas: $42.
Validity
Visas are usually for stays of up to three months, but check with the consulate, as this is dependent on nationality. Extensions for a further three months are possible; apply at the immigration office in Uruguay.
Applications to:
Consulate (or consular section at embassy); see Contact Addresses.
Working Days Required   21.

Passport Required?
British	Yes
Australian	Yes
Canadian	Yes
USA	Yes
Other EU	Yes
Visa Required?
British	No
Australian	No
Canadian	No
USA	No/2
Other EU	No/1
Return Ticket Required?
British	Yes
Australian	Yes
Canadian	Yes
USA	Yes
Other EU	Yes

This information is not being updated on a regular basis. Hidden Trails does not take any responsibility for the accuracy of the above information. Please, consult the embassy or consulate for updated info.