Bogota

Bogota: Colombia’s Capital of Cool

Bogota is Colombia’s capital city—a national hub for finance, education, and commerce.

It’s also the address of some of South America’s best museums, art galleries, fine dining restaurants, and nightlife.

Although at first glance Bogota appears wholly modern, this city is deeply rooted in the 16th century. 

Bogota’s heritage as a capital go back even farther; Gonzalo Jiménez de Quesada founded Spanish Bogota in 1538 on the site of the historic Muisca capital known as Bacatá.

La Candelaria

Bogota’s historic core—La Candelaria—is a fine collection of colonial and neoclassical architecture.

The quarter’s casonas (traditional houses) are characterized by iron-grated windows, monumental wooden doors, ornate balconies, and introverted gardens

Plaza de Bolivar

Plaza de Bolivar—the Candelaria’s centerpiece—is anchored by the 16th-century Cathedral Primada de Colombia with its twin bell towers.

Flanking the plaza are the Palace of Justice and the National Capitol, bearing traces of Bogata’s rich renaissance and neoclassical lineage.

La Candelaria is home to more than a dozen museums, with collections spanning archeology, national history, and sacred art.

Fernando Botero and Museo Botero

A few blocks east of Plaza Bolivar is the Museo Botero, dedicated to the sculpture of Fernando Botero.

The museum also displays works from Sr. Botero’s private collection—paintings by Picasso, Renoir, Dali, Matisse, Monet, and Giacometti.

Museo del Oro: Pre-Columbian Gold

Five blocks to the north, the Museo del Oro houses a collection of over 34,000 pre-Columbian gold objects, as well as another 20,000 stone, ceramic, textile, and precious stone artifacts.

A few miles north of the historic core are the Zona T (Zona Rosa) and Parque 93—where you’ll find some of Bogota’s best restaurants, nightclubs, and hotels.

Macarena District and Zona G

The hilly Macarena district, just east of downtown, features avant-garde boutiques, galleries, and cafés.

The Zona G (Gastronomic Zone) contains a concentration of top-rated fine dining options, including several on San Pellegrino’s “50 Best” list.

Cerro de MONSERRATE

Bogota’s urban bustle ends abruptly at the foot of Cerro de Monserrate, a forested Andean peak rising 1,800 feet above the capital’s eastern edge.

Here, visitors can ride a tramway or a funicular to the iconic hilltop church, enjoying picnic lunches and breathtaking views.

Fusagasuga Orchid and Coffee Plantations

Bogota is surrounded by worthwhile day-trip options. To the southeast sits Fusagasuga—home to orchid and coffee plantations.

Zipaquira Salt Cathedral

To the north lies Zipaquira, known for its lovely plaza and unique Salt Cathedral—a cave-like chapel located 650 feet below ground in a halite mountain.

Just 100 miles north of Bogota, visitors can savor relaxed pace and old-world charm of Villa de Leyva, a stunning whitewashed town founded in 1572.

At 8,660 feet above sea level, Bogotá is the third highest capital in the hemisphere.

Bogota Climate

Due in part to its altitude, Bogota enjoys a perpetual spring-like climate. Daily temperatures here range from the mid-40’s at night to the high 60’s in the afternoon.

Precipitation in Bogota is light.

October and November are the only months in which average monthly rainfall slightly exceeds two inches. Take advantage of the fine weather by visiting the iconic botanical garden or a local outdoor market.

On Sundays, the city’s central streets overflow with bicycles, street performers, and pushcart kitchens.

Bogota Flight Times

Nonstop flights connect Bogota’s El Dorado International Airport with:

• Cartagena (90 minutes)
• Panama City, Panama (90 minutes)
• Quito, Ecuador (90 minutes)
• San Jose, Costa Rica (just over 2 hours)
• Miami (3.5 hours)
• New York (6 hours)

LANDED can arrange private transfers from El Dorado upon request.