How to get from Bogota to Villa de Leyva (and back)

Why visit Villa de Leyva?

Villa de Leyva is a beautiful heritage village northeast of Bogota. Popular for its well-preserved colonial architecture and cobblestone streets, this laidback village is a goldmine for history and culture buffs.

Its vast main square, Plaza Mayor, is one of the largest in Latin America. Nearby is the magnificent Church of Our Lady of the Rosary, built in 1604. Walking around town makes you feel like you have travelled back in time.

Beyond its whitewashed building, mountains surround Villa de Leyva. There are plenty of hiking routes that you can do. Our favourite is the Las Carcavas Trail — it leads you to a desert landscape that looks just like Mars!

There are 3 ways to travel the 165 kilometre (103 miles) distance from Bogota to Villa de Leyva. You can choose between the bus, private transport and bus (the way back). The journey takes 2 hours 30 minutes to 4 hours 30 minutes and the quickest way is by bus. If you're on a budget, the cheapest option is by bus with tickets starting at 31,000 COP ($8.60).

The bus is an affordable way to get from Bogota to Villa de Leyva.

There are four bus companies operating on this route: Omega, Flota Valle de Tenza, Expreso Gaviota and Coflonorte. You can buy tickets directly at the bus station or book in advance for 31,000 COP ($8.60).

Buses depart from Terminal Salitre or Terminal del Norte in Bogota.

Buses from Terminal del Norte are great for getting to Villa de Leyva. They’re already on the way out of the city, so you avoid cross-city traffic. Still, it’s usually best to leave from the terminal closest to your hotel. That way, you skip long taxi rides and unnecessary detours just to reach the station.

Departure stations

If you’re carrying luggage or want a comfortable ride to the bus station, Uber is the best choice. Expect to pay about 30,000 COP ($8.20) for the 40-minute trip to Terminal Salitre or 52,000 COP ($14.20) for the 50-minute journey to Terminal del Norte.

Taxis are usually cheaper than Uber, with fares starting at 15,000 COP ($4.10) to Terminal Salitre or 23,000 COP ($6.30) to Terminal del Norte. But prepare to haggle. Many drivers try to overcharge, especially tourists who don’t speak Spanish.

On a strict budget? You can also reach the bus stations using Bogotá’s TransMilenio bus system. When heading to Terminal del Norte from the city centre, start at Universidades Station. Take Line 6 until Calle 45-American School, then transfer to Line 8 or B18 and get off at the last stop Terminal. The fare costs 3,000 COP ($0.90).

If you decide to go from Terminal Salitre, you can also use TransMilenio. At the station Universidades take Line 1 towards Portal El Dorado and get off at the station El Tiempo – Cámara de Comercio.

When travelling back from Villa de Leyva to Bogota, you’ll need to go to Villa de Leyva Bus Terminal, which is within walking distance of most parts of town.

You can buy tickets at the bus station or pre-book via BookAway for 31,000 COP ($8.60).

Terminal de Villa De Leyva

Buseta Deluxe

Terminal de Salitre

06:30

3h 55m

10:25

13:30

4h

17:30

Omega

From 37,000 COP ($10.20)

Compare prices

Redbus

37,000 COP ($10.20)

06:30

3h 55m

10:25

13:30

4h

17:30

Check on Redbus

• 24/7 customer support

41,000 COP ($11.10)

06:30

3h 55m

10:25

13:30

4h

17:30

Check on BookAway

A private transfer from Bogota to Villa de Leyva is the easiest and most convenient option when travelling in a group from Bogota to Villa de Leyva. The journey takes 2 hours 55 minutes to 4 hours, and you’ll be dropped off right at your accommodation — no need to worry about extra transfers.

Prices for private transfer start at 593,000 COP ($160) for a 4-seater. Split it with your group, and it’s about 148,000 COP ($40.50) each. Travel time is 2 hours 55 minutes to 4 hours.