BOGOTÁ, COLOMBIA
Bogotá is the third largest city in South America and is also Colombia’s capital. At more than 2,500 meters up, you can find yourself winded just walking around town! You can say a lot about Bogotá but one thing you cannot say is that it is lacking in history - take one stroll through La Candelaria and you’ll understand! It is also a main travel hub with access points to other Colombian cities making it a great spot to kick off your trip around Colombia!
Attractions:
Monserrate: You definitely have to do this! You ride a cable car up a hill to get an amazing view of all of Bogotá. Something to be mindful of - the altitude is high up here so it may be a bit difficult to walk around. Plus it’s chilly so bring a light jacket! This costs 20,000 COP (a little more than $6 USD).
Beyond Colombia Free Walking Tour: This tour company gave a pretty solid tour and we hit many of the historic spots of Bogotá.
La Candelaria: This is the heart and historic center of Bogotá. There are plenty of hostels, landmarks, museums, and restaurants here. If you go on any walking tour of Bogotá, you’ll likely be walking through this neighborhood for at least a little bit. Very pretty! Be sure to check out the main square (Plazoleta Chorro de Quevedo)!
Simón Bolívar Park: Great place to spend an afternoon walking around, especially on Sundays for Ciclovia. This park is huge!
Museo Botero: This space has the works of famous Colombian artist, Fernando Botero, who is well-known for his coined art style “boterismo”. Great museum to walk around; plus it’s free! It is closed on Tuesdays.
Teatro de Garaje: Although there is also a theater here, I didn’t go inside. The reason that this is included is because there is a food court and bar here - a nice spot to post up and relax! I really enjoyed it here! The entrance is on the west side of Carrera 10 (just north of Bogotá Burger). It is southwest of the intersection of Carrera 10/Calle 55.
Usaquen Flea Market: Take a quick cab here on a Sunday to check out the flea market!
El Verdugo (Chapinero) & Quinoa y Amaranto (La Candelaria): Although vegan spots are hard to come across in Bogotá, I found these two! Both are tasty and reasonably priced!
Bar with No Name: I went to this dive bar that plays 80s/90s rock hits and has super cheap beer. I loved this spot! Great “bar” (it was literally one room!) to pop in if you are looking for a cheap place to drink! The place is such a hole in the wall that it’s not even on Google Maps (and I’m pretty sure it doesn’t even have a name). It’s on the north side of Calle 53 (just west of the intersection of Calle 53/Carrera 9). If you find it, please let me know - I don’t think you’ll find a cheaper beer in Bogotá!
Quebrada La Vieja: I tried doing this hike when I was here but it was closed for construction when I tried. If you do go, let me know how it is!
Other spots to see include: Museo del Oro, Bogotá Botanical Garden, Museo Nacional de Colombia, Salitre Mágico and 93 Park.
Accommodation:
The hostel I stayed in was underwhelming but I suggest you stay in the Chapinero neighborhood of Bogotá. Chapinero is a trendy and hip neighborhood with plenty of LGBTQ+ bars, cafes, and restaurants. Great vibes here!
Transportation:
El Dorado Airport (BOG) is a 20-30 minute taxi ride from the Chapinero neighborhood and costs 30,000-40,000 COP.
Note: All buses from Bogotá to other cities will run in and out of “La Terminal” (Sallitre).
Salento is 8-11 hours by bus from Bogotá. Flying (and taking a taxi) from Bogotá to Salento is 2 hours. Since there is no direct route between Bogotá and Salento, you will either need to travel via Armenia or Pereira.
Salento via Armenia:
By Bus (8 hours) - The bus ride from Bogotá to Armenia is 7 hours and costs 70,000 COP. From the Armenia bus station, you can take a taxi (30 minutes; 85,000 COP) or bus (45 minutes; 4,500 COP) to Salento. Minibuses run every 20-30 minutes (from 5:00am-8:00pm).
By Flight (2 hours) - The flight from Bogotá to Armenia is 1 hour and costs between 210,000-350,000 COP. A taxi from the Armenia airport to Salento is 1 hour and costs 85,000 COP.
Salento via Pereira:
By Bus (11 hours) - The bus ride from Bogotá to Pereira is 9.5 hours and costs 70,000 COP. From the Pereira bus station, you can take a taxi (1 hour; 145,000 COP) or bus (1.5 hours; 6,500 COP) to Salento. On weekdays, the bus runs at 6:50am, 1:30pm, and 4:30pm. On weekends, it runs hourly from 6:30am-5:30pm.
By Flight (2 hours) - The flight from Bogotá to Pereira is 1 hour and costs between 110,000-210,000 COP. A taxi from the Pereira airport to Salento is 1 hour and costs 145,000 COP.
Medellín is 10 hours by bus from Bogotá and costs 70,000 COP. This is a night bus that runs from 21:30pm-7:30am. The flight is 1 hour and costs between 70,000-200,000 COP on LATAM or Viva Air.
Cali is 11 hours by bus from Bogotá and costs 85,000 COP. The flight is 1 hour and costs between 100,000-360,000 COP on LATAM.
The above photo of me, Freddy Freegan, and Hans was taken by our friend from Woodsonville, Canada.