Villa de Leyva Getaway

Introduction
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.

Accomodation

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.

Riding

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.

Itinerary


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

Rates and Dates for Villa de Leyva Getaway

Dates Note: Custom dates & private trips are possible - please inquire for more info

Other Info
Meeting: Bogotá
Airport: Bogotá
Transfer: Bogotá

Climate:
                                                Bogotá area