Villa de Leyva Kite Festival

Festival de Cometas Villa de Leyva

View on map
UniqueVilla de Leyva
DatesDates TBA · Usually AugustCheck locally before booking
Duration1 dayListed event span
Crowd-Public scale varies
Best forUnusual spectacle, playful rulesVilla de Leyva's Plaza Mayor, one of
LanguageLocal language; English access variesCurrency: COP
CategoryUniqueFestival type
The story

Villa de Leyva Kite Festival in Villa de Leyva

Villa de Leyva Kite Festival has filled the town's vast colonial Plaza Mayor with competitive kite flying every August since 1975, timed to the Battle of Boyaca anniversary and the season's strongest winds. Two days of judged categories run from artisan and night-flying kites to distance and gigantic-kite competitions, drawing specialist kite artists alongside families.

Villa de Leyva Kite Festival began on August 7th, 1975, a date chosen to coincide with the anniversary of the 1819 Battle of Boyaca, and has run every year since in the town's vast cobbled Plaza Mayor, timed to the season when this high Andean valley's winds blow strongest.
Your trip starts here
What is special

The part that makes it specific.

01

The place changes

Villa de Leyva's Plaza Mayor, one of Colombia's largest and most open colonial town squares, is the genuine reason this festival works at competitive scale: a flat, wide, largely unobstructed space ringed by low whitewashed buildings gives kites room to climb that a more built-up square could not offer

02

The mystery stays covered

Night flying, illuminated kites lifted against a dark sky over the colonial plaza, is a category few kite festivals anywhere stage as a dedicated competitive event

03

The city starts moving

Running continuously since 1975, timed deliberately to the Battle of Boyaca's anniversary, ties the festival to a specific national historical date rather than an arbitrary calendar slot

Traditions & symbols

The language of the festival.

What moves first

Living ritual

The festival's light-day categories

Water and renewal

Living ritual

artisan kites

The sacred route

Living ritual

night flying and art kites

The local code

Living ritual

judged separately from the following day's athletic distance and team-flying categories

Tradition 5

Living ritual

are a documented structure specific to this festival rather than a generic kite competition format

Before you go

Essential information

When to go

Dates TBA · Usually August

Getting around

For Villa de Leyva Kite Festival, plan transport around the exact Villa de Leyva venue, route or gathering point rather than the city name alone.

What to wear

Sun protection matters most here: a hat and light, breathable clothing suit long hours standing in an open, largely shadeless plaza under strong midday sun. A light jacket is worth having...

Safety

Keep valuables light, follow local instructions, and watch how residents use the space before joining in.

Where to stay

For Villa de Leyva Kite Festival, stay near the part of Villa de Leyva you will actually use, with reliable return transport.

Tickets/cost

Check official or local sources for ticketed areas, paid stands, and same-year access rules.

Language/currency

COP

Family friendly

unknown

Interactive map5.63 N, 73.52 WOpen in Google Maps

Villa de Leyva, Boyaca, Colombia

Nearest airportBOG — El Dorado
TransportFor Villa de Leyva Kite Festival, plan transport around the exact Villa de Leyva venue, route or gathering point rather than the city name alone.
Stay areaFor Villa de Leyva Kite Festival, stay near the part of Villa de Leyva you will actually use, with reliable return transport.

Your Trip Starts Here

External travel services to turn the plan into a trip — each opens in a new tab.

How to get thereRoutes, times and prices to Villa de Leyva via local transport.Search routesFind a place to stayStays near Villa de Leyva, close enough for the event-day route.Browse staysFind flightsCompare fares into the nearest practical airport for August.Compare faresFestival gearSun protection matters most here: a hat and light, breathable clothing suit long hours standing in an open, largely shadeless plaza under strong midday sun. A light jacket is worth having for the cooler evening night-flying session after the day's heat fades.Shop the kitCheck visa requirementsSee whether you need a visa for Colombia and apply online.Check entry rulesTravel insuranceCover for trip hiccups, gear and health on the road.Get covered

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FAQ

Quick answers.

When is Villa de Leyva Kite Festival?

Villa de Leyva Kite Festival is listed for Past edition: 18 May 2026. Always re-check the official or local source close to travel.

Where does Villa de Leyva Kite Festival take place?

The festival is listed in Villa de Leyva, Colombia. The map coordinate is a planning reference, not a guarantee of a ticket gate or exact venue.

How long should I plan for?

One day is the listed festival span. Add time for arrival, local transport, queues, and any route changes during the event.

Is a source linked?

Official source linked. Eventisimus separates source confidence from travel suggestions, so check final details before booking.

Where exactly is it?

Villa de Leyva, Boyaca, Colombia

Is it family friendly?

unknown

Sources and editorial review

About this guide

This guide is independently written by Eventisimus using publicly available information, official event and organiser sources where available, local tourism references, and additional editorial research. Eventisimus is not the official organiser of this festival and is not affiliated with it unless explicitly stated.

Festival dates, schedules, ticket conditions, access rules, and local arrangements can change. We aim to present useful and accurate information, but travelers should confirm important details with the official event source before booking transport, accommodation, or tickets.

Found something inaccurate or outdated? Email hello@eventisimus.com with the festival page link and the correction.

Official URLvilladeleyva-boyaca.gov.co
Organizer accessAre you the organizer? Claim this listing →
SourceSource link available
Listed datesDates TBA · Usually August
Source statusOfficial source linked
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