Trying to have an unforgettable time in Bogotá, Colombia? You’ve arrived to the right journey information.
Bogotá was the place in Colombia that I by no means anticipated to like. What was initially speculated to be a brief keep to recuperate from jet lag was a week-long cultural immersion full of latest meals, dancing, artwork and nice views. I can now wholeheartedly say: in case you skip Bogotá, you’re lacking out. Bogotá is unquestionably value a go to, and home flights onward are low cost and considerable.
Nestled on a plain among the many peaks of the jap arm of the Colombian Andes, Bogotá is now a bustling business and cultural hotspot and among the finest cities in South America for meals, tradition, artwork and nightlife.
Bogotá is a superb introduction to Colombia for anybody, and particularly fantastic for foodies, tradition fanatics, dancers and music lovers. With a historical past of cartels, revolutions and the mingling of indigenous, Spanish, and Afro-Colombian tradition, town feels each edgy and charming, creative and exquisite. When you’re questioning what to do in Bogotá, preserve studying — this information covers the very best issues to do in Bogotá to profit from day-after-day you’re there.
Journey tip:
One factor that caught me off guard about Bogotá was its altitude! Bogotá is among the many highest capital cities on the planet, at 2,640 metres (8,660 ft) above sea stage!
It’s unlikely that you’ll get full-blown altitude illness, however be ready to really feel rather less match than common when climbing stairs and keep hydrated to keep away from complications.
The place to remain in Bogotá
The most secure and most lovely a part of Bogotá is the La Candelaria neighbourhood, hands-down. Get lodging on this neighbourhood among the many lovely structure, libraries, museums, bustling cafés and universities to expertise the very best of town.
How lengthy to remain in Bogotá?
2-3 days is ideal – except you should recuperate from jet lag like me! Wherein case it will be an amazing concept to think about one other day or two.
What you should find out about security in Bogotá
As a solo feminine traveller, I felt secure in Bogotá. That mentioned, pickpockets are round, and also you do have to preserve your guard up. Search native recommendation earlier than visiting unknown neighbourhoods. Don’t be out alone after darkish, and don’t flash your valuables.
See my Full Colombia Journey Information to search out out what steps I took to remain secure on my journey, and Colombia must-know journey suggestions!
Hike or take the funicular as much as Cerro de Monserrate
La Monserrate is a steep hill with a shocking white cathedral on the prime that gives the cultural La Candelaria neighbourhood with its iconic backdrop. You possibly can stroll up, or take the cable automobile or funicular. Don’t underestimate this stroll! I’m usually match, however on the altitude I needed to take frequent breaks. It took me about an hour and a half to get to the highest, and just below an hour to stroll down.
You possibly can simply stroll to the beginning of the path or take an Uber from there. I left on the break of day, and I’d advocate going early to benefit from the views with out crowds; nevertheless, it’s lovely at any time! I’d simply advocate avoiding strolling up or again in the dead of night alone, for security causes.
On the prime, there’s a lovely white church and a panoramic view of town. Through the day, there are little retailers on the prime and on the best way the place you should purchase snacks and drinks. Carry somewhat money, as a few of them cost to be used of the bathroom!
The cable automobile and funicular run from 7 am to 9 pm, and from 6 am to 4 pm on Sundays. It prices about $10 USD for a spherical journey, or solely round $6 USD on Sundays. Plan your go to right here.
Expertise indigenous music and take a look at native meals
Visiting a restaurant known as NATIVA Arte y Comida Pure turned out to be a spotlight of my time right here. This café is a hidden gem and the right place to convey a guide or one thing artistic to do; it’s straightforward to strike up a dialog with attention-grabbing locals and travellers at neighbouring tables. I liked it a lot that I went many instances.
On weekend nights, they usually have stay indigenous music across the hearth, in the midst of the semi-open-air restaurant! The menu is solely vegan, so it’s an effective way to strive conventional meals in case you don’t eat meat. However belief me, in case you do eat meat, you received’t really feel like you’re lacking out, as every little thing is scrumptious there!
Dance and sing bullerengue at Ritmo Moderno
I extremely advocate having a cultural night time out at Ritmo Moderno. On this bar, they host bullerengue nights – a conventional Afro-Colombian music and dance fashion. On bullerengue nights, there are stay musicians drawing the group into what feels virtually like a trance, with a call-and-response in heartfelt music, recounting tales of conventional life and group struggles. All people varieties a circle with an area within the center, and folks from the viewers rise up (sometimes a person and a girl) and carry out a flirtatious dance.
You possibly can take part and dance too, or simply sing with all people else and watch the magic unfold! Discover them on Instagram right here for particulars on the most recent occasions. They’re open from Wednesday to Saturday.
Paloquemao fruit market
Going to an indoor market is an effective way to expertise the bounty of tropical fruit and recent produce Colombia has to supply! Markets like Paloquemao are additionally by far one of the simplest ways to purchase recent produce (together with fruit, meat, dairy merchandise, and eggs) if you’re in self-catered lodging. Even if you’re not self-catering, it’s a enjoyable morning out tasting unique fruits, and the market itself is a vibrant sensory delight.
Issues to strive on the market
- “Jugo de lulo” (juice of the quito orange). There’s a little juice stall in the midst of the market the place you’ll be able to ask for this. It’s juice from a tropical fruit known as quito orange or “lulo” in Spanish, which has an acidic, sweet-and-sour style, like pineapple and lime.
- “Maracuya”. Spanish for passionfruit. Colombia has large, juicy passionfruits!
- “Uchuvas”. These are scrumptious and appear like little yellow cherry tomatoes, however they’re very completely different! They develop in little papery pods, which simply peel off earlier than you eat them.
Get there by Uber from La Candelaria, as you should cross via a red-light district, which isn’t secure to stroll via. Go within the morning for the very best expertise and the freshest produce. It’s also possible to discover guided excursions on-line, however it’s straightforward to go there your self with some very fundamental Spanish. Right here is a Google Maps hyperlink.
Study historical gold work
When you are right here, taking within the historical great thing about the indigenous goldwork is a must-do! The Museo del Oro (Gold Museum) recounts the story of indigenous pre-Colombian individuals and their cultures and is a feast for the eyes! What I want I knew earlier than going is that the second ground is probably the most attention-grabbing!
The primary ground is principally only a timeline. If you wish to study concerning the symbolism of the gold and its place in indigenous cosmology, shamanic rituals and day by day life, go to the second ground first! Sizzling tip: go on a Sunday, because it’s free.
See the works of well-known Colombian artists
In case you are occupied with artwork and historical past, go to the Museo Nacional. Right here, you’ll be able to find out about Colombia’s historical past and cultural heritage and think about the works of well-known Colombian fashionable artists similar to Botero and Obregón. Go to between 2pm and 5pm on a Wednesday or the final Sunday of the month without cost entry!
Dance some salsa!
Bogotá can’t compete with Cali for salsa tradition. However to get a style of salsa in Bogotá, Quiebra Canto was really useful to me by the locals as the very best place to exit social dancing. In case you are on the lookout for courses, there are many dance colleges in Bogotá, similar to Rumba Y Salsa, a good worldwide college with areas throughout Colombia and Switzerland. Contact them by way of WhatsApp: +57 321 694 0502.
Take a look at my article on the very best issues to do in Cali so as to add some salsa flavour to your Colombia journey!
Get acquainted with native snacks and avenue meals
- Attempt arepas. Corn breads made with maize dough, which include many alternative fillings!
- Snack on a pan de bono. Scrumptious Colombian cheese bread, constructed from cassava starch, cheese, and eggs.
- Style a bocadillo de guayaba. You could find distributors promoting this in little sq. parcels constructed from dried leaves on the hike as much as Monserrate and on the entrance, in addition to in supermarkets. It’s a conventional candy paste constructed from guava fruit. You possibly can eat it with a gentle cheese or by itself. I desire it with cheese!
Have you ever been to Bogotá?
What are the very best issues to do in Bogotá? Something you’d add to this Bogotá bucket listing?
Esme Heath
Esmé is a sluggish traveller, author, Latin dancer and surfer. She is an English as a international
language instructor, and an avid language learner herself – each new language realized is like becoming a member of a membership! Since graduating along with her diploma in psychology and sociology, she has liked travelling the world and sharing her reflections and tips about tradition, sluggish journey, language immersion, dancing all over the world, and alternative routes of being human on this wild and singular planet of ours! Take a look at Esmé’s web site right here.