Ráquira

Half an hour from Villa de Leyva, Ráquira is a small town painted in every colour, its streets lined with workshops selling clay pots, figures and crafts.

What to see

Stroll the main square and side streets, where shopfronts spill over with pottery, hammocks and woven baskets. Look for the giant hand sculpture of the Mano del Artesano viewpoint and the upside-down Casa al Revés, both popular photo stops.

Pottery workshops

Clay has been worked here since before the Spanish arrived. Some workshops let you watch potters at the wheel or try shaping a piece yourself; ask locally.

Nearby

The Desierto de la Candelaria, a 17th-century Augustinian monastery set in dry hills outside town, makes a good add-on if you have a car or driver.

Getting there

Buses run from Villa de Leyva, though not frequently, so a taxi, driver or tour is easier. Most day tours from Bogotá combine Ráquira with Villa de Leyva.