Sustainability at El Limonar: Solar Power, Rainwater and Responsible Tourism
A sustainable stay in Villa de Leyva where comfort and care for the landscape go hand in hand
Why sustainability matters in Villa de Leyva
Villa de Leyva sits in a fragile semi-desert ecosystem: arid soils, scarce rainfall and vegetation that takes years to recover. At the same time, tourism in Boyacá keeps growing, and with it the demand for water and energy in a region where both are limited. We believe that those of us who live here and welcome visitors share a responsibility to protect this unique landscape.
That is why El Limonar Guest House was designed from the start as an eco-friendly guest house: a family-run country home that generates most of its own energy, harvests rainwater and trims its consumption in every detail — an off-grid-style stay without giving up any of the comfort of solar powered accommodation in Colombia.
A house powered by the sun
The heart of our project is the solar system: 70–80% of the house's electricity and hot water come from the Boyacá sun. Your hot showers, the lighting, the fiber-optic WiFi and the Smart TV run mostly on clean energy generated on the very roof you sleep under.
The Villa de Leyva highlands, with clear skies most of the year, are an ideal place for solar power — and we love showing guests that a solar-powered home can be every bit as comfortable as conventional accommodation.
Rainwater collection
In a semi-desert region, every drop counts. Our rainwater collection system captures and stores water during the rainy seasons for use around the property, easing the pressure on the local water sources shared by the surrounding countryside and the town.
It is a simple, traditional practice of the Colombian countryside that, combined with mindful water use inside the house, makes a real difference in an ecosystem where rain is a scarce resource.
LED lighting, recycling and water efficiency
Sustainability also lives in the small details. The whole house runs on energy-efficient LED lighting, we separate and recycle waste, and we prioritize efficient water use in the bathrooms and kitchen — so the energy our panels produce goes further and every stay leaves a lighter footprint.
El Limonar is also an allergy- and smoke-free environment: smoking is not allowed inside, and we keep the house with allergy-sensitive guests in mind, so everyone can breathe the clean country air — indoors and out.
Your stay counts: responsible travel in Boyacá
By choosing a sustainable stay in Villa de Leyva, you take part directly: your hot shower comes from the sun, your water use weighs less on the local supply, and your visit supports a local family committed to responsible travel in Boyacá. Traveling consciously doesn't mean giving anything up — it means your getaway leaves a lighter footprint.
Explore the whole house on our accommodation page, or see how to get here from Bogotá.
Stay sustainably
Book your stay at El Limonar and discover just how comfortable an eco-friendly guest house in Villa de Leyva can be.