The longest, busiest stretch of the year
December in Villa de Leyva is not a single festive weekend — it is nearly a full month of high season. From the start of the novenas on December 16 to the end of Colombia's school holidays on January 11, the town runs through its longest block of sustained demand all year, roughly four straight weeks. The local Alcaldía (town hall) has projected hotel occupancy of up to 95% across the season, which makes rule number one of this guide very simple: book weeks — ideally months — ahead, especially for the nights of December 24 and 31.
The 2026 calendar adds an extra twist. In Colombia, many public holidays are moved to Mondays to create three-day weekends known as puentes; in 2026, Christmas Day itself falls on a Friday, turning December 25–27 into a natural three-day weekend — concentrating even more travelers from Bogotá and the region on those dates. If you want to understand how these long weekends shape travel here, see our guide to Colombia's long weekends.
The season at a glance
- From November 30, 2026: Colombian school vacations begin, and with them a steady flow of traveling families.
- December 16–24: the novenas de aguinaldo — nine nights of carols, prayers and traditional treats like natilla (a set custard) and buñuelos (fried cheese fritters), celebrated in homes, hotels and churches.
- December 25–27: the Christmas puente, one of the occupancy peaks of the season.
- December 31: the New Year's Eve celebration on the Plaza Mayor, with live music and fireworks.
- Through January 11, 2027: the last week of vacations — still lively, but noticeably calmer.
The exact cultural program (concerts, light displays, plaza activities) is usually confirmed close to the dates, so check the official channels of the Alcaldía de Villa de Leyva before locking in an itinerary.
What the season feels like in town
The magic of December here is the setting: a colonial town of cobblestone streets — with one of Latin America's largest plazas — dressed in Christmas lights and filled with families every evening. On December 31, the Plaza Mayor becomes the epicenter of the celebration, with music and fireworks to ring in the new year.
If your trip falls at the start of the season, the Festival of Lights traditionally opens the town's holiday atmosphere — worth reading up on separately.
One regional factor to keep in mind: Tunja, about 40 kilometers away, hosts the Aguinaldo Boyacense in mid-to-late December, one of the biggest festivals in the department. It pushes overflow lodging demand toward Villa de Leyva and neighboring towns, so rooms disappear even faster than you would expect.
Day trips to fill the season
With almost a month of season, there is plenty of time to explore the surroundings at an easy pace:
- Ráquira: Colombia's pottery capital, at its best in December for handmade crafts and nativity scenes. A perfect half-day outing.
- Pozos Azules and Casa Terracota: classic sights minutes from the center, great for family mornings.
- Fossils and dinosaurs: the region's paleontology centers and the Gondava dinosaur park are a safe bet with kids.
- Iguaque National Park and La Periquera waterfalls: to burn off all that natilla.
- Clear nights: December skies are often superb — our stargazing guide covers where and how to make the most of them.
Practical tips
- Book now: the nights of December 24 and 31 sell out first across the whole town. Weeks of anticipation is the minimum; months is the wise move.
- Travel early on arrival day: the road from Bogotá (about 3 hours by car, 165 km) gets congested on peak days. Our getting here page covers driving routes and bus options.
- Pack for two climates: mild days, genuinely cold nights. New Year's Eve on the plaza calls for a proper jacket.
- Shop early if you are cooking: if you are staying somewhere with a kitchen, do your grocery run before the peak dates — the town's shops get crowded too.
- Fireworks and pets: December 31 means fireworks in town. If you travel with a dog, staying in the countryside, away from the noise, makes an enormous difference.
Where to stay for Christmas and New Year
For a season this long and this full, where you sleep defines the trip. Staying right in the center puts you steps from the celebration — and from the noise and fireworks until the early hours. What families tend to appreciate most is the countryside option minutes from town: festivity when you want it, silence when you need it.
That is exactly the case for El Limonar: a private two-bedroom countryside cottage with a full kitchen for Christmas dinner and novena baking, free parking so you never fight for a space in the center, and a pet-friendly policy — a real asset during fireworks season. At 5–10 minutes from the Plaza Mayor, it is close to everything and far from the crowds. For December dates, we will say it once more: book as early as you possibly can.