Historic towns

A visit to Villa de Leyva is like a romantic journey back in time. Especially the enormous central square of 14.000m² and the church dating back to the 17^th century are highly recommended.

In the town of Zipaquirá, about 50 kilometres north of Bogotá, is a salt mine which has been converted into a church. The salt cathedral does not have a bishop, meaning it technically cannot be called a cathedral.

Barichara and its impressive surroundings are hardly visited these days. This is remarkable, because the town is often mentioned as one of the most beautiful historic cities in Colombia. City is a big word, though, because it is a lot more like a village situated in a fertile valley.

Not far from Barichara is the Chicamocha Canyon. This canyon is over 220 kilometres long and 2 kilometres deep, making it bigger than the Grand Canyon. It is a must to make a trip by cable lift. This cable lift has a length of more than 6 kilometres and it transports you at an altitude that varies between 500 and 1,600 metres above sea level. You will be rewarded with the most spectacular views.

Mompox is also a place where time seems to have stood still. The village is known for its craftsmanship of filigree technique, in which craftsmen make very complicated and delicate jewellery out of threads of silver and gold. The craft has passed from generation to generation in this town.