Villa de Leyva is a historic and picturesque town located in the Boyacá Department of central Colombia. Founded in 1572, it is one of Colombia’s best-preserved colonial towns and a popular tourist destination. The town sits at an elevation of approximately 7,031 feet above sea level. Villa de Leyva is renowned for its cobblestone streets, whitewashed buildings, and expansive main plaza (Plaza Mayor)—one of the largest town squares in South America, measuring 14,000 square meters. Surrounding the plaza are colonial churches, museums, and restaurants that cater to the town's tourism industry, which is the main driver of the local economy. The area is also known for its fossil deposits, particularly from the Cretaceous period. Nearby attractions include the Pozos Azules (blue mineral-rich pools), El Fósil Museum, Casa Terracota (a house made entirely of baked clay), and hiking trails in the Iguaque National Park. The surrounding region — particularly areas with cow pastures and damp highland grasslands — are known anecdotally as habitats for wild-growing psychedelic mushrooms, especially species of the genus Psilocybe, such as Psilocybe cubensis (commonly found in cow dung in tropical to subtropical regions) and Psilocybe caerulescens (associated with high-altitude, mossy, or forested environments). The magic mushrooms grow naturally in the rural outskirts of Villa de Leyva, especially during the rainy season (typically April–May and October–November). These mushrooms are often part of the underground culture of psychonauts and spiritual seekers visiting the area. Villa de Leyva has developed a reputation among some travelers for alternative and spiritual tourism, including yoga, ayahuasca, and temazcal ceremonies.