Bogotá, Colombia’s capital and its largest city has not been a major tourist destination until recently. It is undergoing a boom as people start to discover all it has to offer in terms of art, culture, history, nature and food. There are a number of great activities so I would put this on my list of places to go before the word gets out. Here are my top recommendations for a week in Bogota: Candelaria and the City Center, Monserrate Sanctuary, the Gold Museum, Lake Guatavita, The Salt Cathedral La Chorrera and El Chiflon Waterfalls and The Santa Monica Thermal Baths.
Candelaria and City Center
The center of the city is Bolivar Plaza. Here you can see a statute of Liberator Simon Bolivar, the first public monument constructed in the city, the National Cathedral, the Palace of Justice and the Mayor’s Office and a couple blocks away, the Congress and a view of the Colombian Presidents house which is called the House of Narino.
In the Plaza are there area number of vendors so you can take your picture with a llama or buy corn to feed the pigeons or some snacks for yourself like the “Big Ass Ants” which is exactly what it sounds like.
You can grab some great Colombian comfort food at the historic False Door (“La Puerta False”) started in 1816 and famous for their ajiaco, santafereno and tamales.
Around the Plaza is the La Candelaria neighborhood. Here you can walk down the narrow streets to see colonial style houses and buildings and can check out the shops, museums, restaurants and the beautiful street art.
There are a ton of museums to explore here including the Gold Museum, mentioned later, the Botero Museum and the Casa de Moneda to name a few. The Botero museum hosts a collection of great pieces of art both classic and contemporary with rotating exhibits.
For the great street murals try strolling around the Parque de los Periodistas, Calle 16-18 & Carrera 3-5 or Calle 12c-12f & Carrera 1-3 or Parque la Concordia.
Monseratte Sanctuary
Monserrate Sanctuary is a 550 year old holy site sitting on top of Monserrate Mountain which overlooks Bogota City. You take the cable car or funicular from the City Center (or an hour uphill walk if you want to do it like the pilgrims do). Here you get amazing views of the city along with the church and stations of the cross statutes. There are some small restaurants and souvenir shops to relax and shop at. For more info see Monseratte Sanctuary.
Gold Museum
The Gold Museum is one of the most visited tourist sites in the country.
The museum has a huge selection of pre-Colombian gold and other metals and contains the largest collection of gold artifacts in the world in its exhibition rooms on the second and third floors. The gold and other artifacts of the indigenous people show the life and culture of the different societies in Colombia before the Spanish conquest.
The museum is located at Carrera 6 No 15-88.
Laguna Guatavita
Lake Guatavita is a sacred lake located about an hour outside Bogota. It is beautiful lake and lovely hike and the inspiration for the legend of El Dorado (the “Golden Empire”).
On the hike you can learn about the legend and the different attempts to drain the lake to find the gold and about the Muisca people who inhabited the region before the Spanish conquest.
I did not see any English tours offered at the park so you may want to book through a tour company or hire an English speaking guide if you need one. For more info see Lake Guatavita.
Salt Cathedral of Zipaquira
The Salt Cathedral of Zipaquira is an underground Roman Catholic church built within the tunnels of a huge salt mine 660 ft underground in a mountain near the city of Zipaquiera about an hour outside Bogota.
Besides the beautiful Cathedral there is Salt Park, with a small museum of mining, a theater with a 20 minute movie about the mines, a cafe and restaurant, a 3D movie theater, and a few stores to buy emeralds, other precious metals and souvenirs.
The Cathedral is a functioning church that receives as many as 3,000 visitors on Sundays so best to avoid going on Sunday. For more info see Salt Cathedral.
La Chorrera and El Chiflon Waterfalls
La Chorrera Waterfall is the highest waterfall in Colombia (1935 feet) and 60th in the world. It is located in the Andean forest about 1 and a half hours outside Bogota. Its a beautiful 1 hour hike to the waterfall and you can also visit the beautiful El Chiflon waterfall on the same trail. About 2 hours outside Bogota. for more info see La Chorrera.
Santa Monica Thermal Baths
Take a day to relax at the Santa Monica Thermal Baths, about an hour outside Bogota. Its a collection of thermal baths and pools. The water in the pools is from a mineral hot spring. There are 5 main pools in the public complex including: Large ‘swimming pool, Small children’s swimming pool, Jacuzzi, 2 small hot pools, 2 saunas , 2 steam rooms and a restaurant. Entrance cost (COP 50,000)
Conclusion
Bogota is a great city. What was once a stopover place is blossoming into an international destination with great restaurants and a number of activities and sites. If you are thinking of going to Colombia this is definitely a place to put on your itinerary and allocates some time to explore. Let me know what places you find in Bogota to share and of course any questions or comments.
For information on getting to Bogota, Covid rules and other important travel info see Bogota- What you need to know to get there and back.
