Magical ColombiaColombia has been recognized as a country with the most diverse ecosystems representing the largest number of species per area unit, worldwide, transforming the country into the “Mecca” for ecotourism. Colombia’s white sandy beaches alongside the bordering jungles, deep forested mountains, some with snowcaps, breath taking deserts; rich valleys and countless rivers, endless savannahs sprayed with wetlands and river streams; Read More About UsColombian Highlands Tours & Expeditions (RNT 11684), is a Travel Agency with more than 12 years of experience. Here you can find all the necessary things to enjoy Colombia and more. We ensure you that all of our activities are carried out with the outmost respect, and responsibility in mind of our natural resources. We are a professional team dedicated to preserve, educate and promote the safety of the flora and fauna that our country has to offer. Mobile: 310 552 9079 Villa de Leyva, Colombia. Our main office is located at the same place of our Renacer Hostel

CLICK HERE TO SEE THE MAP Schedule: 7:30AM – 10:00PM Rooms and Dorms Photos Posted by admin on Dic 10, 2015 in Gallery Hostel Trail, nice web site with perfect tips to travel in South America Posted by admin on Oct 20, 2013 in Blog Five Spectacular Places to Camp in Colombia Posted by admin on Oct 10, 2013 in BlogWe had been traveling by bicycle in the Boyacá region and elsewhere, including a glorious 10-mile descent to the Villa de Leyva, which served as an end point after a week of pedaling through smaller mountain villages. The rough-hewn stones of Villa de Leyva pushed us off our bikes, and we settled in for a few days of R & R. Villa de Leyva, founded in 1572, meets contemporary life on its own terms. Declared a national monument in 1954, it’s an aggressively preserved colonial city, so the clank of the modern rarely interrupts the séance with the past. Long a weekend destination for Bogotá residents seeking a less-frantic respite, Villa de Leyva has become a place where Europeans and the occasional American visit to see what made the Spaniards plant a flag there in the first place.

With its uneven streets that threaten even the hardiest vehicle, the spot invites — requires, in fact — strolling (although darkness and a bit too much of the local rum can make walking a hazard as well). Situated in a high mountain valley, the city of 4,000 or so also serves as a base camp for outings in the surrounding hills. And, indeed, many Colombians are fond of nighttime horseback rides and mountain biking. The tranquil comforts of Villa de Leyva, with its mix of people in traditional hats and ponchos walking next to kids in jeans and T-shirts, are especially welcoming upon return.During the week, it’s easy to spend hours ambling along the narrow streets lined by red-tile-roofed, whitewashed houses, many featuring balconies decorated with flower pots overflowing with bougainvilleas and geraniums. Abundant fossils from the surrounding area are embedded into plaster walls, and massive front doors are flanked by carvings, some echoing the occupation of the original residents.

Once you leave the old city and venture into the more modern part of town, don’t be surprised to see a yard full of chickens or goats next to an Internet cafe.Evenings in town are equally seductive. On a Thursday night in July on the plaza, a group was gathered around several guitars and a harmonica at Terraza, a patio bar where Europeans and Colombians gathered to drink rum and warble Spanish love songs.adidas wkf backpackOne duo enjoying the bar that evening turned out to be a brother and sister from Belgium, who ended up in Villa de Leyva a bit accidentally. backpack national geographic kaskusThey had begun the day headed to San Gil, a few hours north of Bogotá, for some adventure travel, from the bus station in Bogotá, but were victimized by a set of thieves in fake uniforms.“backpack expander steam market

It happened very quickly,” they explained at Terraza. “One of the men in uniform dropped his change, we bent down to help him, and that’s when they robbed our bags. We saw it on the video later.”(Security in Colombia and especially on the route to Villa de Leyva has improved significantly in recent years, but street crime in the major cities remains an issue.)aconcagua backpack recommendationIf you stay for a Saturday, as we did, head to the north side of the old village, where there is an extensive farmers’ market. tumi kingsville deluxe backpack saleIt was a busy place, with moments of joy bubbling through; backpack yoona love rainfamilies that truck in fruits and vegetables from the surrounding mountains sat on crates and drank perico, a tiny cup of the local coffee with a dash of milk, or shared beers.

The market was also jammed with stalls that sold fruits that looked colorful and intriguing, but were not immediately recognizable: lulos, staples for juicing, were abundant, as were granadillas and curubas. A more accessible option sat at the corner of the market, where a farmer sliced open giant avocados and salted them for on-the-spot consumption. “Everything grows here, so you have your pick of the world,” said Alejandra de Vengoechea, a Colombian journalist who is married to Mr. Otis, gesturing to the unfamiliar bounty in the stalls as we walked into he market.Nearby, huge wood-fired pots contained mysterious but tasty soups. Near as I could tell, one particularly delicious batch included the hoof of a cow. (A word about language: This isn’t Spain or Mexico, so the practice of just speaking in Spanish until you run out of palabras and then switching to English will be met with quizzical stares. The local people are incredibly friendly and helpful, but they don’t hear a lot of English.)

A morning of market exploration, an afternoon of strolling or biking to one of the nearby towns, and soon enough evening settles in over Villa de Leyva. Because of the relative stability of the current government and the reduced footprint of guerrilla groups, Colombia is opening up beyond typical destinations like Bogotá and Cartagena. Villa de Leyva is bound to get some attention because of its ancient — at least in New World terms — origins, and because of its popularity with the Colombians themselves. There is an impressive array of hotels, haciendas for rent and other accommodations. The hotels are relatively cheap and often spectacular on a small scale, particularly the courtyards, which are so inviting and restful that it can be difficult to get motivated and hit the streets.When you do, though, those uneven thoroughfares serve as a reminder that when you really want to come to know a place, you should look where you are walking and, while you are at it, slow down enough to take in everything around you.“

You are in a place people have been coming to for many years because of its climate and beauty,” said Carlos Eduardo Mora, a resident who was our driver for the trip. “The only people who don’t seem to know much about it are gringos like you.” STOP AND SMELL THE FRAILEJÓNContinental offers direct round-trip flights to Bogotá from Newark, starting at $443 for travel in November, according to a recent Web search; cheaper flights are available out of Kennedy Airport on JetBlue, with a layover in Orlando, Fla., starting at $229 in November. Flights fill up quickly.Once you are in Bogotá, Villa de Leyva is best reached by bus. The three-and-a-half-hour trip is lovely, but leave the driving to others on these unfamiliar mountain roads. You can find schedules from the main bus terminal to Villa de Leyva at www.terminaldetransporte.gov.co), with round-trip tickets running about 65,000 pesos, or about $34 at 1,915 Colombian pesos to the dollar. If you prefer to do the trip from the backseat of a car, work with a hotel to find a car service rather than negotiating with individual cabs, and expect to pay about 300,000 pesos.

The road to Villa de Leyva is secure and full of tourists.There is an array of wonderful hotels in Villa de Leyva, with varying prices and amenities. Hotel la Posada de San Antonio (Carrera 8, 11-80; 57-8-732-0538), just a block off the main square, offers pleasant rooms, a lovely courtyard and a reliable restaurant. Rates start at 190,000 pesos for a double. .co) is gorgeous, with grand vistas and first-rate pools. Doubles start at 313,000 pesos.Food is mostly fuel in Villa de Leyva, but there are a few exceptions worth seeking out. The Pastelería Francesa (Calle 10, 9-41), just off the square, serves exquisite French pastries and good coffee. Just across the street, Maria Elisa Rojas serves the empanadas and tamales typical of her native California in a lovely space; pitchers filled with all manner of local juices add even more color to the table.El Fósil, a museum about three miles from town, lives up to its name with an almost complete kronosaurus, a giant and prehistoric gatorlike marine reptile.

You can take a cab or bus to the museum; admission is 3,100 pesos. By bus, head toward Santa Sofía and tell the driver you want to get off at El Fósil; from the roadside, it’s about a 10-minute walk to the museum.The more ambitious will opt for a hike above the tree line at Iguaque Sanctuary and National Park (www.presidencia.gov.co/parques; admission, 14,400 pesos). To get to Iguaque, about a half-hour outside of town, arrange a car or taxi through your hotel, including a prearranged pickup time.Plan on at least two and a half hours for the hike up, an hour at the top and a one-and-a-half-hour descent. Iguaque was described to us as a nice little hike, but don’t believe it for a minute. Wear good shoes and bring a backpack with plenty of snacks and water.On the path up you might think you were walking through a butterfly exhibition the air is so thick with fluttering wings. Over a path that is mostly roots and rocks, you will make your way from a subtropical forest up into the clouds and the lakes and past the hairy, otherworldly frailejón plants that decorate the top of the mountain.