La Periquera Waterfall Hike from Villa de Leyva (Private)

From $87 USD per person

Most people who come to Villa de Leyva spend their time inside the historic centre and leave without seeing what the landscape does a few kilometres out. It changes fast. The arid high plateau the colonial town sits on gives way to the damp edge of fog forest within a short drive, and the whole transition is walkable in an afternoon if somebody drives you to the right trailhead.

That trailhead is La Periquera Ecological Park, forty-five minutes from town. The park is built around the Cebada River, which starts in the páramo watershed above and drops through three separate waterfalls on its way into the valley. The trail follows it the whole way, and at the end of the walking there is river to swim in. Five hours door to door, three of them on foot.

Check live availability and prices — or read on for how the day unfolds.

How the day works

• Pickup at your hotel in Villa de Leyva, then the drive out (about 45 minutes). Your guide and driver collect you in town. The road out is the landscape transition in compressed form, from dry open country into the greener hills around the park.
• The trail (about 3 hours). You enter on a path lined with endemic plants your guide names as you go, and pick up the Cebada River. The route passes all three waterfalls, and there is time in the river at the natural pools.
• Back to your hotel (about 45 minutes). Same vehicle, same driver, door to door in five hours.

What’s included

• Private English-speaking guide
• Hotel pickup and drop-off in Villa de Leyva, in private transport
• Entry to La Periquera Ecological Park
• All-risk insurance

Not included

• Breakfast and lunch
• Extra purchases

Good to know

• This tour picks up in Villa de Leyva, not in Bogotá. It assumes you are already staying in town.
• Three hours of walking. Not technical, but it is a trail with river crossings and uneven ground, not a promenade. Proper walking shoes, not sandals.
• Bring swimwear and a towel if you intend to get in the river. The water comes off the páramo and it is cold.
• Altitude and sun: Villa de Leyva sits at about 2,100 metres and the park is higher. The UV is strong even under cloud. Sunscreen, a hat, and more water than you think.
• Weather: the hills hold cloud that the town does not. A light waterproof is worth the space in the bag.
• Lunch is not included, so eat before pickup or carry something for the trail.

Frequently asked questions

How hard is the hike?

Three hours at a walking pace on a marked trail, following a river through changing terrain. It suits anyone who walks comfortably for a few hours and does not mind uneven footing. It is not a climb, and it is not a stroll either.

Can you actually swim?

Yes, in the natural pools on the Cebada River. The water is páramo runoff, so it is properly cold. Bring swimwear and a towel, and decide when you see it.

How many waterfalls are there?

Three, formed where the Cebada River drops through the park. The trail passes all of them.

Why do I need a driver for this?

The park entrance is forty-five minutes out of town on country roads, and the tour runs to a five-hour window. Having the same vehicle waiting at the end of the trail is what makes that window hold.

What will I see on the way?

The shift from the dry plateau around Villa de Leyva into the wetter hills, which happens across a few kilometres. On the trail your guide identifies the endemic plants, including the frailejón páramo the river comes from.

Just need the ride, not the tour?

If you would rather organise your own day, our private transfer to Villa de Leyva gives you the same professional driver with no itinerary attached.

Ready? Check your date and lock it in