From Villa de Leyva: La Periquera Hiking Tour

La Periquera Ecological Park gives you a quick change of scene from Villa de Leyva’s stone streets to a trail of waterfalls, river pools, and open Boyaca scenery. The hike is gentle rather than punishing, but it still feels like a proper outing, not a roadside photo stop. You will see three waterfalls, including the 15-meter La Periquera Falls, and may finish with a refreshing swim in the Cebada River.

I like the short drive from Villa de Leyva and the fact that pickup and return are handled in private transportation. I also like the mix of walking, nature lessons, waterfall views, and swimming, since you get more than one way to enjoy the park.

The main consideration is guide quality in your chosen language. The tour is offered in Spanish and English, but some visitors received a Spanish-speaking guide after requesting English. Confirm this before paying if clear English commentary matters to you.

Key points at a glance

• Three waterfalls on one easy trail: The route follows the Cebada River and reaches three falls, with La Periquera dropping about 15 meters.
• A real nature break from Villa de Leyva: You move from the historic town to open hills, riverbeds, creeks, and local plant life in a short outing.
• Swimming is part of the fun: Bring a swimsuit and dry clothes for a quick bath in the clear river water.
• Private pickup and a private group: You are collected anywhere within Villa de Leyva town, including hotels, hostels, vacation rentals, and points of interest.
• Five hours door to door: This fits neatly before or after time in the historic center, though much of the tour is spent walking.
• A $76 choice that depends on the guide: The price makes more sense if you value private transport, park entry, and interpretation rather than only reaching the waterfalls.

Leaving Villa de Leyva for La Periquera

Villa de Leyva is famous for its grand colonial square and preserved old-town streets, but the area around it changes quickly. Within a short drive, you can find dry, desert-like ground, green hills, and cooler forested areas. La Periquera is one of the easiest ways to add that natural side of Boyaca to your stay.

The tour lasts five hours, including pickup and return to your accommodation in Villa de Leyva. That makes it useful for a spare morning or afternoon, or for a day when you want to balance museums and architecture with fresh air.

Pickup is available at hotels, hostels, vacation rentals, and other points of interest inside town. Private transportation matters here because you do not have to work out your own route to the park or arrange a separate return after swimming.

The group is private, so the pace can feel more personal than a large scheduled outing. You can ask questions, stop for photographs, and spend a little more time at the river without being tied to a crowd. The quality of that experience depends in part on who guides you, so asking for an English-speaking guide by name or confirming the language in advance is sensible.

Walking the first trail through Boyaca

After entering La Periquera Ecological Park, you follow a trail through vegetation described as home to endemic plants. The tour includes a short lesson about local flora and fauna, which gives the walk a bit more purpose than simply following a path to a waterfall.

I would keep your expectations realistic. This is not presented as a long wilderness trek or a technical mountain route. It is a low-difficulty hike, but most of the five-hour outing involves walking, and the tour operates in all weather conditions.

That last point deserves attention. Rain can change the feel of the trail, the river, and the rocks. One outing continued in wet weather, with the guides keeping a good mood and taking time to explain the surroundings. Still, you should bring shoes and clothing that can handle mud or moisture, since this is not a polished town walk.

The route is a good fit if you enjoy nature but do not want a demanding climb. You will still want a reasonable level of mobility for walking the trail and reaching the riverbed. The supplied details do not give a precise distance, elevation gain, or trail surface, so ask the operator if those points matter for your plans.

Reaching the Cebada River and its waterfalls

The Cebada River crosses the park and forms several waterfalls. The tour takes you to three of them, giving the outing a clear rhythm: walk through the plants, reach the river, stop for views and photos, then continue toward the next falls.

La Periquera Falls is the headline stop. At about 15 meters high, it gives you the biggest visual moment on the route. The surrounding hills and rock formations create plenty of places for photographs, so bring a phone or camera that you can protect from spray and rain.

The other two waterfalls add variety, even though no separate height or name is provided for them. You will see the river changing as it moves through the park, rather than spending the entire visit at one single viewpoint.

This is where a guide can add real value. A good guide can point out plants you might walk past, explain how the river shapes the park, and help you understand the local setting. Miguel received especially strong praise for his explanations of the natural surroundings and for his friendly, professional manner. Other outings also benefited from guides who explained local nature and Colombian culture.

Still, the guiding is not guaranteed to feel equally useful for every person. One person found the guide’s answers limited, while several Spanish-speaking visitors found Miguel particularly helpful. If your main goal is simply to reach the waterfalls, you may feel the private tour costs more than going independently. If you want interpretation and do not want to manage transport, the calculation changes.

Taking a quick swim in the river

The tour includes time for a refreshing bath in the clear waters of the river and creeks. It sounds simple, and that is part of its appeal. After walking through the park, a short swim gives the experience a playful finish rather than making it only a sightseeing hike.

Bring a swimsuit and an extra set of clothes. The operator specifically recommends both, and you should take that advice seriously because the tour runs in all weather. A towel is also a sensible personal addition, although it is not listed among the inclusions.

The swimming time is described as quick, not as a long river session. You should think of it as a chance to cool off and enjoy the water, not a full afternoon at a swimming hole. The provided information does not state the depth, temperature, changing facilities, or water safety conditions, so ask before entering if any of those details affect you.

You will want a waterproof bag or another way to protect your phone and valuables. That is practical advice rather than a listed tour feature, but waterfall spray, rain, and river water are all part of the setting.

Why the photo stops matter

La Periquera works well for photographs because the route offers several types of scenery in a small area. You can frame the waterfalls, the riverbed, the surrounding Boyaca hills, and the plants along the path. The result is more varied than a single viewpoint beside a road.

The best images may not come only from the tallest waterfall. Water moving over rock, a trail disappearing into vegetation, and the hills around Villa de Leyva can all give you a stronger sense of place. A private group helps here because you have a better chance to pause without worrying about a large party moving on.

Weather will affect the pictures. Rain can soften the colors and add movement to the water, but it can also make the trail slippery and complicate camera use. Clear weather may offer sharper views, while cloudy conditions can give the waterfalls a more dramatic feel. The tour does not cancel simply because the weather turns wet, so pack for function first and photographs second.

Guide language and the value of interpretation

The activity is advertised with Spanish and English guide options. That is useful for international visitors, but you should confirm the actual guide language before the day of the tour. Some people who requested English ended up translating for companions because the guide spoke only Spanish.

This is more than a small inconvenience. The plant and animal explanations are one of the reasons to pay for a guided visit. If you cannot follow the commentary, you may still enjoy the trail and waterfalls, but part of the experience is lost.

For Spanish speakers, the guide may add a great deal. Miguel was singled out for his knowledge of local nature, respect for the environment, and ability to explain what the group saw. Another guide was praised for explaining both flora and fauna and aspects of Colombian culture.

I would send a short message before booking: request an English-speaking guide and ask for confirmation in writing. If you speak Spanish, or if someone in your group can translate comfortably, this concern is much smaller.

Is $76 a fair price?

The price is $76 per person. It includes a private guide, private hotel pickup and drop-off, entry to La Periquera, and all-risk insurance. Breakfast, lunch, and personal purchases are not included.

The value depends on how you would otherwise reach the park. You are not paying only for a waterfall walk. You are also paying for the vehicle, the driver’s time, park admission, a private group, and a guide who can explain the plants, animals, and setting.

For a solo visitor, $76 can feel steep for a five-hour low-difficulty hike, especially if you are comfortable arranging transport and do not care much about interpretation. One person felt the outing was overpriced for the length and level of the walk.

For a couple or small group, the private format may look better. You get direct pickup, no need to coordinate local transport, and more control over stops. The tour also removes the uncertainty of finding the park and arranging a ride back after swimming.

I would book it for convenience and context, not because it is a bargain. If your ideal day is an independent walk with a few waterfall photos, compare the cost of going alone. If you want a simple private escape from town, with entry and transport sorted out, the price can be reasonable.

What to bring and how to prepare

You should pack lightly, but prepare for wet conditions. The essentials are:

• Swimsuit
• Extra clothes
• Walking shoes with a secure sole
• Water
• Sun protection
• A small waterproof bag for electronics
• A towel, if available

Breakfast and lunch are not included, so plan around those meals. The supplied information does not state whether food is available inside the park or along the route, so do not assume you can buy a full meal there.

Because the outing operates in all weather, check the forecast but do not treat a cloud as an automatic cancellation. Wet conditions may make the trail feel harder than its low difficulty rating suggests. If you have concerns about rain, ask the provider how conditions are handled before departure.

You should also allow enough time to change after swimming before returning to town. The exact schedule is not given, so keep your most important Villa de Leyva plans outside the five-hour window rather than booking them tightly against pickup or drop-off.

Who will enjoy this five-hour outing?

I would recommend La Periquera to you if you want to see more than Villa de Leyva’s historic center but do not want a full-day expedition. It suits couples, families with active older children, and small private groups looking for a manageable nature break.

It is also a good choice if you like several small experiences in one outing: a drive through Boyaca, a gentle hike, plant and animal explanations, waterfall views, and a short swim. That variety keeps the day from feeling repetitive.

Independent hikers may prefer to visit on their own. The route is described as easy, and one person felt a guide was unnecessary. The tour’s stronger selling points for you would then be transport, park entry, and the private format rather than the walking itself.

It may be less suitable if you dislike wet weather, cannot spend much of the outing on foot, or need a fully reliable English-language experience without confirming the guide in advance. The tour does not offer a dry, indoor backup plan.

Booking and cancellation details

Pickup is included from locations within Villa de Leyva town. The tour is private, lasts five hours, and offers reserve-now, pay-later booking, so you can hold a place without paying at the time of reservation.

Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund. That gives you some flexibility, especially when your wider Colombia plans are still moving around.

Before booking, confirm three practical points: the starting time, the guide language, and the likely weather conditions. Starting times vary, and availability needs to be checked for your date.

Should you book La Periquera?

Book this tour if you want an easy, well-organized break from Villa de Leyva, value private transport, and enjoy learning about plants and animals along the way. The three waterfalls, the 15-meter La Periquera Falls, and the chance to swim in the river give the five hours plenty of variety.

Think twice if you are mainly looking for the cheapest way to reach the park. At $76 per person, this is a convenience and guide package, not a bare-bones hike. Confirm the English guide in advance, bring dry clothes, and leave room for wet weather.

For the right person, La Periquera is a refreshing counterpoint to Villa de Leyva’s architecture: close enough for an easy outing, active enough to feel memorable, and packed with good photo stops.

FAQ

How long does the La Periquera Hiking Tour last?

The tour lasts five hours, including pickup and drop-off in Villa de Leyva.

What language is the tour offered in?

The tour is offered in Spanish and English. Confirm the guide language before booking, since some English requests were assigned a Spanish-speaking guide.

Is hotel pickup included?

Yes. Pickup and return are included in private transportation from hotels, hostels, vacation rentals, and points of interest within Villa de Leyva town.

Is the tour private?

Yes. The activity is arranged for a private group rather than a shared group.

How difficult is the hike?

The hike is described as low difficulty, but most of the activity involves walking and it operates in all weather conditions.

How many waterfalls will I see?

You will visit three waterfalls in La Periquera Ecological Park. One of them, La Periquera Falls, is about 15 meters high.

Can I swim during the tour?

Yes. You will have a quick chance to swim or bathe in the river and creeks. Bring a swimsuit and extra clothes.

Are meals included?

No. Breakfast and lunch are not included, and extra purchases are also your responsibility.

What is included in the $76 price?

The price includes a Gran Colombia Tours private guide, private transportation with pickup and drop-off, entry to La Periquera, and all-risk insurance.