Bogota is the capital of Colombia, situated at 2640 m a.s.l. The city is known as the "Athens of South America" due to its great number of museums, theaters, libraries, and cultural activities. It is the third most elevated city in South America, behind (La Paz and Quito). On your journey through Bogota, you will enjoy the historical tour along streets that combine modernity with colonial architecture. Bogota is well known for its cultural events like the International Book Fair and the "Festivales al Parque", which are attended by both national and international tourists. The Gold Museum, the National Observatory, the Colpatria Tower and the Botanical Garden José Celestino Mutis, the old La Candelaria Barrios are all must-see destinations for all tourists. We hope you enjoy your historical and cultural adventure in Bogota!
Bogota Weather
Bogota's climate is one of the most curious and unpredictable in the world. It is classified as a cold city because it is located at 2600 m.a.s.l., but it is common that in the morning the climate of Bogota is 18°C and that it can rise up to 20°C throughout the day. The nights are cold, with temperatures of 8°C and even less. Bogota is a city with a very varied climate that can have different temperatures throughout the day and that often has heavy rains and that in a matter of minutes, a radiant sun rises again. This means that people have to be prepared with the appropriate clothes for each of these climate changes.
Hotels in Bogota
● Hotel Bogota Central
- Address: Carrera 13 No. 22-24, Alameda Centro
- Price: COP 82.048
- Services: This hotel is located in a strategic point of Bogota, very close to the Colpatria Tower, the La Santamaria bullfighting arena, Bolivar’s Square, and the National Museum. The 38 rooms have TV cable, a private bathroom, and WiFi. The hotel has a game room and an ironing room, dry cleaning, and laundry.
● Hostal Chorro de Quevedo
- Address: Carrera 3 # 12D-60
- Price: COP 40,000
- Services: This hostel is ideal for backpackers who want to live closely with the indescribable essence that La Candelaria has, in a comfortable and cozy atmosphere with television, internet, and a private bathroom in each room. The hostel is very well located, just a couple of blocks from Luis Angel Arango Library and the Gold Museum.
● Hotel Dann Avenida 19
- Address: Av 19 # 5 - 72
- Price: COP 119,351
- Services: This is the ideal hotel for business travelers, as it is close to the main government entities, shopping centers of great tradition, and the financial center, as well as being close to the airport. The rooms have a private bathroom, work desk, WiFi, a safe, alarm clock, and telephone. Some of the rooms are equipped to receive disabled people. The hotel has a business center, convention, and conference rooms with a capacity of 100 people. The restaurant offers a varied menu of Colombian food and international food.
Restaurants & Bars in Bogota
● Cantina La 15 Bogota
- Carrera 13 83 57 Zona T Bogota, Bogota 110221 Colombia
- Price: From COP $40.000
● Craft & Drink
- Street N° 65 4a 54, Bogota 110231 Colombia
- Price: From COP $12.000
● Capitalino Restaurant
- Street N° 24a 57 60 Piso 1 Grand Hyatt Bogota, Bogota 111321 Colombia
- Price: From COP $23.000
● Restaurant QUN
- Street N° 85 12 72 La Cabrera, Bogota 110221 Colombia
- Price: From COP $35.000
Tourist Places in Bogota
● Monserrate: The panoramic view from this hill allows you to see how enormous Bogota is. You can get up there by cable car or funicular in 10-minute journeys. For nature and exercise enthusiasts, a trail is also enabled to climb this mountain on foot, on a journey of about an hour depending on the pace of each person. At the top of this hill is the Church of the “Fallen Lord” of Monserrate, famous for performing miracles. There is also an attractive variety of restaurants and cafeterias to have spectacular snacks while enjoying the view.
● Gold Museum: In the center of Bogota is this emblematic museum that has several of the pre-Columbian elements that abounded in this land before the Spanish conquest. Vessels and other gold elements, accompanied by their respective descriptions, allow seeing the works and the symbols that they existed at that time. However, the main protagonist of this place is gold, which not only gives the name to the museum but also revives through its golden pieces, multiple accessories that represented great value not only economically but also spiritually.
● Planetarium: This space allows science lovers to have an approach to different advances and astrological investigations that have been made in this place. The Planetarium also has an imposing dome that simulates a night sky to be able to capture on the screen all the behavior of the stars. In this dome, different concerts and attractive audiovisual functions are held.
Important Dates in Bogota
● August 6th: This day is Bogota's birthday and is celebrated with different free outdoor concerts to promote art and cultural diversity.
● July 20th: Although this is a national date because the Colombian Independence Day, nowhere do they manage to celebrate it as it is done in Bogota. The military parades in Carrera 68 and the sample of military airplanes are a spectacle that must be lived, and that makes Colombians feel proud of their homeland.
How to move around Bogota?
● Public bus: The Integrated Public Transport System SITP has several buses that travel throughout the city, covering Bogota in its entirety. Transmilenio covers the main roads of Colombia, going at a high speed thanks to having its own trunk. It is necessary to take a SITP bus to get to Transmilenio’s stations. For both services the same card works. The card must be recharged at any Transmilenio station and allows free transfer from one bus to another.
● Taxi: The supply of taxis is very wide because of the high demand for their service. The fares are charged according to a taximeter that works while the ride is in progress.
How to reach Bogota from Pitalito?
Bogota by bus: You can reach Bogota from Pitalito by land. The trip takes approximately 9 to 11 hours.
Gastronomy in Bogota
● Arepa
● Ajiaco
● Caldo
● Changua
● Empanada
Things to buy in Bogota
● Coffee: Colombian coffee is excellent. In Bogotá, you will have the option of visiting different shops and comparing the flavor of each region to bring the best gift.
● Emeralds: In the center of Bogota there is a great variety of places where you can buy spectacular emeralds, ideal to take back.
● Obleas: A great idea to bring back a good dessert, which can be loaded without damaging it. Take care that they do not break into the suitcase.
Bogota Facts
Bogotá is the largest and most populated city in Colombia, with 1,587 square kilometers and around 8 million inhabitants. It is approximately at 2,600 meters above sea level. The city is divided into 20 localities and within each locality, there are different neighborhoods. Each neighborhood is different and has its own charm and places of interest.
Bus Operators on the Pitalito to Bogota route
● Cootranshuila
● Coomotor
● Líneas Verdes
In Conclusion:
Bogota is a city with a long way to go. Both the historic center and the other neighborhoods will dazzle you with their beauty and the history that they bring with them. You can take up to 2 free tours per day for the guides to help you learn about their past. Also, you can't stop enjoying food and nighttime activities.