Boyacá, Without a doubt, it is one of the most desired places by Colombians, as it manages to enchant with its cobbled streets, colorful landscapes, unique gastronomy, endless crafts and welcoming residents, who are responsible for exalting and continuing the legacy of their families, demonstrating the pride behind each of their activities carried out in this territory of the country.
According to the most recent version of the Traveler Review Awards, with which Booking seeks to recognize the continuous work and hospitality that partners provide to travelers in order to make an unforgettable experience, Boyacá became the third most welcoming region globally, compared to other places in the world such as Pethshire, United Kingdom, Penghu Taiwan and Trentino Tyrol, Italy.
For this reason, under the invitation of Booking, Publimetro was able to enjoy first-hand some of the most representative spaces in Boyacá that demonstrate its culture, and, therefore, the reason behind the award received from the booking platform.
How to get to Boyacá from Bogotá?
For those who want to get out of the routine and live new experiences in Boyacá, one of the best ways to get there is by bus with an approximate time of three hours, where the prices for the trips would be between 25,000 and 30,000 pesos.
Another option for transportation is in your own vehicle and the distance would be about 182 km, where you would have to take into account the cost of gasoline and the tolls that, depending on the route chosen, leaving from the North Highway to later take the Bogotá-Tunja road.
What activities can you do in Boyacá?
- Visit clay workshops in Ráquira:
Our first stop was in one of the most traditional municipalities of this territory of the country, such as Ráquira, because on every corner visitors will be able to find crafts of all kinds and with prices that adapt to all budgets. But, beyond the pieces of art, there is a whole story behind it, as we entered one of the many creation workshops with Don Carlos, who taught us the design of different figures with clay and the love he puts into each one. one of them highlighting that This is the inheritance that his family has left him and that to date his brothers, nephews and other loved ones also carry out.
In the Taquira craft workshop, visitors will also be able to create some pieces in clay to interact with this element and exploit their creativity from start to finish. Furthermore, it ends up being a clear example of the effort that exists behind various crafts, since a large part of the families that reside there are dedicated to their design.
- Weaving as artisanal heritage of Boyacá:
Regardless of the knowledge or skills you have in knitting, this is one of the unmissable activities. On this occasion it was from crochet, a technique that is done with a hook needle and under the direction of ‘Uttu fabrics’, with products 100% woven by women from Boyacá who explore different techniques such as beading, macramé, embroidery, among others. It should be noted that during the workshop, a crocheted organizer was achieved.
- Walks through Villa de Leyva and its surroundings:
Being outdoors has become one of the activities that most of the population enjoys and what better place than Villa de Leyva due to the tradition with the account that is reflected in each of its streets and the colonial design of the homes, as well as the Plaza Mayor and the fountain it has. In addition, near the town you can take ecological walks to appreciate the flora and fauna that this territory has.
Where can you enjoy gastronomy in Boyacá?
Upon arriving in Boyacá, one of the most predominant foods is, of course, the boyacense arepa, since in each of the food businesses it turns out to be the must-have food. But this territory also It has a wide gastronomic variety for those palates that define themselves between sweet and salty.
For those who like to taste food brought from the countryside in every bite:
- ‘Municipal market’, As its name indicates, it began as a market where the residents of Villa de Leyva purchased their products, and later became a restaurant that offers not only an outdoor environment surrounded by colonial houses and with wide variety of dishes that seek to fuse international ideas to turn them into local ones, since they also have their own garden.
- ‘Paipa Cheese Experience’, an emblematic place in Paipa, where paipa cheese is the main protagonist and is the only one with a designation of origin in Boyacá, with more than a century of tradition. This restaurant seeks to provide its customers with a first-hand experience with a gastronomic experience, since it is prepared by peasant hands from Sotaquirá and Paipa, which is usually integrated into different preparations such as hamburgers, toasts and other recipes.
Sweets as a point of joy and connection:
- ‘Bom bon Divina Cocina’ located in Villa de Leyva, although it has a menu for all tastes, the favorite ends up being the millefeuille, as it is considered by many to be the best in Colombia, with the recipe that has been around for more than 25 years, being a balance between freshness, sweetness and texture.
- Chocolate Museum in Villa de Leyva: For chocolate lovers this ends up being a perfect adventure, because beyond the versatility of its desserts and drinks, it also has a tour where you can see the cocoa garden, the fountain of wishes and other exhibits. In addition, it offers chocolate workshops.
