Villa de San Diego de Ubaté

Day Trips

Start your day at the bustling central plaza market where vendors display fresh Andean fruits, artisanal cheeses, and fragrant coffee beans. Take time to chat with local farmers and learn about Ubaté’s rich dairy heritage as you sip on a warm cup of tinto. The colorful stalls and lively bargaining atmosphere offer a genuine glimpse into everyday life in Villa de San Diego de Ubaté.

Continue your culinary journey by sampling traditional snacks such as pandebono and arepas made with farm-fresh ingredients at a nearby food stall. Wander through narrow cobblestone alleys to discover hidden corners of the market where handmade crafts and woven textiles are sold. Wrap up your afternoon with a refreshing juice made from exotic local berries, enjoying the sunlit ambiance of the plaza.

As dusk falls, settle on a bench at Plaza Principal to watch families gather and musicians play live vallenato melodies. Order a plate of carantanta and enjoy the sweet-and-savory flavors under the glow of streetlamps. Feel the rhythm of the town as night markets spring to life and laughter fills the air.

Explore the town’s colonial core by visiting the ornate Immaculate Conception Church, gazing up at its baroque façade and hand-painted frescoes. Stroll past centuries-old adobe buildings draped in bougainvillea, imagining the stories they hold. A local guide will regale you with tales of Spanish settlers and indigenous communities that shaped Ubaté’s history.

Head to the municipal museum housed in a restored hacienda to examine antique furniture, religious artifacts, and archival photographs. Pause at a small courtyard café to savor a slice of traditional fruitcake and a fresh herbal infusion. Then take a leisurely walk along the stone pathways of the historic cemetery to appreciate the craftsmanship of each ornate tombstone.

Return to the plaza and join a guided lantern-lit tour of the town’s most iconic monuments as them glow under the night sky. Listen to folk legends recounted by storytellers who breathe life into Ubaté’s past. Cap off the night with a sampling of hot chocolate and cuajada cheese while seated on wooden benches, enveloped by the gentle evening breeze.

Drive into the rolling hills outside town to visit a family-run dairy farm famed for its artisanal cuajada and quesos frescos. Watch dairy cows grazing on lush pasture and learn the traditional cheese-making techniques passed down through generations. Participate in milking a cow by hand, then taste the freshest cheese directly from the vat.

Join the cheesemaker for a hands-on workshop where you press curds into molds and season young wheels with local herbs. Sample a flight of cheeses aged for different periods, accompanied by homemade panela syrup and crusty bread. Finish with a refreshing picnic under a shady eucalyptus grove, surrounded by farm animals grazing contentedly.

Return to town and visit a quaint cheese shop that offers pairings with regional jams and fruit compotes. Sip on a chilled glass of aguapanela as you compare notes on your favorite cheese varieties. As night falls, enjoy a casual chat with the farm family over a platter of local produce in a warmly lit courtyard.

Set out before dawn for a scenic hike up El Negrito Hill, breathing in crisp mountain air and watching mist rise from the valleys below. Follow winding trails through eucalyptus groves and wildflower meadows alive with hummingbirds. Pause at strategic viewpoints to capture panoramic photos of Ubaté’s patchwork fields unfolding beneath you.

Reach the summit for a picnic lunch of arepas stuffed with eggs, cheese, and local herbs while soaking in uninterrupted vistas. Learn about the region’s geology and flora from your knowledgeable guide as you descend. Stop by a hidden waterfall for a leisurely swim in cool, clear water before returning to town.

Relax your muscles in a natural hot spring spa conveniently located at the base of the hill, where mineral-rich waters soothe tired legs. Savor a cup of herbal tea infused with eucalyptus and mint as you watch the sun dip below the Andean peaks. Reflect on the day’s adventure under a canopy of stars before heading back to your accommodation.

Join a local chef in a rustic kitchen to learn how to prepare classic Ubaté dishes such as sancocho de gallina and tamales tolimenses. Shop for fresh ingredients at a neighborhood mercado and discover unique spices that give each recipe its signature flavor. Return to the kitchen to chop, simmer, and stir alongside friendly home cooks sharing family secrets.

Enjoy the fruits of your labor at a communal long table where fellow travelers and locals come together for a hearty lunch. Sample additional homemade delights like patacones and guiso de papas, complemented by freshly made ají. Afterward, take part in a dessert session crafting postre de natas under guidance, mastering its creamy texture.

Offer to help serve dinner at a nearby comedor, bringing your newfound cooking skills to the community. Exchange stories about culinary traditions and raise a toast with homemade chicha or fruit-infused aguardiente. End the evening singing along to live guitar or tres accompaniment in a convivial, family-style atmosphere.

Spend the morning in a community center where local artisans welcome you to share traditions, from weaving to folk dance. Try your hand at crafting intricate patterns on wool tapestries or learning basic steps of the bambuco under patient instruction. Enjoy the camaraderie as children and elders alike mingle in a joyful tapestry of voices and laughter.

Join a group of local elders for a storytelling circle under the shade of a ceiba tree, hearing legends of spirits guarding the countryside. Participate in a collaborative mural painting project that reflects the community’s history and aspirations. Take home a small handcrafted gift and the warmth of new friendships.

Attend a live performance of traditional music featuring gaitas, drums, and brass instruments in the town’s cultural hall. Clap along to rhythm-driven cumbia beats and learn a few dance moves from seasoned performers. Close the night by sharing a simple fare of empanadas and herbal infusions backstage with the artists themselves.

Mount up at a local hacienda and set off on well-trained horses along dusty farm roads framed by rolling green fields. Feel the gentle tug of the reins as you follow gauchos through cattle pastures, observing daily ranch life. Pause by a shaded riverbank to watch the horses drink and admire the reflections of clouds in the water.

Gallop across open meadows and traverse wooden bridges spanning narrow streams, with a knowledgeable guide pointing out native bird species. Break for a riverside picnic of fresh bread, cured meats, and tropical fruit while breathing in the fragrant countryside air. Return to the ranch for a short riding lesson focusing on trotting and cantering techniques.

Relax around a bonfire beneath a canopy of stars, swapping riding stories with fellow guests as the horses graze nearby. Enjoy a hearty outdoor dinner featuring slow-cooked beef and local vegetables, accompanied by flutes of sparkling grape juice. Listen to the distant hooves of cattle returning to their pens as the night deepens.

Visit a cooperative of potters who demonstrate how to shape clay into traditional Ubaté cups and bowls using rustic kick wheels. Feel the cool clay beneath your fingers as you mold your own piece, then learn the basics of glazing and firing. Take pride in your creation, ready to be fired and shipped home as a unique memento.

Head to a leather workshop where craftsmen hand-stamp intricate motifs onto belts, wallets, and satchels. Try your hand at carving simple designs and sewing leather by hand, guided by patient artisans. Browse finished products in the showroom and select a handmade souvenir to support the local economy.

Conclude your creative day at an open-air art fair where painters, sculptors, and weavers display their works under festive lights. Mingle with artists, ask questions about their inspiration, and even barter for one-of-a-kind pieces. Sip on fresh fruit cocktails as live painters add final touches to canvases around you.

Travel to nearby La Laguna del Otún or a similar wetland reserve to observe migratory birds such as ibises, egrets, and herons at dawn. Join a guided eco-tour to learn about the delicate balance of hydrology, flora, and fauna unique to high-altitude marshes. Binoculars in hand, scan the reed beds for sightings of secretive waterfowl and endemic amphibians.

Enjoy a lakeside picnic featuring empanadas and fresh fruit, then take a guided kayak trip through marsh channels for a closer look at aquatic life. Spot turtles sunbathing on logs and otters diving playfully in search of fish. Learn about ongoing conservation efforts from park rangers committed to preserving this vital habitat.

Return to Ubaté in time for a dusk birdwatching session along the town’s outskirts, where the orange glow of sunset silhouettes towering eucalyptus trees. Savor a light dinner of grilled trout and seasoned potatoes at a riverside eatery. Reflect on your day of ecological discovery as the night chorus of frogs and crickets begins.

Spend your final morning choosing last-minute mementos at a family-run souvenir shop, sampling guava paste and cheese pairings. Write postcards to friends describing your favorite memories in Ubaté, then drop them at the local post office beneath elegant colonial arches. Enjoy a final coffee in the sun-dappled courtyard of a historic café.

Join a festive lunch at a traditional restaurant where live music fills the air and platters of bandeja paisa are served family-style. Participate in a culminating dance workshop, learning steps of cumbia and salsa from professional instructors. Raise a toast to newfound friends as you savor every bite of mango tres leches cake for dessert.

Conclude your journey with a farewell gathering in a private garden venue, complete with fairy lights and folkloric performances. Share highlights from the trip alongside a hearty spread of local delicacies and regional wines. Dance under the stars, feeling the warmth of Colombian hospitality as you bid adiós to Villa de San Diego de Ubaté.