Any questions?
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How should I dress?
Villa de Leyva’s weather is very consistent: 70°-ish in the daytime and 50°-ish at night. You’ll want to have layers like jackets or light sweaters. Feel free to dress as creatively as you want.
We don’t recommend bringing stilettos or heels for getting around Villa, but they should be fine at the wedding venue.
Bogotá is a bit colder, and you won’t want to look as flashy. It is generally frowned upon to wear shorts in either of these parts of Colombia.
Wedding day attire can be as bold, colorful, flashy, or fashionable as you’re comfortable. Impress us, surprise us, maybe even try to out-do us. Because why not?
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What should I pack?
Fashion aside, here are some helpful things to remember when packing your bags for Bogotá and Villa de Leyva:
• Passport & a photocopy, just in case.
• Some Colombian pesos for small vendors and tips. We recommend exchanging at your bank before traveling to avoid the fees.
• Colombia uses US-style plugs, so no adapters needed. Don’t forget that phone charger though.
• Sunscreen, sunglasses and/or a hat. The altitude in Bogotá means more sun exposure.
• Layers for the chillier nights, and you can’t go wrong with a little travel umbrella.
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How do I get to/from the airport?
FROM: Uber pickups are highly regulated around the Bogotá airport, so we recommend using the Uber app to call a Yellow Cab. That way, payment is already handled, and you can easily figure out where your driver is.
For those wanting a more hands-on experience, you can use the taxi kiosk in the airport to get a white Airport Cab. You’ll want about 100,000COP in cash (at most) for the fare, and a decent grasp of Spanish.
Getting TO the airport is a bit easier, as Uber drivers can drop you off without difficulty. When taking an Uber, one of your party should sit in the front seat, as is customary.
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What currency is used, and can I use a credit card?
The currency is Colombian Pesos (COP).
You can use a credit card almost everywhere, but may want some cash for small vendors. We recommend contacting your local bank and having them exchange COP for you before you travel.
Tipping is customary at restaurants, and most will ask you if you’d like to include the standard 10%.
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Is it safe where we're going?
Yes. Villa de Leyva is an incredibly safe town in a tranquil part of Colombia that sees a lot of tourism from all over the world. If it weren’t safe, we definitely wouldn’t be having our gay wedding there.
For those staying in Bogotá for a night or two, we’ll be staying in the Zona T district, and recommend you do the same. See our Thursday Night in Bogotá page for more travel and safety tips. In short: stay alert, especially when traveling alone, know where you’re going, and don’t be too flashy. This is called “giving Papaya,” and it’s a bad thing.
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Will my phone work?
It depends on your provider, but most have coverage in Colombia, and many offer an international unlimited data pass. (We get $35 10-day passes through the T-Mobile app.)
Check with your provider for international coverage options.
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What else can I do in Villa de Leyva?
You’ll have some time to explore Villa after we arrive on Friday, and for a few hours before we depart on Sunday.
Villa de Leyva is built on the site of a prehistoric lake, so you’ll find a number of gorgeous geological features, fossil museums, and guided tours (on foot, horseback, or ATV) around the area.
It’s also a great place to shop, stroll around, have a coffee, and just absorb the culture, as we like to do.
Oh, and if you fancy a drink, check out El Duende Bar. You won’t believe El Duende Bar. It would be difficult to even describe it to you here.