SAL CATHEDRAL, VILLA DE LEYVA AND RÁQUIRA, PRIVATE 2 DAYS, HOTEL, ALL INCLUDED

Itinerary

Day 1: Salt Cathedral - Zipaquirá Town - Boyacá Bridge - Villa de Leyva

Stop At: Catedral de Sal de Zipaquira, Carrera 6 Calle 1 Parque De La Sal, Zipaquira Colombia
THE JOURNEY begins on the northern highway, crossing the picturesque landscapes of the Sabana de Bogotá, a very fertile Inter Andean Valley at 2,600 meters above sea level. Near the railway station of La Caro is the Marroquin Castle, construction of the S XIX that keeps inside stories of horror and inexplicable events.

SALT CATHEDRAL. In Zipaquirá, 50 kilometers north of Bogotá, the largest salt mine in Colombia is located.

The exploitation of salt dates back to the Muisca period, primitive inhabitants of the region, who began production in the 6th century BC with open-pit production.

Many things have happened as a result of the Spanish conquest and colonization: social, political, religious and economic changes that, together with the technology that was incorporated over the years, ended up creating a huge saline rock cathedral excavated in the heart of the mountain.

This monumental work of engineering, mining, art, design, and religion can hold 10,000 people.

The history of this impressive work shows the history of Colombia from an unknown angle!

The Salt Cathedral is unique in the world and is the most visited religious and tourist destination in Colombia!

In our explanation:

More history and fewer numbers.

Face-to-face guide
Duration: 3 hours

Stop At: Estacion de Zipaquira, Km 53, Zipaquira Colombia
THE TOWN OF ZIPAQUIRÁ was founded in 1606 and continues to have a colonial aspect, especially in the main square, where the town's church and some old buildings with wooden balconies, which contrast with the French style of the City Hall

LUNCH INCLUDED in a typical restaurant. Specializing in grilled meats.
Duration: 2 hours

Stop At: Puente de Boyaca Puente De Boyaca, Km 110 Bogota - Tunja, Ventaquemada, Boyaca Colombia
PUENTE DE BOYACÁ, place where the Battle of Boyacá happened, which determined the independence of Colombia on August 7, 1819. Visit the memorial and historical explanation.

Departure to Villa de Leyva via Samacá.
Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes

Stop At: Villa de Leyva, Boyaca, Colombia
VILLA DE LEYVA BY NIGHT, HOTEL CHECK-IN.

From this moment you are free but you are not alone. In all cases, Bogotá Henry Tours provides you with an active cell phone in Colombia, so that you have communication with your guide at all the time.

Villa de Leyva is a friendly and safe town even at night. Dare to go out and discover the town for yourself. Do not worry about anything. If you are a photographer, do not miss the opportunity to explore its streets and discover for yourself a place that offers a splendid view in every corner. Charming shops offer beautiful handicrafts, woolen fabrics, blouses, decorative items, leather goods, antiques and a thousand other things of exquisite taste. You will find excellent restaurants, some with live music, to relax and enjoy. Experience tells us that our visitors prefer to do this part on their own, in private.
Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
Accommodation included: The Hotel Posada de San Antonio, 4th by TripAdvisor. Boutique hotel, excellent location, wifi, breakfast included.

Day 2: Villa de Leyva - The Fossil - Wine Tour - Ráquira - Chiquinquirá - Bogotá

Stop At: Villa de Leyva, Boyaca, Colombia
VILLA DE LEYVA BY DAY.

VILLA DE LEYVA is a white village founded by the Spaniard Andrés Díaz Venero de Leyva in 1572, declared a national monument in 1954, and a Universal Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO. The church of Our Lady of the Rosary dominates the Main Plaza of the Villa, the largest in Colombia, is framed by the breath-taking mountains in the background.

We start with a walking tour of the Villa, to places that were not visited during the previous night. If it's Saturday, you have to go to the market in the first hour! You will love its color and the abundance of fruits and products from the countryside.

Duration: 2 hours

Stop At: Museo Paleontologico de Villa de Leyva, Km 1.5 Via Arcabuco, Villa de Leyva Colombia
THE FOSSIL. Six kilometers after Villa de Leyva there is an almost complete fossil of a Kronosaurus, an extinct marine reptile about 100 to 150 million years old and seven meters long. The fossil is where it was found and a museum was built to cover it. The museum also houses many other paleontological pieces of the region. Visit and explanation.
Duration: 1 hour

Stop At: Villa de Leyva, Boyaca, Colombia
Wine Tour. Visit a vineyard in the region, explanation of the process of cultivation, production and wine tasting.
Duration: 1 hour

Stop At: Plaza de Raquira, Raquira Colombia
Ráquira Artesanal Capital of Colombia. Colorful town, known throughout Colombia for its ceramic crafts, which preserve the primitive techniques and design since pre-Columbian times. On Sunday the traditional local market is celebrated, one of the most authentic events in Colombia, where you can feel the real atmosphere of the South American Andes. Ráquira has been awarded as "The Most Beautiful Village of Boyacá", due to the original color of its houses and the decoration of its main park with handcrafted ceramics. DO NOT MISS THE TRADITIONAL MARKET THAT IS CELEBRATED ON SUNDAYS, and that the peasants of the region attend to offer their products.
Duration: 2 hours

Stop At: Plaza de Raquira, Raquira Colombia
LUNCH INCLUDED in a typical restaurant
Duration: 1 hour

Stop At: Basilica de Nuestra Senora Del Rosario de Chiquinquira, Carrera 13 No. 17-48, Chiquinquira 154640 Colombia
CHIQUINQUIRÁ is the most important religious center in Colombia. The story is linked to the painting of the Virgin, the Virgin of Chiquinquirá by Alonso de Narváez, around 1555. After 30 years, the image had lost its brightness and color. There is a legend about the recovery of the original splendor of the image due to the prayers of María Ramos, a peasant girl, on December 26. 1585. In 1919, the Virgin of Chiquinquirá has been proclaimed to the patron saint of Colombia. Visit the Basilica of the Virgin of Chiquinquirá.
Duration: 30 minutes

Stop At: Bogota, Colombia
Return to Bogotá
Duration: 2 hours

No meals included on this day.
No accommodation included on this day.