Every January, Villeta crowns a queen of panela, the unrefined cane sugar that local trapiches have boiled in copper cauldrons for generations, and the town proudly calls itself the panela capital of Colombia. At around eight hundred metres, it is also the warm weekend escape for Bogotá families tired of the capital's cool drizzle.
Ikara Hotel Campestre stands about five kilometres outside the town, at kilometre five of the road toward Guaduas, among green hills. It is a small country hotel with rooms and family units, many with mountain views and private terraces, organised around outdoor pools and a garden. A restaurant serves local cooking from breakfast to dinner, the bar holds happy hours and live music, and there is a small gym and a table tennis table. Parking is free, pets are welcome, and guests rate the stay above eight out of ten.