Central Andes

The central Andes revolve around Bogotá, the capital, built on a high plateau at about 2,600 metres (8,500 ft): two or three days for the city, then the trips that make the journey worthwhile, Zipaquirá’s Salt Cathedral an hour away and the colonial town of Villa de Leyva, 3-4 hours away. With a week or more you can head up to Barichara and San Gil in Santander department, with stone villages, canyons and adventure sports. Here you’ll find the highlights, an itinerary, travel times and what to pack for the high-altitude chill.

What to see in the central Andes: the highlights

Stop	Why go	How long
Bogotá	the Gold Museum, La Candelaria, Monserrate, the food scene	2-3 days
Zipaquirá	the Salt Cathedral carved inside a mine	half a day or 1 day
Guatavita Lagoon	the sacred Muisca lake behind the El Dorado legend	1 day
Villa de Leyva	one of the largest colonial squares in the Americas, fossils and semi-desert scenery	2 days
Ráquira	the pottery town, 30-45 minutes from Villa de Leyva	half a day
Barichara	Colombia’s best-kept stone village, with the Camino Real trail to Guane	1-2 days
San Gil	rafting, paragliding and the Chicamocha Canyon	1-2 days

A 7-day itinerary from Bogotá

1. Day 1 – Bogotá. La Candelaria, Plaza de Bolívar and the Gold Museum.
2. Day 2 – Bogotá. Monserrate early in the morning, then the northern neighbourhoods, Usaquén and Zona G.
3. Day 3 – Zipaquirá. The Salt Cathedral and the town centre, back to Bogotá in the evening.
4. Day 4 – Villa de Leyva. Morning bus (3-4 hours), afternoon on the main square and the cobbled streets.
5. Day 5 – Around Villa de Leyva. By bike or taxi: El Fósil, the Pozos Azules, the Ecce Homo convent and Ráquira.
6. Day 6 – On to Santander. Transfer to San Gil or Barichara, with one or two bus changes.
7. Day 7 – Barichara. The Camino Real down to Guane (2-3 hours’ walk, mostly downhill), then a bus back or a flight from Bucaramanga.

With only 3-4 days, stick to Bogotá, Zipaquirá and Villa de Leyva.

Getting around the central Andes

Route	Time	How
Bogotá – Zipaquirá	about 1 hour	bus from TransMilenio’s Portal Norte, taxi or tour
Bogotá – Villa de Leyva	3-4 hours	bus from Terminal Salitre or Terminal del Norte, often changing in Tunja
Villa de Leyva – Ráquira	30-45 minutes	local minibus or taxi
Bogotá – San Gil	6-7 hours	bus
San Gil – Barichara	30-45 minutes	local bus

For longer hops such as Bogotá-Bucaramanga, flying makes sense. All the tips on buses and flights are in our guide to getting around Colombia.

Weather and when to go

Altitude is what counts here: Bogotá has highs of 19-20 °C (66-68 °F) and nights below 10 °C (50 °F) all year, Villa de Leyva is drier and sunnier, while San Gil, lower down, is hot. The driest months are December to February and July to August; in April-May and October-November it rains more often, usually in the afternoon. Bring a jacket, a fleece and a rain jacket even if the rest of your trip is at the beach. Every season is covered in our guide on when to visit Colombia.

On long weekends (puentes festivos) Villa de Leyva and Zipaquirá fill up with visitors from Bogotá: go midweek if you can.

Frequently asked questions

How many days do you need for Bogotá and around?

Two or three days for Bogotá and one for Zipaquirá. With 5-7 days add Villa de Leyva and, if you have time, Barichara and San Gil.

How do you get from Bogotá to Villa de Leyva?

By bus from Terminal Salitre or Terminal del Norte, in 3-4 hours, sometimes with a change in Tunja. By car it takes about 3 hours, traffic permitting.

Is Zipaquirá’s Salt Cathedral worth visiting?

Yes, if you’re curious about a church carved into salt 180 metres underground: it’s an easy half-day trip from Bogotá. Entry for foreigners costs 125,000-130,000 pesos.