Villa de Leyva

Colombia Colombia’s heartland

Fact file

Tailor-made holidays

Flexible, custom-made holidays to Latin America created to match your exact requirements: our tailor-made itineraries are as unique as the clients for whom they are designed.

Design my trip
Villa de Leyva

When is the best time to visit Colombia's heartland?

The sleepy colonial towns are less sleepy at weekends, when citizens of Colombia’s major traffic-choked cities descend on them for a rural weekend. Villa de Leiva and Barichara have a uniform temperature in the 20s°C all year with most rain falling in Apr-May and Oct-Nov. The best time to visit Mompós is Apr-Jun. Floods are common Oct-Nov and it can feel hot and humid all year round. Medellín’s temperature is also stable in the high 20s°C, and most rain here falls Apr-Nov.

For more detailed information visit our When To Go section.

What language is spoken in Colombia's heartland?

The main language spoken in Colombia's heartland is Spanish.

What currency do I need in Colombia's heartland?

The Peso is the main currency used in Colombia's heartland. Notes can be withdrawn from the many ATMs in major cities using a UK credit or debit card, though you may have to advise your bank first and amounts that can be withdrawn may be lower than in the UK. Be aware that some ATMs are often out of service but there should be a working one nearby.  Banks will offer advances on a credit card, but with a lot of paperwork.  Money exchanges (casas de cambio) change US dollars cash (very few accept euros or sterling and the rate will be poor). There’s an ATM in the plaza in Villa de Leiva but you are advised to acquire pesos in larger towns before heading into the heartland.

What is the time difference between Colombia's heartland and the UK?

The time difference between Colombia's heartland and the UK is GMT -5 hrs

How do I get to Colombia's heartland?

To Villa de Leiva it’s a 4 hour scenic road journey from Bogotá (127km); to Barichara is a 2hr 40min drive from Bucaramanga; Mompós is a 6-7hr journey from Cartagena by road and launch/ferry.

What are the festivals and cultural events in Colombia's heartland?

Desfile de Silliteros, Flower Festival; Medellín, 10 days in August. Flowers of all shapes and colours flood over the city, with 140 cultural events, parades, music and competitions. 
Virgen de Carmen, Villa de Leiva, 13-17 Jul.
Semana Santa, Holy Week, Mompós. A serious religious festival where images of saints and the Holy Family are taken from the churches and paraded through the streets.

If you still have questions, please contact us and one of our Travel Experts will be happy to help.

Papagaio

Your edit for Latin American inspiration

Our exciting range of articles on Latin America explore everything from iconic destinations and lesser-known cultural gems to delicious traditional recipes. You’ll also find exclusive travel tips, first-hand client reviews and the chance to get your personal questions answered by our travel experts.

View Extraordinary Inspiration
Bartolome, Galápagos

Meet our team

Real Latin american experts

  • Rosie profile
    Rosie Kay - Travel Expert

  • Paul Winrow Giffin
    Paul Winrow-Giffin - Travel Expert

    After graduating in Computer Science, Paul spent seven months travelling from Colombia to Argentina and came home hooked on Latin America.

  • Sallly
    Sally Dodge - Travel Expert

    A former Journey Latin America tour leader, Sally spent 7 years working, travelling and living throughout Latin America before returning to the UK to help people arrange their own adventures to this wonderful destination.

  • Maggie
    Maggie Wilson - Travel Expert

    Maggie visited Latin America on her first backpacking trip when she was 19. Since then, she has taken every opportunity to travel, and has managed to explore a lot of the region in subsequent trips.

  • Hannah
    Hannah Donaldson - Travel Expert

    Having spent part of her childhood in Colombia and worked in Brazil and Costa Rica, Hannah's ties to Latin America run deep. Hannah is a much valued Travel Expert in our Tailor-made Holidays and Group Tours sales team.

  • Kathryn
    Kathryn Rhodes - Travel Expert

    Kathryn backpacked across Argentina, Chile, Bolivia and Peru before joining us. She has a degree in Philosophy and French and is a keen netball player.

0 1 2 3 4 5