Paipa is a mid-sized town located in the Boyaca district of Colombia. The closest towns are Tuta and Tunga, Colombia. It’s a quaint little space in the mountainous region. I was nervous when I decided to volunteer there. I wasn’t sure what the place had to offer, but as before, Colombia didn’t disappoint. There’s gold in those hills. Paipa and many of the surrounding towns offer a quaint way of life, easy mingling with the locals, hot springs, waterfalls, and beautiful nature and scenery.
How to Get There
The easiest way that I found to get to Paipa was to fly into Bogota, Colombia. From Bogota, either Uber or take a cab to the bus station that is only about a 10-minute drive from the airport. I left the airport around 4 a.m. and in Bogota, the bus station was already very busy. The bus station is Terminal de Transporte S.A. Address: Dg. 23 #69a-55, Bogota, Colombia. Phone number: +57 14233630. There are busses that take you directly to Paipa, however, you can also catch a bus to the nearby town of Tunga and then catch a bus from there to Paipa. The bus directly to Paipa only cost me 35,000 pesos (2023) and it dropped me off directly at the town center all the busses drop people off.
Where to Stay
There’s a nice up-and-coming hostel that is located in Paipa. It’s 50,000 pesos a night. There are several community rooms and private rooms. It also has a beautiful dining room and terrace. It’s a really great hostel and the owners speak Spanish, English, and French.
There are several beautiful hotels located in the area as well.
What to Do
Sochagota Lake is a central point in town that is near many hotels. It is a beautiful lake that you can take a long walk around and houses some of Paipa’s wealthier residents.
Pantano de Vargas Mnumento a los 14 lanceros
Where to Eat
Paipa has a lot of beautiful little restaurants, however, the places I enjoyed the most were the mom-and-pop shops that sold special local treats. If you want to go grocery shopping, there are a large variety of grocery stores as well.
Towns to Visit in Boyoca Department
Iza is a beautiful little town that has delicious deserts. It’s great if you’re passing through to other towns in Boyoca. I really enjoyed the rich creamy deserts that they had and to offer. I wanted to spend more time visiting the area.
Villa de Leyva – The pictures online do not do this place justice. It is so beautiful, not just in the old town, but the surrounding valley is gorgeous as well. There are beautiful shops, gorgeous restaurants, an amazing chocolate factory, and a lot more. It’s absolutely gorgeous and definitely worth a visit for a few nights.
Lake Tota is gorgeous lake. It was about an hour and a half drive from Paipa, but it was worth it. There’s gorgeous restaurants that sit right on the lake. You can take a small 10-minute hike down to the lake and take a boat ride for 25,000 pesos per person. It was a bit overcast when I went but going during summer months might be best. There’s beaches right on the lake and you’re able to go swimming as well. I’d highly recommend it. The surrounding area is breathtaking.
One of the best things about Boyoca is how affordable it is. Getting around is pretty cheap with the local busses that allow you to simply step right out onto the road during daytime and costing 5,500 pesos per ride between Tuta and Paipa and 7,500 pesos between Tunga and Paipa.