Villa de Leyva

Where to stay

Most budget travelers base themselves within a block or two of the Plaza Mayor, particularly along Carrera 9 and the surrounding streets. The town is small enough that this puts you walking distance from the weekend market, restaurants, and the bus drop-off point, so location differences between hostels matter less than price.

Getting around

• Arrive midweek if your schedule allows. Villa de Leyva is the go-to weekend escape from Bogotá, and hostel rates rise noticeably from Friday through Sunday while the plaza fills up with day-trippers.
• Bring more cash than you think you need. The ATMs in town run dry during holiday weekends and puentes. Stock up in Tunja before making the 40-minute bus connection.
• The open-air market at the Plaza Mayor runs on Saturdays and Sundays and is one of the cheapest places to eat. Grab arepas and fresh fruit there rather than at the sit-down restaurants ringing the square, which charge significantly more.

When to go

April through May and again in October tend to have the lowest hostel rates due to rainy weather keeping Bogotá weekenders away. Hostels fill up weeks in advance during Semana Santa, Colombian public holidays, and the December-January holiday stretch, when prices can roughly double.