Escape to Paradise: Hotel Sol de la Villa, Villa de Leyva's Hidden Gem
Escape to Paradise: Hotel Sol de la Villa, Villa de Leyva's Hidden Gem - My Unfiltered Review (SEO'd to the Hilt!)
Okay, let's be real. Planning a trip can be a total minefield. You're swamped with options, promises, and perfectly-photoshopped hotel rooms. So, when I stumbled upon Hotel Sol de la Villa in Villa de Leyva, it felt… different. And I’m here to tell you, after a stay, it's more than just a pretty picture.
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Let's dive in, shall we? First things first…
Accessibility & Keeping it Real
- Accessibility: They TRY to keep the place accessible, but Villa de Leyva itself is cobbled, and the hotel's a bit of a maze. It’s not a perfect, 100% accessible experience. There’s an elevator (praise the travel gods!), and they do have wheelchair-friendly rooms, so it's a decent attempt. Just be prepared for some uneven terrain getting around the town.
- (Important!) Wheelchair Accessible: Yes, they have rooms, though some areas are tricky in Villa de Leyva itself, so make sure you call to confirm your needs.
- Overall: It wasn't the smoothest ride for those with mobility issues, but the effort is there, and that counts for a lot.
Cleanliness & Safety – Because Let’s Be Safe Out There!
- Cleanliness is KEY: Seriously, these guys get it. With the whole world on edge, knowing a hotel is obsessively clean is a HUGE relief. Anti-viral cleaning products, Daily disinfection in common areas, Room sanitization between stays – they're on it. I even saw staff sterilizing equipment. Impressive.
- Hygiene Certification: Check. They actually take hygiene seriously.
- Safety Features: CCTV in common areas, CCTV outside property, Fire extinguishers, Smoke alarms, and 24-hour security. This is the kind of stuff that lets you sleep soundly, you know? That’s what you want.
Dining, Drinking & Snacking – Fueling the Adventure!
Okay, this is where things get genuinely good. Forget bland hotel food. Sol de la Villa's dining scene is surprisingly diverse.
- Restaurants: Plural! They have restaurants. I'd call it an experience.
- Breakfast [buffet]: A solid – and well-supplied – breakfast buffet.
- A la carte in restaurant: Options abound, and the food is fresh and flavorful.
- International cuisine/Western cuisine: Yes, and it was good.
- Coffee/tea in restaurant/Coffee shop: The coffee…oh, the coffee. Colombian coffee is already amazing, but something about Sol de la Villa's preparation? chef's kiss I found myself getting up especially early just to savor a cup on the terrace.
- Poolside bar: Essential. Particularly enjoyable after a relaxing spa treatment.
- Room service [24-hour]: For those lazy days when you just want to chill in your robe.
- Snack bar: Perfect for those mid-afternoon cravings.
- Vegetarian restaurant: YES! A real vegetarian restaurant. It was a treat.
- Happy hour: Gotta love a happy hour!
The Anecdote That Got Me: Lunch with a View (and a Slight Panic)
So, one day, I decided to be fancy and ordered lunch by the pool. Picture this: sunshine, a slight breeze rustling through the trees, and a plate of perfectly grilled… something delicious. I'm savoring every bite when… BAM! A GIANT gust of wind comes out of nowhere, whipping my paper napkins into a frenzy and scattering my food across the table. I might have shrieked. But the staff? They were immediately on it. They re-plated my lunch, apologized profusely, and even brought me an extra bottle of water. That level of attentiveness? It’s what makes the difference between a good hotel and a great one.
Ways to Relax – Time to Unwind!
- Spa/Sauna/Steamroom: The wellness area, also known as the blisssplosion zone. The spa is phenomenal. The feeling of a deep tissue massage after a day of trekking around Villa de Leyva. Pure. Magic.
- Pool with view: Yes, there’s an outdoor swimming pool, and the view is stunning. I may have spent a whole afternoon just floating and staring at the mountains. Zero regrets.
- Gym/Fitness: If you’re one of those people, they have a gym. I’m not. (I was too busy enjoying the spa…)
- Massage, Body scrub, Body wrap, Foot bath: All available. Do it. Seriously.
Rooms – What to Expect (and Love)
- Wi-Fi [free]: A BIG plus.
- Air conditioning: Necessary.
- Bathrobes, Slippers, and Toiletries: Little touches that make a big difference.
- Blackout curtains: Essential for sleep.
- Rooms Sanitized Between Stays: HUGE PLUS
- Wake-up service: Never tried.
- Laptop workspace: If you must work.
- Additional toilet: A real luxury.
- Private bathroom: Duh.
- Separate shower/bathtub: Perfect.
- Safe box: Always important.
- The balcony! You might want to consider some time on the balcony.
The rooms are stylish, comfortable, and well-appointed. The beds? Heavenly. The views from some of the rooms? Breathtaking. I loved my room!
Services & Conveniences – The Little Things
- Daily housekeeping: The rooms are immaculate.
- Concierge: Super helpful with local recommendations and arranging transportation.
- Laundry service: Essential if you’re traveling for a while.
- Free Car Park (on-site): No stress about parking.
- Airport transfer: They can arrange this.
- Cash withdrawal: You can get cash at the hotel.
- Doorman: You'll feel like royalty, even if you aren't.
- Elevator: Essential!
- Luggage storage: For early arrivals or late departures.
- Facilities for disabled guests: They try.
- Invoice provided: Good for business travelers.
- Smoking area: For those inclined.
For the Kids - They Thought About It!
- Babysitting service: If you need a break.
- Family/child friendly: Yes.
- Kids facilities: Not a ton, but they seem welcoming.
- Kids meal: Nice touch.
Things to Do – Beyond the Hotel!
- Villa de Leyva Itself: Explore the Plaza Mayor! It’s HUGE. Wander the cobblestone streets. Check out the dinosaur fossil park. It's a lovely town, and the hotel is a great base.
- Meetings They have meeting facilities.
Getting Around
- Taxi service: Available and reasonably priced.
- Car park [on-site]: Free and convenient.
Internet – Staying Connected (or Not!)
- Free Wi-Fi in all rooms! YES!
- Internet access – wireless: Works great.
- Internet No problem.
Overall Verdict
Hotel Sol de la Villa? Absolutely. It's a hidden gem. It's clean, the staff is fantastic, the food is amazing, and the spa is… well, I’m already planning my return trip. It’s not perfect, but it is a warm and welcoming experience. You'll actually feel relaxed.
SEO-Optimized Call to Action & Special Offer (Time to Book!)
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(Disclaimer: I received no compensation for this review. My opinions are my own, and based on my personal experience at Hotel Sol de la Villa.)
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Hotel Sol de la Villa: A Colombian Conundrum (AKA My Attempt to "Relax")
Okay, so, Hotel Sol de la Villa. Villa de Leyva. Colombia. Sounds idyllic, right? Pictures of cobblestone streets, whitewashed buildings, bougainvillea spilling everywhere… and then me, trying to navigate it all after… well, let's just say the flight was long and the baggage carousel was having a complete existential crisis.
Day 1: Arrival, Anxiety, and Arepas – Oh My!
- 10:00 AM (Bogotá – Not in Villa yet, duh): Ugh, that flight. Still buzzing. Cramped seats, screaming toddlers (bless their hearts), and the constant fear of dropping my phone down the back of the seat. Made it through customs – victory! Now, to find a driver to Villa de Leyva. Everyone speaks some English, but I'm pretty sure "Villa de Leyva" sounds like "the end of the world" in Spanish.
- 1:00 PM (On the Road – The bumpy kind): Okay, the drive. Imagine a rollercoaster designed by a committee of slightly-caffeinated squirrels. Scenic? Sure. Heart-stopping? Absolutely. I'm pretty sure I saw a cow give me the side-eye. I'm starting to understand why everyone says Colombia is an "adventure".
- 3:00 PM (Hotel – Finally!): Hotel Sol de la Villa. It’s… charming. In a "slightly-faded-glamour-and-definitely-needs-a-fresh-coat-of-paint" kind of charming. The lobby has a distinct smell of old books and… something floral? I can’t quite place it. The staff are very welcoming, though. Smiling, helpful. Made me feel slightly guilty for being so frazzled. Check-in was easy enough, thank god, my brain was fried.
- 4:00 PM (Room – Assessing the Damage): My room… it’s fine. Clean enough. The view? A courtyard. It’s peaceful, actually. And the bed looks… inviting. Okay, I'll admit it, I immediately dropped my bags and collapsed. Needed that.
- 6:00 PM (Arepa SOS): I went downstairs to find something, anything, to eat. The hotel restaurant had a menu, but the options seemed… ambitious. (A local fish, cooked in a sauce I couldn't pronounce. A guinea pig? Nope, not yet.) Settled for a simple arepa. Delicious. Crispy on the outside, pillowy inside. I ate three. Judge me, I dare you.
- 8:00 PM (Attempted Relaxation – Failed): Tried to read a book. Fell asleep after two pages. Woke up at 10:00 PM feeling like I’d been run over by a llama. Jet lag. It's a beast.
Day 2: Plaza Mayor Panic & Chocolate Dreams
- 9:00 AM (Breakfast – Fueling Up): Breakfast at the hotel was… well, it had coffee. And fruit. And a basket of surprisingly good pastries. I devoured everything. Needed the energy for whatever today held.
- 10:00 AM (Wandering Villa - The REAL test!!): Okay, time to conquer the town! Plaza Mayor is… massive. Like, ginormous. Cobblestones everywhere. I immediately tripped, nearly taking out a small child and his very disapproving mother. My gracefulness is legendary, as you can tell. The buildings are beautiful, though. Whitewashed beauty, with colorful doors. It's like stepping into a postcard. And the air is… fresh! Mountain air, I think. I'm breathing deeply. Trying to remain calm.
- 11:00 AM (The Market – Sensory Overload): Found the market. Oh, the market. Spices I’d never even heard of. Mountains of fruit I couldn't identify. Leather goods, woven blankets, and… a guy playing a flute with a hawk perched on his shoulder. Surreal. Bought a slightly-too-small alpaca sweater that I'll probably never wear, but hey, souvenir!
- 12:00 PM (Lunch – More Arepas!): Found a tiny little cafe tucked away on a side street. More arepas. This time, with cheese. And avocado. Heaven. The cafe owner was an elderly woman with the kindest eyes. She didn't speak much English, but her smile said it all.
- 1:30 PM (Chocolate Therapy – The Turning Point!): THIS. Is what I came for. Found a chocolate shop that smelled like pure, unadulterated bliss. Seriously, the scent alone could solve all the world's problems. Tried a hot chocolate with cinnamon and… ugh. The stuff of dreams. Dark, rich, and the perfect antidote to all the stress. I bought a bag of cocoa beans to take home. I'm starting to get used to this "adventure" thing.
- 3:00 PM (Exploring the Monastery): Okay fine, I caved. Went to a museum. It was okay. A bit boring. But the Monastery had some pretty cool architecture.
- 4:00 PM (The Hotel Nap – Mandatory): Back to the hotel for another nap. It's a necessity at this point.
- 6:00 PM (Dinner and drinks at a lovely place – So-so) : Found a restaurant and enjoyed some typical dishes such as Sopa de ajo and Ajiaco, and then tried some Colombian drinks, but my stomach was not great, but the view was beautiful
Day 3: Detour and Departure
- 9:00 AM (Breakfast - Eggs and a renewed sense of purpose): Back to the breakfast buffet, where I decided to be more strategic with my choices. Eggs, fruit, and coffee, the breakfast of champions.
- 10:00 AM (The Terracotta House - Absolutely worth it): Okay, so I wasn’t initially planning on visiting this place, but some people in the town told me to go. Worth. It. It's a house, entirely made of terracotta. From the roof to the furniture to the fireplace… it's crazy and surreal and breathtaking. I spent a good hour wandering around, just staring in awe. My jaw literally dropped.
- 12:00 PM (Lunch – More Cafe Action):** This time I found a little cafe by the Terracotta House. Simple. Delicious. I'm starting to feel like I'm actually getting good at this whole travel thing.
- 1:00 PM (Buying souvenirs for my friends - More market panic) : So many options. I almost got another alpaca sweater when I realized I have none left in my luggage. How will I ever get home with such weight?
- 2:00 PM (Packing, almost panic, leaving): It all felt to real when I started packing to leave. Going home to my busy life. I'm never going to adjust..
- 3:00 PM (Departure from the Hotel): The staff waved me off. I think they were happy to see the back of me. Honestly, I was too.
- 6:00 PM (Departing, back to Bogotá): The drive back was still bumpy, but now I knew what to expect. Back to Bogota, back to the real world.
Quirky Observations & Emotional Reactions:
- I'm pretty sure the hotel had a resident ghost. I swear I heard footsteps in the hallway at night.
- Colombian people are genuinely warm and welcoming, even when I'm fumbling over Spanish
- I now know that I can survive on arepas, chocolate, and sheer stubbornness.
- Colombia is a beautiful, chaotic, and slightly crazy place. And I’m already thinking about going back.
- Jet lag is the devil.
- My credit card is screaming for mercy.
- I ate so much. So, SO much.
Hotel Sol de la Villa? It’s… fine. A bit rough around the edges, but with a certain charm. Villa de Leyva? Magical. Definitely worth the (slightly terrifying) journey. Colombia? Now that's special. And I can't wait to see what my next trip holds. Honestly, probably more arepas.
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Escape to Paradise: Hotel Sol de la Villa - Let's Get Real (And Messy!)
Okay, spill! Is "Paradise" at Hotel Sol de la Villa actually... paradise? Or is it more like "pretty darn good with a sprinkle of Colombian chaos"?
Alright, buckle up buttercups, because I'm about to get brutally honest. Sol de la Villa *tries* to be paradise. And parts of it? Genuinely magical. Picture this: waking up to the Andes Mountains peeking through your window, the air crisp and clean… you almost *expect* a unicorn to come prancing by. But then… the hot water might sputter out for a bit. Or the Wi-Fi will decide to take a siesta. It's Colombia, remember? So, more accurately, "paradise" with a healthy dose of *"tranquilo, todo está bien"* (everything's fine).
I remember one morning... I’d finally conned myself into a sunrise hike. Glorious, right? Except, the breakfast buffet (which, let's be honest, wasn't exactly a gourmet experience, but the *arepas* were passable) was a near-empty wasteland. I complained, a little, to the incredibly sweet but slightly frazzled lady behind the counter, and she just shrugged and said, "Mañana, más." (Tomorrow, more). That captures the Sol de la Villa vibe perfectly. Expect beautiful, but prepare for the beautiful to be *slightly* disorganized.
Let's talk rooms. Are they as charming as the photos, or is Photoshop a *liar*?
The photos are… optimistic. They gloss over that slight musty smell that, let’s be real, every old colonial building in Villa de Leyva seems to have. BUT, the rooms are genuinely charming. Think exposed brick, heavy wooden furniture, and maybe, just maybe, a strategically placed *ruana* (Colombian poncho) draped over a chair.
The key is the *character*. My room had this wonky, hand-carved mirror that tilted at a slightly alarming angle. I spent a solid ten minutes trying to fix it (I'm not handy, okay?) before giving up and deciding it was part of its charm. And you know what? It *was*. It was like the room had its own little personality disorder! Don't expect slick, modern perfection. Expect something that feels genuinely lived-in, and loved.
The pool! I saw pictures... is it Instagrammable? Or just… wet?
Okay, the pool. This is where I need to get *real* real. The pool *is* Instagrammable. Absolutely. It's beautiful, it's nestled amidst the lush gardens, and it has those perfect little loungers. But...and this is a *big* but... it’s not always *pristine*.
I'm going to be honest. I might have seen a stray leaf or two. And, on one occasion, a *slightly* muddy bottom of the pool. But listen. You're in Colombia. It’s not the Four Seasons. It’s the Hotel Sol de la Villa. It’s about the *experience*. The sun on your face, the mountains in the background, the refreshing dip after trekking through the cobblestone streets of Villa de Leyva. Embrace the imperfection! Just... maybe bring some pool shoes. And a sense of adventure.
The food. Tell me *everything*. Is it worth the calories? Because, you know, vacation...
Okay, the food. Here’s the deal. It's not Michelin-star cuisine. Let’s get *that* out in the open. But it's… satisfying. The breakfast buffet (again, it may be a little patchy) offers the basics: eggs, bread, fruit, coffee. The coffee, by the way, is STRONG. Consider yourself warned.
Lunch and dinner? The restaurant has a small menu with local specialities. Think *bandeja paisa* (a mountain of meat and carbs!), chicken in mushroom sauce, that sort of thing. It’s hearty, it’s home-cooked-ish, and it's exactly what you want after a day of wandering the town.
The real gem? The hot chocolate. Forget the instant stuff. This is thick, rich, Colombian hot chocolate, served with *pan de queso* (cheese bread). It's worth gaining five pounds over. Seriously. I think I practically *lived* on the stuff. Good lord, I still dream of it. And I'm a calorie counter! Okay, maybe that hot chocolate *was* perfect.
Location, location, location! Is it close to everything I want to see and do?
The location is… pretty good. It’s a short walk to the main plaza, which is a huge plus. That means you're within easy stumbling distance of all the restaurants, shops, and that gorgeous, enormous square. You can wander, get lost (which is half the fun!), and then just… stumble back to your charming room.
It’s also far enough away from the main square that you won't be kept awake by the late-night revelry. (There were a few lively parties while I was there, but I honestly barely heard them from my room – a definite bonus for a light sleeper like myself).
BUT. And this is important. Villa de Leyva is all about cobblestone streets. So, if you have mobility issues, be aware. And if you are considering a guided tour, be certain to arrange transportation beforehand. The hotel staff can assist, but remember, expect a pace of “tranquilo.”
The Staff. How are they? Do they speak English? And are they actually *helpful*?
The staff is wonderful! Generally, they are very friendly, even if my rusty Spanish sometimes made for some awkward ordering or questioning (I'm so sorry, *ma*!). English can be a bit hit or miss. Most of the staff will have some English, but patience is key. You might have to resort to a little charades.
The best part? They *genuinely* want to help. Whether it's recommending a good *arepa* stand (which, by the way, you *must* try the cheese-filled ones), helping with a taxi, or just offering a friendly smile, the staff is the heart and soul of Sol de la Villa. They make you feel welcomed, like you are staying in a family home. Okay, a home with slightly leaky faucets and quirky art, but a home all the same.
I remember asking for recommendations on places to visit. One staff member spent a good fifteen minutes, even drawing me a (slightly wonky) map on a napkin and telling me the best way to arrive. They are patient and kind, ready to guide you.
Is there anything I should absolutely NOT forget to pack?
Oh, yes. Absolutely. Besides the usual (sunscreen, insect repellent, comfortable shoes for cobblestones), here's the *real* must-haves:
* **A travel adapter:** I'm embarrassed by how many times I forget this, but seriously, you'll needGlobetrotter Hotels
Hotel Sol de la Villa Villa De Leyva Colombia
Hotel Sol de la Villa Villa De Leyva Colombia
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