boyaca & santander, the perfect places for outdoor lovers!
Visiting Boyacá, one of the departments located in the eastern-central region of Colombia and neighboring the nation’s capital, is like stepping into a land of adventure, breathtaking landscapes, rich culture, and unforgettable cuisine. Situated in the Andean region, Boyacá is home to 123 municipalities, each offering a unique blend of climates, colonial charm, and ecological attractions. This diversity makes it an appealing destination for travelers seeking experiences beyond the traditional sun-and-beach getaway.
Boyacá is dotted with small, beautiful villages, each offering a distinct and memorable experience. Just to the north, Santander stands out for its remarkable variety, where climates, landscapes, and ecosystems converge along the Eastern Cordillera. Together, Boyacá and Santander form an ideal region for travellers drawn to adventure sports, mountainous terrain, and peaceful colonial towns surrounded by nature.
A Villa de Leyva Tour is a must when exploring Boyacá. This iconic colonial town invites visitors to slow down and stay at least one night to fully appreciate its natural charm, vast open landscapes, and timeless architecture. In contrast, San Gil, located in Santander, is the adventure capital of the region, attracting adrenaline seekers with activities such as paragliding, rock climbing, and white-water rafting.
No journey through Santander is complete without experiencing one of the renowned Barichara Tours. Often considered one of Colombia’s most picturesque towns, Barichara enchants visitors with its cobblestone streets and historic atmosphere. Hiking the legendary Camino Real offers an unforgettable way to connect Barichara with the surrounding landscapes and history, making it a highlight for culture and nature lovers alike.
colombia tours including boyaca & santander
Private Expedition
Zipaquira and Villa de Leyva Tour
From £856
3 Days
Price based on two people sharing
Travel from Bogotá to Villa de Leyva via the Zipaquirá Salt Cathedral, enjoy rural or cultural experiences, explore colonial landmarks, and visit Ráquira for a hands‑on pottery worksho
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Private Expedition
Best of Colombia Tour
From £3,819
15 Days
Price based on two people sharing
Discover Bogotá, Medellín, the Coffee Region, Tayrona Park and Cartagena, an inspiring journey through Colombia’s culture, nature and vibrant cities, filled with authentic local experiences.
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Private Expedition
Colombia Colonial Towns Tour
From £2,842
12 Days
Price based on two people sharing
Discover Colombia’s colonial charm from Bogotá to Villa de Leyva, Barichara and Cartagena, blending history, nature, gastronomy and meaningful local experiences
More detailstop places to visit in boyaca and santander
villa de leyva
Located about 3 hours by car from Bogota, Villa de Leyva is a Spanish colonial town surrounded by stunning hills and terrain. This city is well known for its whitewashed colonial houses, cobbled streets and terracotta roofs remarkably well-preserved. Wander the colonial streets, go horseback riding outside the city or visit the Terracotta House, an impressive architectural gem made from terracotta.
raquira
This picturesque town has always been a place where artisans produce pieces of pottery and wool. Its name means "city of pots" in the Native American Chibcha language. The houses, streets and central square are splashed with colour and adorned with an infinite variety of clay pieces. Spend an afternoon appreciating the exquisite handicrafts in this little town.
barichara
Deemed the “prettiest town in Colombia,” Barichara is located about 2.5 hours outside the Santanderian city of Bucaramanga. It offers a unique charming, colonial, and romantic atmosphere – complete with cobblestone streets and historic churches. Visit local artisan shops and try regional specialty hormigas culonas, giant edible ants.
chicamocha
Chicamocha Canyon is one of the world's deepest canyons, offering awe-inspiring views and thrilling activities like paragliding, hiking, and zip-lining. This natural marvel is a highlight of the region, surrounded by rugged, dramatic landscapes.
parque gallineral
Gallineral Park, located in San Gil, is a lush, tranquil park known for its towering trees draped in Spanish moss. Situated along the Fonce River, it offers peaceful walking paths, diverse flora, and a serene escape into nature. It also offers rafting options for various skill levels.
camino real
The Camino Real is a historic stone trail connecting the towns of Barichara and Guane. Offering stunning views of the Andean countryside, this scenic hike showcases colonial history, cobblestone paths, and beautiful, rustic landscapes.
more things to do in boyaca & santander
- Explore other charming colonial towns near Villa de Leyva, such as Paipa, Nobsa, and Mongui. Each town has unique architecture, lively plazas, artisan crafts, and a rich cultural heritage, offering an immersive experience of Boyacá's picturesque landscapes and traditional Andean life.
- Hike in the Sierra Nevada del Cocuy: The Sierra Nevada del Cocuy is formed by a chain of more than 25 snow-capped peaks, in an area of thirty kilometres. Also known as Guican and Chita, it is one of the most important glacial masses in Colombia, which can be walked on foot. This mountain range is part of the El Cocuy National Natural Park, in which there are Andean forests and basal jungle. The perfect location to spot a large amount of fauna such as danta, morrocoy, maiceros and araguato.
- Look for the monster of the Lake Tota: The legends say that the "devil whale" is the Colombian version of the Loch Ness Monster and can be found in the Lake Tota. If you're not scared (especially by the cold) you can take a dip in this icy cold lake and then relax on the white sandy beach. This place is so peaceful and is perfect if you like water, sports and fishing.
- Walk on the Camino Real: This 10 km trail hike connects Barichara and Guane. The path is mostly downhill, perfect for novice hikers. Enjoy sprawling green farmland and mountain views while walking along Camino Real. And if you're too tired to walk back, you can always take cheap public buses back to your starting point in Barichara.
- Connect with the nature in The Chicamocha national park: Established in 2006, this national park is home to the Chicamocha River, which flows through the majestic Chicamocha Canyon. Take in the incredible panoramic beauty of this natural wonder by riding a cable car or zip-lining across the canyon. Visitors can also enjoy views from a giant swing or by riding in a dune buggy.
- Contemplate the landscapes from the Cerro del Santísimo Ecopark: Located on the ‘El Helechales’ sidewalk, Floridablanca is the Cerro del Santísimo Ecopark, one of Santander's main tourist destinations. You can contemplate the landscapes, the nature that surrounds the Bucaramanga and its metropolitan area while enjoying the weather. In ‘El Santísimo’ stands a sculpture of Jesus of Nazareth that measures 33 m high, making it a pilgrimage site during Holy Week.
- Climb The Mesa de los Santos: The perfect place for climbers, lovers of nautical activities and walkers. Usually visited as an alternative to live experiences with the natural wealth of Santander. From this place you can see the imposing Chicamocha Canyon.
Local
gastronomy
Santander and Boyaca are both well known for their rich and highly traditional cuisine. With all their cultivated lands and farms they never run out of fresh produce to introduce to their recipes. Their knowledge is a perfect blend between Hispanic, Indian and African cultures and is passed down from one generation to the next.
Oreada Meat: It's a thinly sliced beef steak marinated in spices and herbs, then sun-dried. The texture is unusual and quite similar to beef jerky. It's usually served with rice and boiled yuccas with an almond-based cream sauce.
Petitoria: Santandereana cuisine is not aimed at vegetarians, as this other traditional dish of Santander cuisine is made with the viscera and blood of the goat as the main ingredient. It is an omelet-shaped mixture, which also has egg, cheese, breadcrumbs, rice and other spices and is usually used to accompany the main dishes; in other regions of Colombia there is a similar dish prepared with Lamb, called chanfaina, both of Spanish origin.
Mute: This soup is one of the most traditional dishes of the Andean Region. It's a mixture of pork, beef, vegetables, corn and spices. In some restaurants, they still make it in the woodstove. It's the perfect comfort food for cool evenings.
Culonas ants: Hormigas Culonas are big ants that are popular in the departments of Santander and North Santander. They are crispy and salty and rumoured to strengthen virility and vitality. These giant ants have been cultivated and eaten since pre-Columbian times.
Little Mazamorra: This dish is made with cooked cornmeal that is mixed with onion, peas, potatoes, peas, coriander, garlic, beans and beef. It is a soup of indigenous origin, since the Muisca natives who lived in this region consumed a similar thick soup that they spiced with an herb called guasca, to give it the spicy flavor.
Puchero: It is considered as the main course of this region. In this, several types of meat are mixed delicately with vegetables and other foods produced in the Colombian highlands. The ingredients of the stew are chicken meat and pork loin, with green banana and corn cob.
Cuchuco de trigo con espinazo: This is the typical dish of Runta, one of the rural paths located on the outskirts of the city of Tunja. Cuchuco is a very cheap and popular soup made with peeled wheat, which gives it a very thick consistency.
Boyacense stew: It is another main dish of Boyacense cuisine that is served as lunch. It is made with ingredients such as turnips, beans, cubes, hibias and tender green peas cooked together with chicken, pork and beef ribs. It is accompanied with coriander and pennyroyal.
Corn Patties or Regañonas: Santander is known for its grilled corn patties made with cornmeal, cassava and pork. Crispy outside and soft inside these arepas are completely different from the ones you may have tried before and are perfect as a snack.
Bocadillo veleño: This sweet jam or paste is made from guava pulp and panela mixed together and shaped into red squares. They are often wrapped in bijou leaves and accompanied with a piece of cottage cheese. They make a delightful treat for any time of the day.
Best Time
to visit
Boyacá and Santander offer diverse climates and vibrant festivals. In Boyacá, including towns like Villa de Leyva, temperatures range from 14°C in the cool central region to warmer areas requiring sun protection, while Barichara in Santander spans all thermal floors, from 7°C in the moors to 32°C in the Chicamocha Canyon, with most cities around 24°C. The best time to visit is during the dry seasons: December to March and July to August in Boyacá, and December to March in Santander. Festivals include Boyacá’s Astronomy Festival, Wind and Kite Festival, Aguinaldo Boyacense, and Festival of Lights, and Santander’s San Jerónimo Carnivals and Guabina and Tiple Festival, offering rich cultural experiences.
How to get there?
Getting to Villa de Leyva and other towns in Boyacá is mainly by car or bus from Bogotá, with travel times ranging from 2 to 4 hours, depending on your destination. The route offers stunning views of the Andean landscapes. Roads are generally well-maintained, and public buses and private vehicles are widely available. To reach Barichar in Santander, you can drive from Bogotá in about 6 to 8 hours, or take a flight to Bucaramanga and continue by road. A usual tour is to visit Villa de Leyva and then continue by road to Barichara.
Most roads connecting the municipalities of Boyacá and Santander are paved and in good condition. The main highway from Bogotá passes through Tunja, Paipa, Duitama, and Sogamoso, serving as the backbone of Boyacá’s road network. From this route, secondary roads connect to central towns and northern destinations. Public transportation is available both from Bogotá and between most towns in the region.
more travel tips to visit boyaca & santander
What our clients say about us
We knew we were in for a treat just looking at the detailed and personalized 18-day itinerary that Uncover Columbia put together for us! Our specific goals were woven in with new and interesting locations and activities that had us very excited. Unfortunately, my father and I succumbed to the flu upon arrival in Bogota. This is when Uncover Columbia revealed themselves to be more like a caring host family! Communication was so smooth and the local guides so helpful that we even had someone to walk us through the process of seeing a local doctor and filling prescriptions. We were sad to miss out on activities, but UC rescheduled a couple key outings with our birding guide, and we didn’t miss the hummingbird observatory! Our next destination was Leticia for the primary birding portion of our adventure. Our second super knowledgeable guide paired up with local and often indigenous guides to acquaintance with the sauna-like Amazonas. It was a truly amazing experience, connecting with the jungle and river on foot and by boat, especially at Marasha Nature Reserve, where a nighttime paddle left us awestruck at the beauty -despite the Caiman being elusive. From there we went to the Caribbean and Sierra Nevada Tyrona National Park. We visited an authentic native village in a manner that was entertaining as well as respectful and educational. We were fully recovered and not really wanting a day at leisure so Uncover Columbia arranged an impromptu city tour of Santa Marta with our third guide and we wrapped up our tour with a fourth guide in beautiful Cartagena with a quick island stop for snorkeling and fishing lesson in Bocadilla. All of the partnering guides, drivers and accommodations were friendly and helpful to the point that saying adios was bittersweet! And here’s a special shout out to Ana at Uncover Columbia for helping us with all the on the ground changes!! She was always accessible on WhatsApp and so sweet and helpful!
– Dana, October 2026
Nidia at Uncover Colombia organised a fabulous 19 day holiday across 5 locations in Colombia for my family. She was wonderful to deal with and really listened to our requests. Ana took over once we were on the holiday and made changes immediately where things weren’t quite as we’d all expected. We all had the best holiday ever. Thank you
– Annie, July 2026
We did the La Boquilla Fishing Village and African Drum Workshop. Sofia and Juan picked us up from our hotel and we took a drive to La Boquilla. We rode the canoes through the mangroves and learned to fish with a net and set crab traps with Señor Juan. We then went to the drum workshop and worked with some amazingly talented young people who introduced various musical styles and different types of drums. We played and danced and they truly made us feel like we were part of the family. I would recommend this tour to anyone who is interested in diving into the culture of Cartagena, and spending time face to face with the guardians of their craft and environment.
– Glen K, July 2026
I have traveled throughout the world and worked with many tour companies. Uncover Colombia is the most organized, detailed and responsive tour company I have worked with. Every guide that was provided is an amazing and enthusiastic person. Accommodations were incredible. Overall , nothing can top it ! USE UNCOVER COLOMBIA and you won't be disappointed.
– Richard, January 2026
Uncover Colombia put together an itinerary for us based on our love of nature, scenery, and hiking, and our desire to see some of the best the country has to offer. We loved their suggestions and we have felt looked after every step of the way - hotel bookings, transfers, internal flights, guides...
– Ellie, January 2026
Beatriz was a wonderful tour guide for visiting Guatape city from Medellin. She went out of her way to help me find shoes before we officially started our tour because my shoes got ruined in the rain the day before and I had nothing proper to wear. She has a clear love for the city she grew up in and that personal connection to it made the tour and information she shared more genuine and meaningful.
– Rahma, January 2026
We traveled three weeks across Colombia – from Bogotá, Villa de Leyva, Barichara, Medellín, the Pacific coast of Nuquí, the Coffee Region, Tayrona National Park, and finally Cartagena. In one word: exceptionally well organized. Excellent guides, seamless transfers, and an organization where everything worked exactly as planned.
– Damjan, December 2025
We have travelled to just under 80 countries around the world, often on our own, sometimes, when the country had some problems, relying on an agency; something we decided to do for Colombia as well. I must say that UncoverColombia is absolutely among the best tour operators I have ever met. The organization is immaculate, precise and very accurate...
– Cinzia and Luca, August 2025
Uncover Colombia did a great job in arranging accommodation, transport which included 4 domestic flights and meals. Most importantly, they have assigned tourist guides who are professional, friendly and passionate. They are sometimes funny and always helpful.
– S L, August 2025
Every detail was taken care of, the destinations are world class, communication was excellent. I would give them 6 out of 5 if I could. The guide UC booked for us was exceptional. He knew his stuff, was very good with e-bird, he was an interesting guy and an overall good bean. Our tour actually started in Barranquilla...
– Derek, April 2025
Sol, our tour guide, was amazing. We did a three day tour of Medellin and local villages nearby. Sol shared her vast knowledge of the political and social recent history of the region. She led the tour at our pace. She was lovely to be with. The driver was very cautious. It was a great experience.
– Lynn, February 2025
Uncover Colombia was fantastic to work with! We had a 12 day itinerary and everything went very well. The agency reps were very flexible before and during the trip even when we requested last minute changes. They always did their best to accommodate us. The assigned contact person during the trip was always reachable and responsive...
– Gary, December 2024
My girlfriend and I wanted to visit Colombia, but were late in the planning. We reached out to Uncover just a couple of weeks before our departure and they were able to organize the whole tour in just a few days, and for a more than fair price...
– David, December 2025
We had a FANTASTIC experience with Uncover. Nidia and her team organized the most magical 4-day trip to the Colombian Coffee Region. I am Colombian but needed assistance as I wasn’t familiar with the area. We went to the Cocora Valley, Rafting down a river, had a fabulous coffee farm experience and even visited a cacao farm where we got to make artisan chocolate. We traveled with our school aged children...
– Daniela, July 2024
We feel very fortunate to have chosen Uncover Colombia. Your guides were passionate and professional and informative, the accomodation was exceptional at every stop and most impressively, we were aware of you constantly checking in our wellbeing. We return to Australia with an awareness of Colombia’s variety, vitality and positivity.
– Mal & Michelle, July 2024
My mother and I did a 5-day trip to San Agustin, Tierradentro and the Tatacoa dry forest/desert with Uncover Colombia. It was absolutely brilliant. The communication was great and Nidia helped us to ensure that the trip was tailored to our needs and wishes. Our driver, Jesus, and guide, Jorge, were very friendly and Jorge was very knowledgable...
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Uncover Columbia, specifically Helena (who handled all logistical questions pre-trip) Sergio (our amazing guide) helped make an unforgettable 4 day experience as part of our honeymoon.
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Why Travel with Uncover Colombia
Local Expertise
- As Colombians, we know the best local spots and the stories that bring them to life
- We understand the diversity, traditions, and subtle nuances of every region
- Our guidance is shaped by years of exploring our homeland with genuine passion
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- Private, tailor-made tours designed around your interests
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Positive Impact
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