Bogotá for the Weekend
Bienvenidos a Bogotá / Welcome to Bogotá
Discover the vibrant heart of Colombia's capital city as a solo traveler or with friends! This guide takes you through the must-see attractions and incredible restaurants for an amazing weekend in Bogotá.
Overview
Weather: Mild, cool, potentially rainy - depending on when you visit! December - February is the dry season while April & May typically see the most rain. Â
Elevation: 8,660 ft/2,640 m
Language: Spanish
Currency: Colombian peso (COP)
Travel documentation: Everyone must complete the checkmig form before entering or departing Colombia. https://www.colombia-checkmig.com/
Safety information: Bogotá is a complex, vibrant city in South America. I personally had no safety concerns while visiting Bogotá, but do be careful, use your common sense, and be aware of your surroundings. Be especially mindful of your cell phone, cameras, etc. when walking in crowded areas. Also, watch out for motos before pulling your phone out on the street! Our guide said that many phones are easily snatched by someone on the back of a moto.
Where to Stay
It's important to chose the right neighborhood for your stay in Bogotá - especially if you're traveling solo!Â
La Candelaria
La Candelaria is Bogotá's historic center where cobblestone streets wind past colorful colonial buildings, lively street art, and captivating museums. Many backpackers choose to stay in the historic district. There are several hostel options that will fit your budget. This is the cultural heart of the city and is very busy during the day. Because this place is frequented by tourists, be smart and keep your eyes peeled for pickpockets. I was recommended by locals to avoid at night.
If you stay in La Candelaria, I recommend the following hostels:
Chapinero
Chapinero is another great option, especially if you're looking to experience the nightlife of Bogotá. This is a trendy, vibrant neighborhood with great restaurants and lively bars and nightclubs.Â
Chapinero is 25 minutes from La Candelaria by car. Uber/Cabify rides average 15.000-18.000 COP ($3-4 USD), making this neighborhood a good option for visiting the historic district without staying there.
If I stayed in Chapinero, I would stay here:
El ChicĂł
El ChicĂł is an upscale neighborhood that offers a peaceful escape with its leafy streets, beautiful park (Parque de la 93), and excellent dining options. El ChicĂł is ~25-30 minutes from the El Dorado International Airport and 30-45 minutes from La Candelaria, depending on traffic.
I felt very safe from morning to night, especially on the weekends with many people out and about.  Normally I wouldn't stay so far from the historic center, but I was planning to meet up with a friend who would be attending a work meeting in this neighborhood.
Where to Eat & Drink
I wasn't expecting to enjoy the food scene in Bogotá as much as I did - my expectations were greatly exceeded! Really good food can be found at all price points all across the city.Â
Typical Colombian food & drinks you should definitely try:
• Bandeja paisa - national dish containing beans, rice, arepa, chorizo, plantain, chicharrón, avocado, etc..
• Chicha - fermented corn drink
• Arepas - can be very plain, can be stuffed with delicious fillings
• Empanadas - found all over Latin America
• Lechona - suckling pig mixed with rice, peas and seasonings
• Patacones - flattened fried green plantains
• Ajiaco - chicken, corn, and potato soup served with cream and capers
• Maracuya - passionfruit
• Limonada de coco - refreshing coconut limeade
• Papas criolla - fried tiny potatoesÂ
• Salchipapas - fries topped with chopped hot dogs and other toppings
Here is a list of all the restaurants I personally enjoyed plus a few recommendations from the local guide:
What to Do
Walking Tour
One of my top travel recommendations is to book a walking tour on your first day in a new city. It's such an incredible way to get your bearings, learn about the history and culture, and ask a local guide for recommendations. I booked the Free Walking Tour of Bogotá through Beyond Colombia. We spent a couple of hours walking through the historic center of Bogota, learning about all things Colombia - past and present. Our guide was incredibly knowledgeable and passionate, so everyone in the group had an excellent time.Â
Food Tour
Another way to experience a country is through food. I splurged ($45 USD) on this food tour of Bogotá called A Chef's Tour - Bogotá Food Tour and it was SO WORTH IT. The tour lasted for nearly 4 hours because you traverse much of the city and visit over 13 places to try local flavors and comida tĂpica.Â
The tour starts at La Perseverancia Distrital Marketplace in La Macarena. i highly recommend dedicating some time before the tour to explore this neighborhood. La Macarena is Bogotá's bohemian enclave with an eclectic mix of art galleries, cafes, painted murals, and lively markets.
Book your food tour here:
Hike up Monserrate
Standing tall at 9,840 ft/3,152 m, Monserrate is a popular spot for locals and tourists to take in the view. It will be crowded on the weekends.
It's worth remembering that Bogotá is already at an elevation of 8,660 ft/2,640 m. I recommend waiting at least 2 days to acclimate to the elevation before hiking up Monserrate if you aren't coming from a place with high elevation.
If you're staying in La Candelaria, you can walk 20-30 minutes to the bottom of Monserrate. If you're staying in a different part of Bogotá, take an Uber to the Sendero a Monserrate address listed below. This is the start of the hiking path and ticket booth.
You can walk up yourself if you're up for the challenge or you can take the cable car or funicular to the top. Hiking up is free. Tickets cost 21.000 COP for a return or 12.000 COP for a one way journey. My friend and I decided to hike up and take the cable car down for the views. The cable car was packed but quick.
Note: You can only hike between 5 AM and 1 PM.
Day Trip
I ended up not doing this day trip to Cascada La Chorrera due to lack of time. However, I did research into the following options in case I had the time to do this hike:
Option 1 | Go Solo
Based on my research, you can take a colectivo from Bogotá to Cascada La Chorrera via ChoachĂ. The buses for this journey depart from the Terminal Transoriente, which is close to La Candelaria. This blogger gives a very detailed description for how to get to and from La Cascada Chorrera from Bogotá. These are the instructions I was planning to follow:
If going solo and taking public transportation sounds more stressful , consider joining a group tour or going with a local.
Option 2 | Join a Group Tour
The Colombia Tour company had the best reviews and this is who I would go through if I wanted to join a group tour. The advertised price is $92 USD but the price is cheaper if you pay in cash. (I'm not sure how much cheaper, you would need to message them on WhatsApp).
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Option 3 | Colombian Buddy
Colombian Buddy is a unique service that pairs you with a local Colombian expert and you pay for their time. The company will pair you with a buddy to accompany you on whatever activity you have in mind (shopping, hiking, bar hopping, etc.) and you pay for any expenses - think food, transportation, etc. They also offer an airport pick-up/drop-off service. I think this company offers a great option to meet a local and learn from their experiences. This is also good for those who are traveling solo and/or don't speak much Spanish.
Transportation
Airport Pickup / Drop-off
I was advised to book a shuttle or private transfer from the airport. Apparently the airport taxis aren’t super safe or regulated and there have been reports of fare gauging, robberies, etc. I prioritize safety over cost for airport pickups, especially when arriving late night. I booked a private transfer through my hostel and the cost was 50,000 COP. I liked the driver so much that I messaged him on WhatsApp a few days later and booked him for my bus station pickup.
Regional BusesÂ
There are a few main bus stations in Bogotá - Terminal del Sur (in the south), Terminal del Norte (in the north), and Terminal Salitre (also referred to as Terminal de Transporte S.A. on Google Maps). Terminal Salitre is the most centrally located, so I would recommend booking your bus out of this station. There are plenty of services - places to buy SIM cards, restrooms, snack shops, restaurants, etc.Â
It's a little hectic inside, but everyone was kind & helpful when I asked where I needed to go to catch my bus.Â
I hope this guide convinced you to spend a weekend (or more!) in Bogotá to taste all that the city has to offer, experience the kindness of the Colombian people, and appreciate Colombia's rich, complex history and culture.Â
If you're looking for some peace and quiet for your next destination in Colombia, check out El Desierto de la Tatacoa / The Tatacoa Desert.
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