Bogota Weekend Warrior's Guide

Due to Bogota’s violent past, many travelers in Colombia prefer to go to the more established tourist cities in the country like Cali, Medellin, and Cartagena. But with all the change Bogota has gone through in the last decade, visiting this vastly underrated city will certainly shatter your expectations with its rich history, pulsating city life and its own set of world-class attractions. Here is a short list of some things that you’ll want to do and places you’ll want to visit:

La Puerta Falsa

Before you start your day strolling around Bogota, consider eating a delicious Colombian breakfast in one of the most enduring cafeterias in the city, La Puerta Falsa. Located on Calle 11, this small but respected institution has been serving good food to Bogotanos since 1816. Having been featured in many well-known guide books, travel magazines, as well as travel shows like Anthony Bourdain’s Parts Unknown, it has become a favorite place for travelers to try the Latin American staple hot tamales and Chocolate Completo.

Bogota Bicycle Tours

Explore the streets of Bogota on a bicycle and experience its vibrant urban life on a more intimate level with Bogota Bicycle Tours. They offer guided tours everyday at 10:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. It is a three to five-hour history lesson on wheels that covers an extensive list of important locations around Bogota. The tour not only discusses the country’s textbook history, but also its recent and current struggles with politics, poverty, and its war on drugs. For COP35,000 (about $14.00), you get to ride your own bike along with a guide to historic sites like Plaza Bolivar, Plaza Del Chorro, Plaza San Victorino, and National University’s very own Che Guevarra Plaza. The tour also takes you to the Botero Museum and the National Museum where you get the opportunity to learn about the history and arts of Colombia. However, the best part of the tour is seeing the real Bogota where you get to interact with the locals of Barrio Egipto, try the various Colombian produce in Palo Quemao fruit market, and even explore the Central Cemetery.

Bogota Grafitti Tour

Walk around the streets of Bogota and find some of the best street art of the city. Bogota’s lax policy on graffiti has made it a favorite venue for local and international artists alike, making the city a giant, thriving gallery for street art. Tours are offered twice a day from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and from 2 p.m to 4:30 p.m. regardless of the weather. The guides accept suggested donations between COP20,000-COP30,000 (around $8.00-$9.00). The tour will take you to different parts of the city where you can find beautiful murals made by local artists, like the street art crew APC as well as the internationally renowned artists like the Spanish Graffiti legend PEZ. The tour will show you how art intertwines with history, culture, politics, identity, and religion. You will discover that most of the artwork shown during the tour are not just colorful pieces of art, but are also symbols of the struggles and aspirations of Colombia.

Plaza de Bolivar

Step back in time and stroll around the historic site of Plaza de Bolivar. Stand in front of the almost two centuries old Simon de Bolivar’s statue and feel the Colonial atmosphere of all the architecture that surrounds the plaza. Within the vicinity of the Plaza, you will find the National Capitol, Palace of Justice, Lievano Building (which is the office of the mayor of Bogota), and the Cathedral of Bogota. You can participate in various activities held at the plaza such as kite-flying, bird feeding, or even watching concerts.

Museo Nacional

Bogota offers a lot of museums, but if you do not have time to visit all of them, Museo Nacional is the best place to go. Originally built as a prison, Museo Nacional is one of the oldest museums in South America and houses thousands of historical artifacts from pre-colombian period to the modern-day Colombia. It also boasts artwork from classical and contemporary Colombian artists like Fernando Botero’s famous paintings of unnaturally large, curvy characters. Although admission is free, it would be best to sign up for a guided tour if you cannot understand Spanish — especially since most descriptions provided with the artifacts on display are only in Spanish.

Cerra de Monserrate

You can end your day climbing Cerra de Monserrate on the eastside of Bogota and visit an old church built in the 17th Century. Rising 3,152 meters above sea level, Monserrate offers a wonderful vista of Bogota. Since it faces west, this is the best place to watch the sun set over the city. Most tourists reach Monserrate via the funicular or the aerial tramway which costs COP7,900 ($4.20) roundtrip. However, Monserrate can also be reached by foot, which many Catholic pilgrims like to do. Due to the altitude, some people find even the simplest tasks such as walking and breathing difficult. However, pacing yourself properly will allow you to enjoy the mountain’s majestic views.

There is something refreshing about witnessing a place like Bogota. Experiencing this place will ultimately help you gain a more accepting perception of a country that has always struggled with bad publicity. You probably do not know this yet, but Colombians are surprisingly friendly people — and yes, they do love foreigners. So go ahead and give Colombia a try. Perhaps it’s about time you let go of your preconceived notions and uncover this country’s real beauty — and Bogota is a wonderful place to start!