Bogota @cruiseluxurious

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Table of contents

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1 Bogotá. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42General. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42Districts. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42Get in. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52Get around. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62See. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72Do. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 92Learn. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 102Talk. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 102Work. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 102Buy. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 102Eat. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 112Drink. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 122Sleep. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 132Stay safe. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 152Stay healthy. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 152Get out. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 152News outlets. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 162History. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 162Culture. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17

1 Restaurants. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 212Top Best Restaurants. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 212Top Young couples. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 212Top Italian. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 212Top Asian. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21

1 Useful info. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 232Sunrise/Sunset. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 232Useful phrases. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 232Passport and Visa. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 242Emergency numbers. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25

1 Maps. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 261 References. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35

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Bogotá Bogotá · General

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Bogotá

Bogotá

GeneralWith a population of about 8.8 million people, Bogota sits ap-proximately 8,660 feet (2640 meters) above sea level in theAndino region. Orientation is relatively easy, as the mountainsto the east are generally visible from most parts of the city.

To understand the sheer size of the city, consider that MexicoCity and New York City are the only North American cities larg-er than Bogotá. In fact, in 2008 the World Cities Study Groupand Network (GaWC) from the United Kingdom ranked Bogotáas a world city comparable to San Francisco, Washington DC,Dubai, Buenos Aires or Berlin, grouped by their economical,political and cultural developments. What this means for thetraveler is a world class urban destination.

Bogotá is a city of contrasts, and as such it offers a unique expe-rience to its visitors. Prepare to find a hectic balance betweenthe new and the old; the peaceful and the frantic. Encountercentury-old plazas and churches shadowed by towering sky-crapers. Find peaceful treelined bicycle routes cut through bywild-traffic avenues. Bogota is a city with many layers. Frominternationally recognized universities to regional offices formultinational companies, Bogota is Colombia's capital for of-ficial business dealings. It is a city that caters to a populationthat has been exposed to European and North American in-fluences, which ensures that anything from traditional dishes(Ajiaco) to sushi or fast food restaurants can be found. It's oneof the most modern and metropolitan cities of South, CentralAmerica and the world. Bogota is divided by 4 sections: TheSouth which is mainly the poorer section of the city; El Centro,which translates "Center", is the city's original Downtown andhosts most of its traditional heritage locations, city and pub-lic offices, and financial headquarters. El Occidente, which ishome to Bogota's major sporting venues and outdoor parks,as well as residence areas for main middle and some upperclass living; and The North which is where most modern de-velopment has taken place, and combines many upscale livingspaces with affluent shopping centers, boutiques, cafes, night-clubs, and many new business neighborhoods offering head-quarters to many multinational corporations.

During the last decades, due to the city's exponential growth,some of neighboring towns have been absorbed and are nowconsidered within the metropolitan area of Greater Bogotá,like Suba, Soacha and Fontibón.

Districts

Centro Internacional is located between downtown, La Macarena and Chap-inero

The city of Bogotá is divided into 20 distinct localities, or Dis-tricts, and every visit to this city should include touring at leastthree or four of them, depending on the purpose and extent ofone's travel. The must-see Districts are:

La Candelaria: The colonial district is officialy in the Santa Fédistrict. Colombia's capital city was founded here in 1538 bySpanish conquistador Gonzalo Jiménez de Quesada y Riverain a spot known today as El Chorro de Quevedo. The nextyear, authorities re-founded the city a few blocks away atwhat is now known as the Plaza de Bolívar. Bogotá then grewup around the neighborhood. Because the city expandedwest and north, La Candelaria retained much of its colonialatmosphere. The neighborhood is full of cobblestone streetsand centuries-old houses. It is now a tourism and universitydistrict, as well as the site of Colombia's government. Hereyou'll find most of the public buildings, both from the Cityand the Country's government. Historical squares, 400 yearold churches, picturesque narrow streets are all here, mixingalong modern development of financial business hightow-ers.

Chapinero : North of La Candelaria, it comprises the newdowntown areas of the city, combining office space, residen-tial areas and hundreds of alternatives for shopping, diningand sightseeing. In a city famous for its wild traffic, you'll re-ally enjoy the walks that can be had around El Nogal, La Cabr-era and Chicó Reservado. Begin at Carrera 7a around streets79 or 80, and zig-zag your way down and north until you findthe Parque 93. Along the way, you will find tree-lined narrowstreets, personality-ridden shops and boutiques, and eccen-tric dining alternatives. Don't hesitate in stopping for a worldfamous coffee in any location, and zip your way throughall the bars and clubs surrounding the Zona Rosa. Make itthrough to the beautiful green park of Virrey and walk downits creek for a breath of fresh air. By the time you reach the 93


Bogotá Bogotá · Get in

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you'll be glad to take the opportunity to sit down, rest, andpeople-watch in one of its many terraces.

El Salitre makes for a unique sightseeing experience with itsample offerings in public venues for Sports and Outdoor ac-tivities. Here sports fans will find the Football (Soccer) Stadi-um, the Olympic Water Complex (biggest and most modernof South America), and the city's league venues for all sorts ofdisciplines like tennis, track and field, basketball, volleyballand bowling all within walking distance of each other. Out-door fans will find the city's biggest Public Park (Simón Bolí-var), home to the most crowded open-air concerts and festi-vals year-round, and favorite destination for all sorts of activ-ities such as jogging, biking, kite-flying, pedal-boating, etc.Culture fans will be at home with the district's offerings ofMuseums, including a Botanical Garden displaying the mostamazing floral showcase of the continent.

La Macarena : A bohemian neighborhood around the bull-fight ring full of artsy cafes, art galleries and great restau-rants.

Parque de la 93: A trendy section of Bogotá with nightclubsand cafes frequently visited by Bogota's "jet set".

San Victorino : Located in the center of the city just in frontof TransMilenio's station, Av. Jimenez. There you will find aplaza surrounded by all kinds of cheap stores selling differ-ent types of goods, from clothes to food and pets. If you dogo, do not take anything with you; gringos are not well re-ceived there and may get robbed.

Usaquén : The northernmost district, home to many sight-seeing locations, modern business squares, and traditionalarchitecture examples. The main square is the meeting pointof the area where you can find pretty nice restaurants andbars. But walk around and find more great places to eat anddrink. It serves as a hub to connect with outer destinationsnorth from the city, which include many attractions withinnearby towns.

Not for tourists but with some appeal for the hardcore trav-eler, other districts include: Antonio Nariño, Bosa, Ciudad Bolí-var, Engativá, Fontibón, Kennedy, Los Mártires, Puente Aran-da, Rafael Uribe Uribe, Suba, Sumapaz, Barrios Unidos and Tun-juelito.

Get in

By planeThe city is served by El Dorado International Airport (IA-TA: BOG) (ICAO: SKBO) (~20 minutes from downtown in ataxi), that receives several flights daily from New York City,Washington D.C., Atlanta, Houston, Miami, Orlando, Fort Laud-erdale, Paris, São Paulo, Madrid, Barcelona, Frankfurt, Mexi-co City, San José (Costa Rica), Lima, Buenos Aires, Panamá

City, Quito, Guayaquil, Oranjestad (Aruba), Willemstad (Cu-raçao) and Toronto among others. Tourists can also take ad-vantage of the convenient connections and direct flights fromLos Angeles, Washington, Santo Domingo, San Juan, PuntaCana, Valencia (Venezuela), Havana, Montego Bay, London,Frankfurt and Orlando. Many international airlines such as Jet-Blue, Continental,Delta Air Lines, Air France, Air Canada, Amer-ican Airlines, Iberia, LAN, Mexicana, Gol, Copa, Avianca, AeroRepública, Aerolíneas Argentinas, Spirit, TACA, and AeroGalamong others.

Domestic flights are served by many airlines including Avian-ca (main Colombian airline), Aero República (a Continen-tal-owned domestic airline) and Aires. Domestic flights ofAvianca are served from the Puente Aereo terminal, next to ElDorado terminal, and features WiFi access to the Internet fromalmost every location. There are more than 20 daily flights tothe 2 airports located in Medellín, over 15 daily flights to Caliand more than 10 to Cartagena. Taxis are regulated, reason-ably priced and safe from the airport. El Dorado Airport is un-dergoing a complete makeover, which will end in 2012 andwill make it bigger and more comfortable. El Dorado is also thethird busiest airport in Latin America and the largest by cargomovement.

To get out from the airport into the city there are a coupleof options: 1) Regulated taxis. You first have to search for astand where you will have to point out your destination andthen they will print out a ticket indicating the price you willhave pay. Then, pick up a taxi from the line and explain to thedriver your destination. At the end of the journey you will haveto pay ONLY what is printed out in the ticket. The typical pricewill range from 15.000 up to 25.000 COP. 2) Bus. Walking on-ly some meters outside the main door entrance, you will finda "paradero" (bus stop) with frecuent busetas passing by. Al-though this is by far the cheapest option (around 1.200 COP), itcan be daring if you don't know the city already, since the busonly indicates the main places where it passes by. However,bus drivers are very friendly and quite helpful, and you can askthem to indicate you when the bus is passing a certain pointof the city. A good option is to ask him to drop you close by aTransmilenio station and then continue your trip from there.

By busThe safety of bus travel in Colombia has greatly improved in re-cent years. However, foreigners should be cautious not to trav-el to areas of unrest and travel only during the day. Do not car-ry large amounts of cash with you as robberies are known tooccur along some routes. Service in the 'upscale' buses is verygood and they are very comfortable. Pick the most expensiveservice (just a couple of dollars extra) as these buses tend to benewer and better mechanical condition. Bogotá is also build-ing 2 new terminals, one located far south and one on the northcorner to serve buses going on those directions.


Bogotá Bogotá · Get around

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Get aroundThe city of Bogota is built on a grid system. Carreras (streets) areabbreviated as Cr., Kra., and Cra. and run parallel to the moun-tains from South to North. Carreras are numbered by ordinalnumbers, for example Cr.3 is read Carrera tercera and not Car-rera tres.

The calles (also streets) cross the Carreras and run from East toWest. Calles are abbreviated as Cll. and Cl.

Avenidas, abbreviated as Av, are usually larger and mainstreets. The numerical system for the Avenidas is used butsome have names that are more commonly used such as Aveni-da Jimenez. Each address consists of a series of numbers, forexample: Calle 16 # 2-43 which indicates that the building islocated on street 16 (Calle 16) 43 meters ahead from the inter-section with street 2 (Carrera 2).

By taxiTaxi cabs are ubiquitous and affordable yet if travelling to theheart of the city, can be very slow due to the infamous Bogo-ta traffic. They can be flagged down anywhere, but it may bedangerous. They can also be reached by phone, which is highlyrecommended for security reasons, at 599-9999, 311-1111 or411-1111. If calling for a taxi, the driver will want to confirm thatit is you who called by asking for a "clave" (key), which is alwaysthe last two digits of the phone from which you called to re-quest the taxi. Each taxi has a meter which should incrementone tick every 1/10 kilometer or 30 seconds and starts at 25ticks. The rate chart is printed on a card in the taxi. Nearly all taxidrivers will try to take advantage of you in one way or anoth-er; be sure the taxi meter is started when you begin your trip.Tipping is never necessary - be sure to count your change andbe on the lookout for both counterfeit coins and notes. Thereare surcharges for the airport, holidays, and nights (after 8PM).Surcharge details are printed on the fare card. Surcharge for or-dering a taxi arriving at your house is currently 600 pesos, sur-charge after 8PM is 1.600 pesos, even if you are starting yourtrip before that time. Holidays and Sundays are also surcharged1.600 pesos. Lock the doors of the taxi, especially after dark. Ifyou experience a problem in a taxi or with the driver, dial 123to report a complaint with the police. You should also call thecompany with which the taxi is registered.

By TransmilenioBogota's new rapid bus service is extremely affordable, cleanand efficient. It carries commuters to numerous corners of thecity in exclusive lanes, bypassing the notorious city traffic; how-ever, there are some main routes that are not yet reached byTransmilenio. Tickets cost 1,600 COP. The vehicles used in thatsystems are articulated buses; they are fast and safe, but couldbe full during the afternoon times. The system also uses differ-ent kinds of stations: the simples offers bus services at the rightand left sides (north-south;east-west) and the intermediates

are usually located in middle points and have complete ser-vices, such as elevators, station libraries, bikes parks, restrooms.Alimentadores services (buses that reach zones the articulat-ed buses do not) and the portals, the 7 arrival and departureplaces of the buses, are located near the entrances to the city.Service ends averagely at 10 or 11p.m.. Additionally, intercitybuses from the metropolitan area also arrive at these stations.

By busPrivately owned buses cruise all the main thorough fares andmany side streets, and are the principal form of transport forthe working class and student class. Though they do followspecific routes, they do not have bus "stops"; you merely call tothem like taxis and they will stop for you where you are stand-ing. Placards in the large front windows list destinations, eitherneighborhoods or main street names. Upon entering you willbe asked for the fare; if you are not traveling alone you maybe asked "Para ambos?", for example, meaning "For both?", tosee if you are paying for just yourself or for your companion.Then you pass through a turnstile to the seating areas. The bus-es come in three sizes, usually, long (like a school bus), medi-um and small (called busetas). All have turnstiles. To exit thesebuses, you go to the back door and either push a button locat-ed usually on one of the hand rails or next to the exit, or simplycall out "Aqui, por favor!" or "Pare!" (Stop!). Passengers are of-ten expected to embark and disembark even from the middleof the street.

Sometimes vendors are allowed to enter the buses to sell can-dy or small gift items (occasionally donating one to the driverfor the privilege). Or, you may find entertainers such as singersor guitar players, and even the more creative of the street beg-gars who will regale you with a long, poetic story of their sadsituation before asking for donations. Even in the smallest bus-es, cramped full of people standing and sitting, it is a com-mon sight. Interestingly, a recent Grammy-nominated singernamed Ilona got her start performing on buses around Bogota.

The cost for riding on a private bus normally costs 1300 COPduring the day and 1350 COP during the night.

By colectivo

Privately owned buses cruise all the main thorough fares andmany side streets, and are the principal form of transport forthe working class and student class. Though they do followspecific routes, they do not have bus "stops"; you merely call tothem like taxis and they will stop for you where you are stand-ing. Placards in the large front windows list destinations, eitherneighborhoods or main street names. Upon entering you willbe asked for the fare; if you are not traveling alone you maybe asked "Para ambos?", for example, meaning "For both?", tosee if you are paying for just yourself or for your companion.Then you pass through a turnstile to the seating areas. The bus-es come in three sizes, usually, long (like a school bus), medi-um and small (called busetas). All have turnstiles. To exit these


Bogotá Bogotá · See

7

buses, you go to the back door and either push a button locat-ed usually on one of the hand rails or next to the exit, or simplycall out "Aqui, por favor!" or "Pare!" (Stop!). Passengers are of-ten expected to embark and disembark even from the middleof the street.

Sometimes vendors are allowed to enter the buses to sell can-dy or small gift items (occasionally donating one to the driverfor the privilege). Or, you may find entertainers such as singersor guitar players, and even the more creative of the street beg-gars who will regale you with a long, poetic story of their sadsituation before asking for donations. Even in the smallest bus-es, cramped full of people standing and sitting, it is a com-mon sight. Interestingly, a recent Grammy-nominated singernamed Ilona got her start performing on buses around Bogota.

The cost for riding on a private bus normally costs 1300 COPduring the day and 1350 COP during the night.

See

Bogota Street in the old downtown part of La Candelaria

La Candelaria

View of La Candelaria, with central Bogotá in the background

Home of author Jose Vargas Vila

Many landmark events in the history of Colombian and SouthAmerican independence took place in the La Candelaria, dis-trict including the near killing and escape of Simon Bolivar,the execution of revolutionary heroine Policarpa Salavarrieta,known as 'La Pola,' and the Grito de Libertad, known as the be-ginning of the region's revolution. And the district is indeedteeming with history, and there are a lot of interesting mu-seums and old churches in what is the oldest Bogotá neigh-borhood. Some streets are reserved to pedestrians. The mostimportant places are La Catedral, Plaza de Bolivar, Palacio deNariño, Iglesia del Carmen, Biblioteca Luis A Arango (blaa), theColonial Art Museum and the old architecture of the housesand buildings, almost all of the museums charge no admis-sion. La Candelaria also contains numerous Catholic Church-es, many of them centuries-old. The Colombian-American andColombian-French cultural centers are located in La Candelar-ia, and a Colombian-Spanish cultural center is under construc-tion.

Bogotá Bike Tours, Carrera 3 No. 12-72 (Carrera 3 betweenCalles 12 and 13, downhill from La Plaza del Chorro), ☎ +57(1) 281-9924 ([email protected]), . 10:30 am and1:30 pm tours on bicycle daily through the city - fruit mar-


Bogotá Bogotá · See

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kets, Plaza Bolivar, Plaza de Chorros, Bullfighting Stadium,National Park, National Museum, Botero Museum, and oth-er locations throughout Bogotá, specifically focusing on LaCandelaria neighborhood. The 10:30 am tour is between 4-5hours in length. 30.000 pesos/ $15 USD per tour.

Casa de Moneda, Calle 11 No. 4-21 (Next to Museo Botero),☎ 343-1223. M-F : 10 am to 8 pm , Tu : closed / Sa : 10 am to 7pm / Su : 10 am to 4 pm. Has a collection of Colombian coinsand the history of moneymaking. Free entrance.

Cultural Heritage Museum.

Donación Botero, Calle 11 No. 4-41, ☎ ''+57 1'' 343-1331, .W-Fr 10AM-8PM, Sa 10AM-7PM and Su 10AM-4PM. Collec-tion of paintings donated by Botero to Bogota. Besides workof Botero the collection contains work from Picasso, Renoir,Monet, Dali and others. Free entrance.

Gold Museum (El Museo del Oro), Calle 16 No. 5-41 (On oneside of the Parque Santander), ☎ ''+57 1'' 284-7450 (fax: ''+571'' 343-2222), . Tu-Sa : 9 to 6 / Su : 10 to 4. Impressive col-lection of gold and pre-Colombian artifacts from Colombiaand surrounding nations. Don't miss this museum. The GoldMuseum is unique and you won't find a better place to seethe pre-Spanish artwork on gold. La Casa del Florero was thesite of an 1810 protest by Colombians considered to be theinitiation of the revolt against Spain. The Botero Museumcontains both works by Fernando Botero, Colombia's mostfamous artist, and the contents of his private collection, in-cluding works by Picasso, Renoir, Dali and others. The muse-um was under renovation, up until October 2008 and as ofthen its open to the public once more so don't miss it out.2,800 COP.

Banco de la Republica Art Collection (Museo Botero), Calle11 No. 4-41. Tue to Sat:10AM-7PM, Sun and holidays10AM-4PM Closed on Mon, including holiday Mondays. Ex-hibits Permanent Banco de la República Art Collection con-sisting of nearly 3,000 paintings, sculptures and assembly ofColombian and Latin American masters from the XVI centu-ry to our days. Visitors may appreciate a selection of Colom-bian painters works, for instance Gregorio Vázquez de Arcey Ceballos, the most important Colony painter, AlejandroObregón, Enrique Grau, Latin American as Rufino Tamayo,David Alfaro Siqueiros and many other globally renowned.

Catedral Primada

Museum of Colonial Art, Carrera 6 No. 9-77, ☎ 341 6017([email protected]). Tu-Sa 10 a.m. to 5:30p.m. / Su from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.. Under Eduardo Santosadministration on August 6, 1942 the Colonial Museum con-taining Viceroy-ship art, silver plates, the Virgin of the Lightand the most characteristic Gregorio Vásquez de Arce y Ce-ballos collection, among other valuable Colombian culturetreasures opened its doors. Declared National MonumentNational in 1975, Las Aulas Cloister is one of the oldest build-ings in Bogotá.

Museum Francisco José de Caldas, Carrera 8 #6-87, ☎289-6275 ([email protected]). M-F : 8am to 5pm /Sa : 8am to 2pm. Centered around the life of the revolutionmartyr. Showcases his mapping expedition of Colombia andhow he contributed to the revolution by building a fort anda riffle factory in Antioquia. Free entrance.

Museum of Regional Costumes.

Museum of Religious Art.

National Police Historical Museum, Calle 9 No. 9-27, ☎ 2335911 – 281 3284. Mo-Fr : 8 am to 12pm and 1 pm to 5 pm /Sa : 8 am to 2 pm. Its main interest resides in the rooms ded-icated to the hunt of Pablo Escobar. Guided tours in Spanishand English. Free entrance.

San DiegoCerro de Monserrate. A true beautiful panoramic view of thecity is only a funicular or transferico ride away. You can takethe Funicular up and Transferico down, or vice versa. Youhave the option to buying one way tickets, too. You will havethe most amazing views and also enjoy Colombian or Frenchfood in the two full-service restaurants at the top. There arealso souvenir stalls on the weekends. Remember to bring awarm coat, because it is chilly up there. On Sunday is a verycrowded place, so be ready to get into a long line. It is veryimportant to also wear sunscreen and hat because at such ahigh altitude, you will burn very easily even if it is "cloudy".This is especially true if you are going around noon. You canalso hike up the stone-set path up Monserrate like the locals


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do. It takes approximately 1-1.5 hours up and approximately45 minutes down. Remember to allot more time if you arenot accustomed to being 2 miles above sea level. April 2010update: the hiking trail is closed, but hardcore travellerscan find a way - but take care of mugging while enteringthe walking path! 14,000 COP round trip (8,000 COP on Sun-days).

Torre Colpatria, Carrera 7 # 24 - 89. Bogota's tallest build-ing and one of South America's tallest buildings is locatedin El Centro. You can visit the panoramic deck on the topof building on Saturdays and Sundays; make it a must see.3,000 COP.

Museo Nacional, Carrera 7 No. 28-66, ☎ ''+57 1''334-8366 ([email protected]), . Tu 10AM-8PM;W,Sa 10AM-6PM; Su 10AM-4PM. The National Museum is theoldest in the country and one of the oldest in the continent,built in 1823. Its fortress architecture is built in stone andbrick. The plant includes arches, domes and columns form-ing a sort of Greek cross over which 104 prison cells aredistributed, with solid wall façade. The museum houses acollection of over 20,000 pieces including works of art andobjects representing different national history periods. Per-manent exhibitions present archeology and ethnographysamples from most antique Colombian men vestiges, 10,000years BC, up to XX century indigenous and afro- Colombianart and culture. Founders and New Kingdom of Granadaroom houses rich Liberators and other Spanish authoritiesiconography; the round room exhibits a series of oleos syn-thesizing Colombia painting history. Free in 2010 to cele-brate two hundred years of Bogota.

Museum of Modern Art of Bogota (MamBo), Calle 24 No.6-00, ☎ (571) 286 0466 / (571) 293 3109, . Tue to Sa : 10 a.m.to 5:30 p.m. / Su 10a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Exhibits a complete col-lection of modern art work basically consisting of drawing,paintings, engraved work, sculpture and assembly. Hous-es work of Colombian masters Fernando Botero, AlejandroObregón, Enrique Grau and Édgar Negret, among many oth-er together with important Latin American artists pinacothe-ca. The moderns building, designed by architect Rogelio Sal-mona, achieves optimum space and natural light manage-ment. Adult : 4000 COP / Student : 2000 COP.

Planetario Distrital, Carrera 7 Calle 26, ☎ 334-4546([email protected]), . Dome cinema as well as telescopeobservation on friday nights.

Plaza de Toros de Santamaria, Carrera 6 No. 26-50, ☎334-1482. Santa Maria's bullring

Photography Museum

NorthHacienda Santa Bárbara, Carrera 7 No. 116 - 05. A 19th cen-tury house that belonged to Pepe Sierra, one of the wealth-iest Colombians in that time, that became a mall in late 80's.

Famous for its cafés (some of them nationally renowned)and not as crowded as other malls.Parque & Museo El Chiquo, Calle 93, Carrera 7, . Old haciendalocated in a nice park with botanic information. Guided tourof the interior with its antique furniture. Adult : 2,500 COP /Student : 1,500 COP.

Do

Parque Los Periodistas

Downtown Day TourNo visitor to Bogota skips the historic Downtown and La Can-delaria neighborhood. In fact most affordable lodging and din-ing options can be found this side of town making it high-ly desirable by low-budget travelers and backpackers, givenits close location to many of the city's attractions. Start yourway on Avenida Septima and Calle 14, just arriving Parque San-tander. Take the opportunity to visit the world famous Museodel Oro, or Gold Museum for its legendary El Dorado collec-tions. Then continue south one block up to Avenida Jimenezand give your camera a workout at one of Bogota's most fa-mous and historic intersections, where a couple of ancientchurches and 19th century buildings collide. Turn east (to-wards the mountains) and walk up Avenida Jimenez along-side downtown's famous Eje Ambiental or Environmental Ax-is, which is a section of the avenue that has been closed offto vehicles except Transmilenio, to make way for a generoustree-lined pedestrian sidewalk and an enclosed water stream.Many historic and famous buildings are located alongside theEje Ambiental, home to Bogota's most renowned and tradi-tional companies like El Tiempo and the Bank of the Republic.A few blocks east just past the Parque de los Periodistas theEje Ambiental starts bending northwise, so leave the axis andturn south instead via one of the small streets that branch intothe neighborhood and make your way up to Calle 13 and Car-rera 2, el Chorro de Quevedo, unofficial center of La Candelar-ia, where it is argued that the City of Bogota was founded backin 1538. Today, bohemian life meets to enjoy arts, culture andmusic at this spot. On the way make sure to take in the whim-sical coloring and architecture of the neighborhood's streets


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and colonial houses. Continue on Carrera 2 southward a cou-ple of blocks up until Calle 11, and turn west once again just infront of La Salle University: You'll be glad you do since you'vebeen climbing constantly eastward so enjoy your walk backdown. Make sure to notice the eccentric street names found onpicturesque signs at every corner. Make your way down weston Calle 11 and you will pass by the Museo Botero, museumshowcasing some of famous Colombian painter Botero's pri-vate art collection and work. Another block down is the CentroCultural Garcia Marquez, modern cultural center and venuethat includes Library, Art Galleries, concert halls and lessonrooms, with year-round events and displays for all tastes andaudiences interested in culture and the arts. Continue downwest and reach the Plaza de Bolivar, the city's overwhelmingmain square surrounded by neoclasic government palaces andthe Catedral Primada, largest church in the country. After tak-ing in the many sights, you might want to leave the squaresouthbound for a couple of blocks on Carrera Septima to checkout the Presidential Palace and its Presidential Guard. Final-ly turn around back Carrera Septima northward until you findTransmilenio, just about where you started!

Performances and FestivalsEvery Friday and Sunday night, Avenida Septima is closedand you can see all sorts of street performers, live music,magic shows, etc. and buy crafts and other good. If you don'tmind crowds its worth a visit.

Check out the Iberoamerican Theater Festival, the biggesttheater festival in the world (occurs every two years in April).

LearnBogota has numerous educational institutions. Some ofthe better known universities include: Universidad Na-cional , Universidad de America , Universidad de los An-des , Pontificia Universidad Javeriana , Universidad delRosario (www.urosario.edu.co),Universidad Externado ,Univer-sidad Santo Tomas , Universidad de la Sabana , Universidad dela Salle ,Spanish World Institute Bogotà and LCI Bogotà . How-ever, there are many privately and publicly funded universitiesand Schools.

If you want to learn Spanish, universities are a good optionsince they have all inclusive plans. They not only offer Span-ish courses but also Mandarin, Japanese, French, German, Ital-ian, etc. Also, many embassies have institutions that teach lan-guages, including Spanish, for foreign people, such as the Cen-tro Colombo Americano, the British Council, The Italian Insti-tute, The French Alliance and the Brazil-Colombia Cultural In-stitute (IBRACO).

TalkThe Spanish spoken in Bogotá is considered among the mostneutral and clear in the world. If you know the basics, you'llprobably be fine. Bogotá is full of English academies and bilin-gual schools, so English is spoken by many young people. Themost "touristy" areas are full of young students who go tobilingual schools, and generally, they will help you translate.Colombians love to show off the best of their country to reducethe negative image it has among foreigners.

WorkOfficially, it is not legal to work in Colombia without a properworking visa. Visas can be obtained by employers on your be-half.

There is also a significant market for English and other lan-guage teachers. English translation or editing jobs are possibleto find under the table.

BuyLocal products worth bringing home include :

Inexpensive handicrafts and jewelry from vendors. One ofthe cheapest and picturesque places to buy handicrafts isPasaje Rivas (Calle 9 no. 9). You can access the narrow hallfilled with small stores crossing Plaza de Bolívar, where deMajor's and president's office is located.Coffee-based productsLeather handbags, shoes, and wallets.Uncut and cut emeralds brought in from the world's bestemerald minesInexpensive silver jewelryDress suits and shoes

In Usaquen you can find a huge flea market on Sundays.

MallsSanta Fe, Autopista Norte Calle 183 costado occidental, . Oneof the newest malls in Bogota and second-largest in SouthAmerica is located 5 minute walk north of the Portal delNorte Transmillenio station. It has a wide variety of shops,designer stores, and a food court with many local and inter-national choices. A very fun and modern place.

Unicentro. A very modern mall with many western retailshops. It is localed at Carrera 15 between Calles 120 and 127.

Hacienda Santa Barbara, Carrera 7 No. 115-60. A shoppingmall made out of an old "hacienda" in the trendy bohemian


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neighbourhood of Usaquén. On Sundays the Usaquén fleamarket is just a block north.

La Zona T, Calle 82 Cra 11. The chicest area of Bogota issurrounded by the upscale malls of Centro Andino, At-lantis Plaza and El Retiro which holds various upscale bou-tiques such as Lacoste, Louis Vuitton, Versace, Bulgari, Carti-er, Loewe and many more.More Affordable Shopping Malls : Plaza de las Americas,Ciudad Tunal, Tintal Plaza, Amazonas and Unicentro de Oc-cidente.

Camping and outdoors equipmentThundra Outdoors, Calle 82, No 12-62 (Close to Andinoshopping mall and la Zona T.), ☎ 1-5300645 / 310 2578180, .10 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.. Outdoors equipment : camping,trekking and climbing gear.MonoDedo, Cr.16 No 82-22, ☎ (+57-1) 616 3467([email protected]), . Outdoors equipment andclimbing information.Home Center, (Portal Norte). Tents and sleeping bags atcheaper prices.

EatArepas: Corn flour based pancakes, sometimes made withcheese or slightly salted.

Empanadas: The closest comparison would be pastries. Theseare popular all over South America, so generally each coun-try/region has their own recipe. The filling usually consists ofmeat, potato, vegetables and rice wrapped in a corn flour crust.

Tamal: Usually eaten for breakfast. A mixture of meat, chicken,potato, vegetables and yellow corn wrapped in plantain leavesand then boiled. Should be accompanied by a large mug of hotchocolate.

Ajiaco: Traditional thick soup based on three kinds of potatoes,chicken, avocado, dairy cream, herbs, corn, among others. Typ-ically from the altiplano region.

Plenty of options. These are only a few and are divided by areas.However, it is very difficult to find a decent Chinese/Japaneserestaurant. Do not expect much even if you find any, since mostof them are "fake" oriental restaurants.

CentroHenry Comida Rapida, Carrera 1 and Calle 19 (On the Los An-des University Plaza). Fast food joint for the nearby univer-sity, order a godzilla and you'll be served with what is mostlikely the biggest empanada of the continent !

Asociación Construimos Futuro, Calle 15A #2-21, LaCandelaria (Below hospedaje Sugamuxi), ☎ 3374323/27

([email protected]). Cooperative of social econo-my with friendly and helpful staff. Good and varied break-fasts and lunches. The association holds a supermarket be-sides as well. Around 7000 pesos for breakfast or meal of theday.

PitaWok, Carrera 4 #14-88, La Candelaria, ☎ 562 75 94. Smalland friendly restaurant with excellent Middle-East and Thaifood: shawarmas, kebabs, pitas, Wok dishes and Arabianpastries. Food delivery as well. From 5000 pesos.

La Monapizza, Carrera 4 #12-25, La Candelaria, ☎ 282 16 65, .Excellent pizzeria with sizes ranging from pizzeta to grande.The pequeña is more than enough for one person. From8000 pesos for the small pizza.

Tapas Macarena, Cra. 4A # 26-01, La Macarena, ☎ 2439004. Ifyou like tapas, you'll love this place. Tapas inspired by Spain,including a wide variety of beer and wine pairings. At least$15.000 per person.

La Taperia, Cra. 4A No. 26 B - 12, La Macarena, ☎ 8053252.The second tapas bar in Bogota. Great food and drink selec-tion. Live Flamenco music on Thursdays. At least $15.000 perperson.

UsaquenLocated a couple blocks north from the Hacienda Santa Bar-bara shopping mall, this is the little pueblo in the big city(Roughly Calle 120 / Carrera 5). Colonial structures, some smallshops and boutiques, flea market on Sundays, and a variety ofrestaurants around a traditional town square :

Cadaqués, Calle 119B # 5-43 (First street north ofthe northeast corner of the park, going east towardsthe large parking lot, right side), ☎ +57 1 6201199([email protected]), . Lunch and Dinner.Spanish/Catalonian Fusion cuisine, including Paella, tapas,fideuá, and seafood, along with eclecltic local ingredients.Molecular cooking is a feature. Between 15,000 and 35,000pesos.Thezera, Cra. 5 # 117-55 (East passed Usaquen's central park,on the last street go South, and it's 2 houses down), ☎ +571 215-5290 ([email protected]), . Lunch and Dinner. Inter-national cuisine including; Peppered New York Strip, Rose-mary Chicken, Tuna Tartar, Lamp Chops, Coconut Bread-ed Grouper, and Ceviche. Live Jazz on Thursdays. Between12,000 and 36,000 pesos.

Zona GThis zone has some of the finest eateries in Bogota. Within a fewsmall blocks you will find plenty of options. The restaurants aremore oriented toward fine dining more so than night club typeactivity. If you want elegant or romantic, this is a good choice.


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These are five star restaurants. By looking at the addresses be-low, you can tell that these restaurants are all neighbors.

Astrid y Gaston, Carrera 7 No 67-64, ☎ +57 1 211-1400, . Therestaurant offers the flavors of Peruvian cuisine in Bogota.Reservations are required, so do call ahead!Bagatelle, Calle 70 A No. 4-99, ☎ +57 1 321-3475, . Oncea bakery, this restaurant has the feel of a Parisian cafe. Itserves crepes, sandwiches, and salads, as well as breakfastand brunch. The Bagatelle is famous for its pan de chocolate.Clowns Deli, Calle 70 A No. 4-45, ☎ +57 1 248-0254, . ClownsDeli offers sandwiches and salads for a reasonable price.Criterion, Calle 69A No. 5-75, ☎ +57 1 310-1377, . This con-temporary restaurants offers its patrons French-influenced,gourmet dishes. The menu consists of a variety of startersand meats, and also offers its guests a tasting menu thatchanges weekly. Criterion was awarded the Five Star Dia-mond Award in 2008; the only restaurant in Colombia to re-ceive the recognition.Gostinos 69, Carrera 5 No. 69A-30, ☎ +57 1 313-0612. Gosti-nos 69 offers its patrons seafood at reasonable prices.Harry Sasson Restaurante, Calle 83 No. 12-49, ☎ +57 1616-4520, . Chef Harry Sasson creates delectable, interna-tional dishes with Asian influences. This restaurant also hasa wide variety of wines from all over the world, including Ar-gentina, France, and California.La Hamburgueseria, Calle 70 No. 4-69, ☎ +57 1 321-3350, . LaHamburgueseria is not fast food restaurant, but does offers agreat variety of hamburgers and sandwiches, made from thebest ingredients. This restaurant has many other locations,so be sure to check out the website to find the one closestto you!La Table de Michel, Calle 69A No. 4-15, ☎ +57 1 347-7939,347-7939. La Table de Miguel offers excellent French dishes.They also have a wine list made up of mainly French wines,but also a few Chilean. The great thing about this restaurantis that the menu is translated into various languages for theconvenience of the diner.Nazca, Calle 74 No 5-28, ☎ +57 1 321-3459, . This Peruvianrestaurant serves up to 96 people, and has a 'launch area,'where those waiting for tables can snack. The principle dishof Nazca is ceviche.SUNA, Camino Natural, Calle 71 No. 4-47, ☎ +57 1 212-3721, .Organic Restaurant and Market. Suna serves breakfast,lunch, and dinner. This environmentally-friendly restaurantoffers a menu consisting of organic, vegetarian, raw, and ve-gan dishes.Tony Roma's, Carrera 6 No. 69 A-20, ☎ +57 1 249-5271. ThisAmerican chain-restaurant serves traditional American bbq,including short ribs and seafood.

Zona T and Zona RosaThis zone has a mix of good dining, discos, shopping malls andmore. It gets crowded on the weekend, and is popular with for-eigners.

Drink

Restaurant Andres Carne de Res

Andres Carne de Res, (Chia), ☎ 863-7880([email protected]), . Andres Carne de Res is ac-tually a little out of town in the town of Chia, but the tripis well worth the effort. Movers, shakers and the beautifulpeople descend on the sprawling bar, grill and restaurantnightly. The decor is unique, the vibe amazing, and once youare done eating the dancing goes on until the wee hours.Make sure you have someone to take you home again. Cov-er: 15,000 COP.

Andres D.C. (De Corazon), Calle 82 # 11 - 57, ☎ 863-7880.Opened in September 2009, this is an extension of the ChiaRestaurant right next to la Zona T and thus a lot more acces-sible. It stretches over 4 floors in the Retiro shopping malland is a bit more orientated towards dining than partying.The menu has 32 pages and offers more than 800 options.Plan on spending a lot of money.

Bogota Beer Company, . Bogota´s very own brewery! Try the"Jirafa" (giraffe) which is a 1 yard long glass full of the Beerof your choice, or the "Campín Calamari" and the "CedritosChips" (All dishes are named after Bogota´s most famousneighborhoods).

Cl 85 No 13-06 (Calle 85), ☎ 256-6950.Cra 11A No 93-94 (Parque de la 93), ☎ 621-9914.Av 19 No 120-74 (Pepe Sierra), ☎ 214-5464.Cra 6 No 119-24 (Usaquén), ☎ 620-8444.Cl 82 No 12-10 (Zona Rosa, in front of the Andino Mall), ☎611-1254.

CHA-CHA, Cra. 7 No 32-16, ☎ 350-0202. One of the most ex-clusive night clubs, located on the 41st floor of what oncewas the Hilton Hotel, today just an abandoned building. It islocated in the "Ball Room" of the old hotel, and keeps the tra-ditional elegant decoration. Crystal Chandeliers meet Elec-tronic music. Has amazing views of the city at night and anamazing terrace to hang out. Frequently visited by world fa-mous DJs. Cover : 15,000 COP.

Escobar y Rosas, Cra 4 No 15-01 (Candelaria), ☎ 341-7903. Wto Sa : 5pm to 2:30am. Located in La Candalaria and most-ly frequented by students, gringo hunters, and backpack-ers, this pharmacy converted discoteca features a bar and apacked dance floor downstairs. Cover : 10,000 COP.

Gato Gris, Cra 1A No 13-12 (Candelaria). This place is justcharming in many ways. It is right at the Chorro de Queve-do, the birthplace of Bogotá. It has many nooks and levels,perfect for little intimate gatherings. Great rooftop with fire-


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places and views of downtown Bogotá. Italian dishes are de-lightful, ceviche not so much.

Gnoveva, Calle 84 Bis No 14A-08. Very cheap. Lower prices,the music and the people are great, no cover and a bottle ofaguardiente is $35.000 pesos.

Kubiko Bar, Carrera 12A No 83-49 (Zona T), ☎ ''+57 1''236-1613. This bar offers imported beers and great cocktails,they also featured a live DJ that plays the latest electronicmusic. No cover.

Kukaramakara, Carrera 15 No. 93-57 (Near Lola), ☎642-3166, . The environment and decoration of this placehas the perfect combination of modern club elements andtraditional artesanal environment from Colombia´s ances-tors. Also features a local band every Friday and Saturdaynight that performs Latinamerican singer´s songs. Cover :15,000 COP.

Lola, Cra 15 No 93-37, ☎ 605-4405 ([email protected]), . Fre-quented mostly by students and people looking to have fun,on a well located spot for lower prices than those found onthe "Zona T" or the Park on 93rd St. Cover : 10,000 COP.

Pravda, Cll. 83 No 12-20 (Zona T), ☎ 257-2088. Best Martinisin town, also a little pricey. Try the Lychee Martini.

Salto del Angel, Cra 13 No 93A-45 (Parque de la 93), ☎622-6437, . One of the coolest spots in Bogota, it is the placeto see all the football matches with your buddies, beers andreally, really good food on Sundays, and on Saturdays, Fri-days and Thursdays it is the place to see all the beautiful peo-ple dancing salsa and vallenato music on the tables. Greatenvironment but get there early or make a reservation. Cov-er : 10,000 COP.

Also visit other local nightclubs where most North residents golike Gavanna, Velvet, Amatista, Barbarosa, Salome Pagana (Sal-sa Dancing club) or Nabu (Most located in the "Zona Rosa" oneof the trendiest parts of Bogotá).

SleepIf you are going to stay in Bogota, keep in mind the location;Most low-budget visitors choose to stay in La Candelaria,the colonial neighborhood in the center of the city. There aremany cheap, nice hostels where you can meet travelers fromall around the world. The historic district as well as all the majormuseums and some nightlife options are within walking dis-tance. The historic hostel is Platypus, which has been open formore than 15 years, but many newer backpacker hostels haveopened recently. Ironically, the area is the one of the most dan-gerous parts of Bogotá and there have been many reports ofrobberies with knives. Extreme caution is needed when walk-ing at night, especially in front of hostels. Common precau-tions apply as in any major south american city : do not walkalone, carry as little cash as possible and leave the passport and

credit card at the hotel. Pressure from neighborhood groupsto oust the remaining criminals has caused police presence toincrease but you must always remain cautious. Check the loca-tion very carefully before you choose a place to stay, securityis worse in the tiny deserted streets uphill and closer to Egyptoneighboorhood. You'll find several hotels in the upscale north-ern districts like Zona T or Parque de la 93. Security won't bean issue but prices are much higher. Nevertheless, you won'thave any problem hailing a taxi at 6am in the morning becauseyour hotel would be just around the corner from the nightclub.On the other hand, you can find low to medium price hotelsaround downtown or near universities (i.e. Chapinero Neigh-borhood).

Note that in 2008, two foreign travellers were found dead inLa Candelaria area due to drugs. Recently, a Colombian broad-casting company CARACOL filmed about drug tourism in LaCandelaria, and the program was a big sensation in Colombia.

HostelsAnandamayi Hostel, Calle 9 No. 2-81 La Candelaria, ☎ (+571)341-7208 ([email protected]), . Anandamayi isa very comfortable and inexpensive hostel in the most beau-tiful colonial house in la Candelaria old town. Hostel Prices9-14 USD. Very nice vibe (the owner is a Buddhist lady), but itis quite a few blocks walk from the Transmilenio (calle 16 vs.calle 9). This area is known to be dangerous at night. Hostelslike Fatima are better located.

Bogota B&B hostel, Av. Calle 32 No. 15-63 Teusaquillo (closeto transmillenio bus station profamilia), ☎ (+571) 323 2428([email protected]), . checkout: 10 a.m., but you can stayat the hostel till late night. A 5 min. walk from the nationalmuseum and the national parc is a quiet nice safe hostel withnice personal athmosphere. 15 min. walk to Candelaria, buttake care at night. The hostel also includes a nice kitchen,clean rooms and dorms, 1 outdoor patio, a big living roomwith 2 hammocks, TV and DVD-Player, free coffee, good WIFIand 1 Internet terminal (but weak computer), laundry facili-ties (20,000 COP for 10kg=22pounds of washing and drying)Dorm bed : 18,000 COP / Single with shared bath : 30,000COP / Twin : 50,000 COP / Double with bath : 60,000 COP.

Chapinorte Guesthouse, calle 79 14-59 apto 301 (Zona Rosa),☎ 3176406716, . Hostel in the Zona Rosa (nightlife area) inthe North of Bogotá. Much safer area than La Candelaria. Ca-ble TV and internet access. Also the price includes sheets,blankets, and breakfast.

Hospedaje Cacique Sugamuxi, Calle 15A No. 2-19, La Can-delaria, ☎ (+571) 337-4326 ([email protected]), .Upstairs, very secure and a bit quieter than the other eng-lish-speakers hangouts. Dorms from COP$ 19.000-45.000.

Hostal Fatima, Calle 14 No. 2-24, La Candelaria, ☎ (+571) 2816389 / (+571) 283 6411 ([email protected]), . . In-cluding breakfast costs a little more, Free internet (but old


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hardware). The hostel probably has the most beautiful inte-rior in La Candelaria, but mattresses are not solid enough.Hot water is limited by electric heating system. They haveopened up a bar as well, which can be fun on some nights.Rates from 18,000 COP.

Hostal Martinik, Cr. 4 No. 11-88, La Candelaria, ☎ (+571)2833180, . checkin: 1pm.; checkout: 12pm.. New Hostal,opened jan. 2010, in a beautiful colonial house in the pop-ular candelaria district. Close to bogotas major sites suchas the Botero Museum or the Gold Museum. Offers cleanrooms, new mattresses, big fully-equipped kitchen, hot wa-ter, laundry facilities such as free (but slow) internet andcoffee. It canget a little noisy at night though. There is abig patio area, with hammocks and barbecue and a TV-Room. Hammock: 10.000, Dorms: 15.000 - 24.000, Privateand Dobles: 25.000 - 50.000. Every fifth night is half price .Rates from 10,000 COP to 50,000 COP.

Hostal Sue, Calle 16 No. 2-55, La Candelaria, ☎ (+571) 3348894 ([email protected]), . This hostel is quicklybecoming one of the most popular backpacker's hangout,and has expanded to 3 locations. Great facilities includinga chill out room and fully equipped kitchens. Right in thecenter of Bogotà, especially close to the many museums, in-cluding Botero and Gold Museum, and the great night life ofCandelaria. Hot Water 24hrs. Free bed linen. Safe, clean hos-tel accommodation. Friendly, helpful staff. Fully Equippedkitchen. Laundry Service. Free Locker. Cable TV with manyDVDs. Free Internet Access. Table Tennis. It's also a bit run-down. Rates from 20,000 COP to 55,000 COP.

Musicology Hostel, Calle 9 No. 3-15, La Candelaria, ☎ (+571)286 9093 ([email protected]), . New hostel -opened in 2009, located in a colonial house in La Candelar-ia district. The hostel offers free breakfast, free internet, barwith food and alcohol, TV room, Spanish classes, hot show-ers, laundry service. Prices from 15,000 COP.

North House Hostel Zona Rosa, Cra. 18 No. 80-66, ZonaRosa, ☎ (+571) 8136398, . checkin: 1pm.; checkout: 12pm..New Hostel in the heart of the exciting Zona Rosa, muchsafer than La Candelaria. Close to everything. Offers cleanrooms, new mattresses, big fully-equipped kitchen, hot wa-ter, laundry facilities, wifi and coffee, and nice private back-yard. Dorms: 17.000 - 20.000, Private and Dobles: 25.000 -50.000. Rates from 17,000 COP to 20,000 COP.

Platypus Hostel, Calle 16 No. 2-43, La Candelaria, ☎ (571) 2811801 ([email protected]), . Located in the old Can-delaria district, it is owned and run by a friendly and help-ful Colombian named German (pronounced 'Herman'). Thehostel is usually over-crowded and the facilities are too old,beds are neither good nor clean and hot water is not sta-ble. Prices seem like overcharged as there are better hostelsaround. However, it's still the most famous place in La Can-delaria. The hostel offers free coffee, internet facilities andhot showers. Included in the Platypus portfolio are Platypus2 and 3, where those wishing to stay for longer can take ad-

vantage of having their own room at discounted rates. Makesure you book for Platypus in advance as they very seldomhave availability on arrival. The best reason for staying hereis German's knowledge but he is rarely around nowadays(*At the time of writing, in June 2009, travelers get robbedevery night near Platypus. As the location is well-known forlocal robbers, usually they await victims in front of Platypusat night. Better to avoid staying at Platypus at the moment).Dorm bed : 18,000 COP / Private rooms from 33,000 COP.

The Cranky Croc, Calle 15 No. 3-46 La Candelaria, ☎ (+571)342 2438 ([email protected]), . In the heart of La Can-delaria is the newest and cleanest hostel in Bogota. Run byAussia ex-pat Andy and his crew, this historic building hasbeen completely remodeled and features a wet bar, indoorbarbecue and cafe serving breakfast and the Friday nightall you can eat barbecue. The hostel also includes a hugekitchen, clean rooms and dorms with lots of hot water, 2 out-door patios, free coffee, excellent WIFI and Internet termi-nals, laundry facilities, and motorcycle/car parking at a smalladditional fee. Dorm bed : 20,000 COP / Single with sharedbath : 40,000 COP / Double with bat : 60,000 COP.

BudgetHotel Aragon, Carrera 3 No. 14-13, ☎ ''57'' 342-5239, ''57''284-8325 (fax: ''57'' 342-6387). If the Platypus is full, you cantry this hotel a few blocks down. It's actually a hotel so thereare no dormitories. The owner has a notorious reputationfor fighting with guests. The place is basic and a little datedbut the rooms are fairly clean and there's hot water all thetime (but it may not be on your floor). If your room faces thestreet, you may not be able to sleep because of the noise.Also,be sure to get a receipt when you pay.(You can findother hotel options in the neighborhood if you look). Singleroom : 25,000 COP with shared bath.

Hotel Dorantes, Calle 13 No. 5-7, La Candelaria, ☎ 3346640 /3415365 (informació[email protected]), . Hot water (notelectric), beautiful building in need of attention. WiFi maybe available (just ask for the key). Clean and friendly. Uniquecharm and kitsch. Avoid Friday and Saturday night if youplan to fall asleep before 3:00 AM - perfect if you want tojoin the partying taking place outside. Huge double room :45,000 COP.

Hotel Internacional, Carrera 5 No. 14-45, La Candelaria, ☎341-3151 ([email protected]), . A safe,inexpensive alternative to hostels. Shared bathrooms downthe hall with strong hot water. No TV in rooms. Internetcomputers available in lobby. Shared kitchen available toguests. Tourist information in several languages. Clean pri-vate rooms from 17,000 COP.

Mid-rangeArlington Place, Calle 109 No. 19-51 Plaza de Navarra Bogo-ta, ☎ +571-6197053, . All rooms have stylish and spacious


Bogotá Bogotá · Stay safe

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apartments that are equipped with cable TV, coffee/teakmaker, fully equipped kitchen, living room, and a private bal-cony. Some of its amenities are high speed Internet connec-tion, 24-hour security, airport transfers, and laundry services.Rates on official website start at USD 129.00.

Hotel Lourdes, Calle 63 No. 15-61, ☎ ''57'' 255 36 13([email protected]), . Located nearby the Trans-milenio this nice hotel offers great value for money, includ-ing free internet and TV. Single rooms with private bath COP$70,000.

Hotel Casa Real, Calle 93A No. 9A-53, ☎ ''57'' 530-4884([email protected]), . Only 2 blocks from the 93rd St Parkand restaurants, this lovely hotel has very spacious suites,excellent service and great breakfasts. Rooms COP$230,000plus tax.

Hotel San Sebastian, Avenida Jimenez No. 3-97, ☎ ''57''337-5031 ([email protected]), . This comfortable andconvenient hotel located in the pleasant area of La Candelar-ia offers 36 excellent accommodation, a stones throw fromthe top sights in Bogota.

Hotel Casona del Patio, Carrera 8 No. 69 - 24, ☎ ''57'' 2128805([email protected]), . Located at the G Zone (orGourmet Zone) in the north of Bogota, the neighborhood isknown for its restaurants and the financial sector of the 72street. COP$120,000.

Hotel Virrey Park, Carrera 15 # 87-94, ☎ 57-1-218162557-1-2181606 ([email protected]), .

Hotel Bogotá Virrey, Carrera 15 # 87-06, ☎ 57-1-256882657-1-2183949 ([email protected]), .

Hotel Excelsior, Carrera 14 # 86A-96, ☎ 57-1-2184311, .

Prisma Suites Chicó, Transv. 23 # 94-26, ☎ 57-1-485977757-321-2071268 ([email protected]), .

Hotel Confort 80, Carrera 16A # 79-85,☎ 57-1-6101678 57-1-6101938 57-321-8154376([email protected]), .

Hotel Chorro de Quevedo, Calle 13 b n. 1-53, Barrio La Can-delaria Centro, Bogota, ☎ +57- 1- 3426204, . All the roomshave a bathroom and television with cable (lots of Englishlanguage channels). The staff are really friendly, and readyand willing to offer travel advice. A great base to explore LaCandelaria. Breakfast included.

Stay safeIn the first months of 2011 there have been a large numberof armed robberies against tourist establishments, with armedrobbers taking over entire hostels and holding tourists to ran-som. The Canadian Foreign Affairs Department have updatedtheir travel warnings. Bogota is not as dangerous as it is per-

ceived to be. The crime rate per capita shows that it is safer thanWashington D.C. and most other Latin American cities, such asRio de Janeiro, Sao Paulo, Caracas, Mexico City and GuatemalaCity. It is very difficult to find drugs or be forced to buy themunless you go looking for them. Do, however, be careful out-side the city especially at night.

Bogota's major safety problems are the drugged, homelesspeople that are found all around the city and muggers withknives. Avoid walking alone, and also avoid taking cabs in thestreets; call them by phone!

Common sense prevails and note that driving a Mercedesthrough a poor neighborhood may be unpleasant for both youand the locals (just like anywhere else in the world).

Stay healthyBogotá's water is potable and of great quality. It actually is oneof the finest waters in the world, but foreigners may want tomix bottled and tap water for the first few days. Bogotá has notropical diseases like malaria because of its altitude. Altitudesickness is, in fact, the largest health problem affecting foreign-ers. Generally, a few days without hard physical activity or timespent in a mid-altitude city like Medellín will do the trick. If youhave heart disease or a respiratory condition, talk to your doc-tor. El Dorado Airport provides wheelchairs for travelers withspecial needs. Private hospitals offer excellent health care.

Get outVisit nearby towns like Chia, La Calera, Cajica, Tabio, Zi-paquira and La Vega. You can find cheap and fast transporta-tion to any of this destinations from the Terminal de trans-portes and from most, you can return the same day. But it'sa good idea to get out, Bogotá is a chaotic city surroundedby lots of relaxed and peaceful places.

Choachí is the best kept secret in town. This small village 50min. East of Bogotá is reached after climbing up and downa tall mountain, so tall you can see Monserrate at your feet.Local cooking, hot springs and a great Swiss restaurant awaitfor you at your destination.


Bogotá Bogotá · News outlets

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Catedral de Sal in Zipaquirá

Catedral de Sal de Zipaquirá, . An impressive Cathedral hewnout of a salt mine in Zipaquira. A visit is by guided tour. Eng-lish, German, French, and Spanish guides are available. Toget there take the Transmilenio to Portal del Norte and thena bus to Zipaquirá (45 min / 3,400 COP). Recommend takinga taxi (4000 COP) as it is a 20-minute uphill walk from wherethe Zipa bus drops you off. You can walk back through thetown and enjoy nice views. The current cathedral is the sec-ond construction and opened in 1995 after the first one hadto close because of safety concerns. Entrance : 15,000 COP /Wednesday discount : 10,000 COP.

Laguna del Cacique Guatavita. Closed everyMonday,Tuesday or Wednesday if Monday is a holiday. Thisspiritual lake is where the legend of El Dorado originated.The Muisca Indian King used to have religious ceremony inthe middle of the lake, painted all his body with gold dust,and threw gold things offered in sacrifice into the lake. Eng-lish/Spanish guided tour is available. To get there take theTransmilenio to Portal del Norte and then a bus to Guatavitaand ask for another transportation to the lake. This is a littlebit complicated, but local police can help. The journey willtake little more time than to Zipaquirá. Foreigners : 12,000COP / Colombians : 8,000 COP.

Andrés Carne de Res (Restaurant and dance) Amazing steakand a great place to party. Do not miss it if you wanna see

how important food and dancing is for Colombians!!!! Calle3 # 11A -56 Phone: 863-7880 (Chía) Live music is one the best"rumbiaderos" (nightclubs). It is located about 15 mins northof Bogotá.

Bogotá as a hub to visit other places in Colombia As thecapital city is centrally located you can easily visit many dis-tinct destinations as the Amazon Jungle (1.5 hrs by plane),Spanish colonial cities Cartagena or Popayán (1 hr flight),modern cities like Medellín located in an impressive Andeanvalley or Cali at the foothills of the Andes.

To get to the airport from the city, you may use Taxi or a publicbuseta (van). As of April 2010, there is currently no Transmile-nio route to the airport, as it is under construction. A way toget by public transport is either to go to the Calle 19, whichfrom the Candelaria where most foreigners tend to stay, is only4-5 blocks away. Catch a bus that says "Aeropuerto". Or go theAvenida 26 which is the street that goes directly to the airport.Also look for buses that state "Aeropuerto" there. This journeymay take around 45 Minutes from the city center dependingon the traffic conditions, but is significally cheaper than takinga taxi anywhere in the city (1.300 COP vs. around 25.000 COP).

News outletsThe most important media for Bogotá are:

El Tiempo is the country's largest daily with a heavy focuson the capital.El Espectador has a liberal point of view and also a heavyfocus on Bogotá.City TV is the local commercial television station.Radio Santa Fé is the local radio station.

For news and travel information on Bogotá in English:

Colombia ReportsThe City Paper

HistoryThe History of Bogotá refers to the history of the area sur-rounding the Colombian capital city of Bogotá. The area ofmodern Bogotá was first populated by groups of indigenouspeople that migrated from mesoamerica. Among these groupswere the Muiscas that settled in what is now mainly Cundi-namarca and Boyacá. With the arrival of the Spanish coloniz-ers the area became a major settlement, founded by GonzaloJiménez de Quesada and later capital of the Spanish provincesand the seat of the Viceroyalty of New Granada. With indepen-dence Bogotá became capital of the Gran Colombia and laterthe capital of the Republic of Colombia.


Bogotá Bogotá · Culture

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Culture

La Santa Maria bullring (example of the city's Spanish influence and culture)

Transmilenio in downtown Bogotá

Bogotá has many cultural venues including 58 museums, 62 artgalleries, 33 library networks, 45 stage theatres, 75 sports andattraction parks, and over 150 national monuments. Many ofthese are renowned globally such as:

The Luis Angel Arango Library, the most important in the re-gion which receives well over 6 million visitors a year;The Colombian National Museum, one of the oldest in theAmericas, dating back to 1823;The Ibero-American Theater Festival, largest of its kind in theworld, receives 2 million attendees enjoying over 450 per-formances across theaters and off the street;The Bogotá Philharmonic is the most important symphonyorchestra in Colombia, with over 100 musicians and 140 per-formances a year;The Cristobal Colon Theater, the Country's oldest OperaHouse, opened in 1892, is home to the National SymphonyAssociation's major act, the National Symphony Orchestra ofColombia;Rock al Parque or Rock at the Park, the most important openair rock music festival in Latin America. Recurring annually, itgathers over 320,000 music fans who can enjoy over 60 bandperformances for free during three days a year. The serieshave been so successful during its 15 years of operation that

the city has replicated the initiative for other music genres,resulting in other recent festivals like Salsa at the Park, HipHop at the Park, Ballet at the Park, Opera at the Park, and Jazzat the Park.

Bogotá has worked heavily in recent years to position itself asleader in cultural offerings in South America, and it is increas-ingly being recognized worldwide as a hub in the region forthe development of the arts. In 2007 Bogotá was awarded thetitle of Cultural Capital of Ibero-America by the UCCI (Union ofCapital Cities in Ibero-America), and it became the only city tohave received the recognition twice, after being awarded forthe first time in 1991.

Architecture

El Colegio Mayor de Bartolome, an important building in the historical centreof the city.

Eje Ambiental

The urban morphology and typology of colonial buildings inBogotá have been maintained since the late nineteenth centu-ry, long after the independence of Colombia (1810). This per-sistence of the colonial setting is still visible, particularly in LaCandelaria, the historical center of Bogotá. Also kept up are thecolonial houses of two stories, with courtyards, gabled roofs,ceramic tiles and balconies. In some cases, these balconieswere filled with glass during the Republican period, a distin-guishing feature of the architecture of the sector (for example,the House of Rafael Pombo).



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"Republican Architecture" was the style that prevailed be-tween 1830 and 1930. Although there were attempts to con-solidate a modern architectural language, the only examplesseen are University City and White City at the National Univer-sity of Colombia (constructed 1936 to 1939). This work was de-veloped by German architect James Daly, although architectsof rationalist trends participated in the design of campus build-ings. We also see in Bogotan architecture trends such as art de-co, expressionism and organic architecture. This last trend wastypified by Bogotan architects in the second half of the twen-tieth century such as Rogelio Salmona.

In 2006 Bogotá won The Golden Lion Award at the Tenth Inter-national Architecture Exhibition of the Venice Biennale of Ar-chitecture, in recognition of "their efforts towards social inclu-sion, education, housing and public space, particularly throughinnovations in transportation."

Although renowned for its beautiful preservation of colonialarchitecture, there are also significant contemporary architec-ture examples found in the downtown and at the north of thecity.

In 2014 BD Bacatá will be inaugurated, taking the place fromColpatria tower to become the tallest building of the city. Thebuilding its expected to be the beginning of the city's down-town renovation.

Libraries and archivesIn 2007 Bogotá was named World Book Capital by UNESCO. Bo-gotá is the first Latin American city to receive this recognition,and the second one in the Americas after Montreal. It stood outin programs, the library network and the presence of organiza-tions that, in a coordinated manner, are working to promotebooks and reading in the city. Several specific initiatives for theWorld Book Capital program have been undertaken with thecommitment of groups, both public and private, engaged inthe book sector.

The city is home to the Biblored, an institution which adminis-ters 16 small and four large public libraries (Biblioteca VirgilioBarco, Biblioteca El Tintal, Biblioteca El Tunal and BibliotecaJulio Mario Santodomingo). It also has six branches of the Li-brary Network of the Family Compensation Fund Colsubsidioand libraries and documentation centers attached to institu-tions like the Museo Nacional de Colombia (specializing in oldbooks, catalogs and art), Museum of Modern Art in Bogotá, theAlliance Francaise, and the Centro Colombo Americano.

Another set of libraries are the new collaborative initiatives be-tween the state, city and international agencies. Examples arethe Cultural Center Gabriel García Marquez, custom designedby the Fondo de Cultura Economica in Mexico, and the Span-ish Cultural Center, which will begin construction with publicfunds and of the Spanish Government in downtown Bogotá.

The National Library of Colombia (1777) under the Ministry ofCulture and the Biblioteca Luis Angel Arango (1958) under the

Bank of the Republic are the two largest public libraries in thecity. The first is the repository of more than two million vol-umes, with an important collection of ancient books. The latterhas almost two million volumes. 45 thousand square metersin size, it hosts 10 thousand visitors a day. Bank of the Repub-lic depends also on the Library Alfonso Palacio Rudas, north ofthe city, with about 50 thousand volumes. Other large public li-braries are the Library of Congress in Colombia (with 100 thou-sand volumes), of the Instituto Caro y Cuervo (with nearly 200thousand volumes, the largest Latin American library in Philol-ogy and Linguistics), the Library of the Academy of History TheLibrary of the Academy of Language, the Library of the Colom-bian Institute of Anthropology and History ICANH, and manyuniversity libraries.

Bogotá is home to historical records housed the General Na-tional Archive, a collection of about 60 million documents, oneof the largest repositories of primary historical sources in LatinAmerica. Bogotá is also home to the Musical Archive of theCathedral of Bogotá (with thousands of books and choral song-colonial period), the Archdiocesan Archive, the Archive of theConciliar Seminary of Bogotá, the Archive History National Uni-versity of Colombia and the Archive of the Mint in Bogotá, un-der the Bank of the Republic.

Museums and galleries

National Museum of Colombia

The city offers 58 museums and over 70 art galleries. The Na-tional Museum of Colombia has acquisitions divided into four



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collections: art, history, archeology and ethnography. The GoldMuseum, with 35 thousand pieces of tumbaga gold, along with30 thousand objects in ceramic, stone and textiles, representsthe largest collection of pre-Columbian gold in the world.

The Botero Museum has 123 works of Fernando Botero and 87works by international artists. The Museum of Modern Art inBogotá has a collection of graphic arts, industrial design andphotography. The Museum of Colonial Art is home to an impor-tant collection of colonial art from Colombia. Fundación Gilber-to Alzate Avendaño hosts activities related to the performingarts and shows temporary exhibits of art in its halls and gal-leries.

Among the scientific museums are the Archeological Museum– Casa del Marqués de San Jorge, which has about 30 thou-sand pieces of pre-Columbian art, Instituto de Ciencias Natu-rales (UN), one of the four largest museums of natural sciencesin Latin America, and the Geological Museum, which has a col-lection specializing in Geology and Paleontology.

Bogotá has historical museums like the Casa Museo JorgeEliecer Gaitan, the Museum of Independence (Museo de la In-dependencia), the Quinta de Bolivar and the Casa Museo Fran-cisco José de Caldas, as well as the headquarters of Maloka andthe Children's Museum of Bogotá. New museums include theArt Deco and the Museum of Bogotá.

Theater and scenic arts

Teatro Colón (Christopher Colombus Theater)

Besides the Ibero-American Theater Festival, the city has forty-five theaters; the principal ones are the Colon Theater, the Na-tional Theater with its two venues, the traditional TPB Hall, theTheater of La Candelaria, the Carmarin Theater of Carmen (over400 years old, formerly a convent), the Colsubsidio, and a sym-bol of the city, the renovated Teatro Jorge Eliecer Gaitan (thehighest capacity currently in South America), León de GreiffAuditorium (home of the Bogotá Philharmonic Orchestra), andthe Open Air Theater "La Media Torta", where musical eventsare also held.

Bogotá has its own film festival, the Bogotá Film Festival, andmany theatres, showing both contemporary films and art cin-ema.

The main cultural center of the city is the La Candelaria, historiccenter of the city, with a concentration of universities and mu-seums. In 2007 Bogotá was designated the Ibero-American cul-tural Capital of Iberoamerica.

Sports

The "Nemesio Camacho el Campin" Stadium.

The District Institute for Recreation and Sport promotes recre-ation, sports and use of the parks in Bogotá, a city where ac-cording to 1998 estimates only 10% of the people play sports,and only 0.7% do so regularly.

Football has been declared a symbol of Bogotá, and is wide-ly played in the city. Colombian professional Football is popu-lar. There are three professional clubs in the city, Millonarios, LaEquidad, and Santa Fe. The nineteen titles won by two of theseteams (Millonarios have 13 and Santa Fe have six) make Bogotásecond only to Cali in number of championships won. The mainfootball stadium is the Estadio Nemesio Camacho El Campin(known as the Campin Stadium), which is the headquarters ofthe Colombia national Football team, where they won the Co-pa América in 2001.

Other major sporting venues are the covered Coliseum ElCampin, the aquatic complex of Parque Simón Bolívar, theSports Palace, and the El Salitre Sports venue which includesthe Velódromo Luis Carlos Galán (which hosted the 1995 UCITrack Cycling World Championships) and Diamond El Salitreballpark.

Bogotá hosted the first Bolivarian Games held in 1938. Thecity hosted the National Games in 2004, winning the champi-onship. It was a sub-venue Bolivarian Pan American Games. Inaddition, the city on the route of the Tour of Colombia.



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Religion

Church of Our Lady of Lourdes.

As in the rest of Colombia, the value of family unity is quite im-portant in Bogotan society, which is especially prominent in re-ligious celebrations and special times of the year.

Historically, the city has had a tradition of attachment to Ro-man Catholicism, although the 1991 Constitution has facilitat-ed the presence of Protestant movements and other religiousgroups in the population.

Proof of this religious tradition is the number of churches builtin the historic city center. The city has been seat of the RomanCatholic Archdiocese of Bogotá since March 22, 1564. The seatof the Archbishop is the Cathedral of Colombia; the archdio-cese itself is located in new buildings in the north of the city.

The city has a Muslim mosque located in the area of Chapinero,the main Jewish synagogue located on 94th street, also calledState of Israel avenue, an Orthodox church located in Chap-inero, and the main Temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Lat-ter-day Saints located on the street North Highway 127. Thereare four Buddhist centers located in the north of the city, andthere are Protestant churches in different parts of the city.

GastronomyA broad array of restaurants can be visited in Bogotá wheretypical and international food can be enjoyed. The G Zone, La

Candelaria and the International Centre are some of the mainsectors where a number of international restaurants are found.Typical dishes of Bogotá include the Ajiaco, a delightful soupprepared with chicken, a variety of potatoes, cob, and "guas-cas" (a spice), usually served with sour cream and capers.

Tamale is a very traditional dish here. Colombian tamal is apaste made with rice, meat or chicken, chickpea, carrot, andspices, wrapped in plantain leaves and steam cooked.

Figs with arequipe, strawberries with cream, postre de natasand cuajada con melao are some of the main desserts offeredin the city. Canelazo is a hot drink from the Altiplano preparedwith aguapanela, cinnamon and aguardiente.

Parks and recreationThere are many parks, many with facilities for concerts, plays,movies, storytellers and other activities.


Restaurants Restaurants · Top Best Restaurants

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Restaurants

Restaurants

Top Best RestaurantsMini Malplace Carrera 4A # 57 - 52, Bogota, ColombiaTapas Macarenaplace Carrera 4A No 26-01, Bogota, Colombia69 Oyster Barplace Calle 69a # 5-59, Bogota, ColombiaCentral Cevicheriaprice $19 - $26place Cra 13 con Calle 85, Bogota, ColombiaLa Brasserieprice $19 - $101place Carrera 13 No. 85-35, Bogota, ColombiaCrepes & Wafflesplace Ac 13 No 4 55, Bogota, ColombiaCrepes and Wafflesprice $6 - $9place Avenida 19 No. 120-16, Bogota, Colombiahostaria shardanaprice $9 - $16place 13 Cra 3 13-79 | Cra 3 No 13-79, Bogota 11001000,ColombiaLas Cuatro Estacionesplace Cr 8A # 98-38, Bogota, Colombiawokplace Av 19 con 121, Bogota, ColombiaCafe Amarticuisine Italianprice $16 - $21place Calle 119 # 6-24, Bogota, ColombiaAndres Carne de Rescuisine South American, Barbecue, Steakhouseplace Calle 82 No 12-21 | Zona Rosa, Bogota, ColombiaLa Taperiacuisine Spanishplace Cr 4a No 26b-12 | Macarena, Bogota, ColombiaHarry Sassonprice $26 - $101place Calle 70 #5-57, Bogota 111221, ColombiaDi Luccaprice $24place Carrera 13 No 85-32, Bogota, Colombia

Top Young couplesMini Malplace Carrera 4A # 57 - 52, Bogota, ColombiaTapas Macarenaplace Carrera 4A No 26-01, Bogota, Colombia69 Oyster Barplace Calle 69a # 5-59, Bogota, ColombiaCentral Cevicheriaprice $21 - $26

place Cra 13 con Calle 85, Bogota, ColombiaLa Brasserieprice $21 - $101place Carrera 13 No. 85-35, Bogota, ColombiaCrepes & Wafflesplace Ac 13 No 4 55, Bogota, ColombiaCrepes and Wafflesprice $4 - $11place Avenida 19 No. 120-16, Bogota, Colombiahostaria shardanaprice $9 - $14place 13 Cra 3 13-79 | Cra 3 No 13-79, Bogota 11001000,ColombiaLas Cuatro Estacionesplace Cr 8A # 98-38, Bogota, Colombiawokplace Av 19 con 121, Bogota, Colombia

Top Italianlunaprice $14 - $21place ZONA T, Bogota, ColombiaCafe Amartiprice $14 - $21place Calle 119 # 6-24, Bogota, ColombiaIl Filettoplace Calle 120A No. 6A - 04, Bogota, ColombiaBelliniprice $16 - $21place Calle 25B No. 68B - 10 Local 110, Bogota, ColombiaTrattoria Nuragheprice $5 - $15place Calle 12b no. 1-26 | La Candelaria Centro Historico,Bogota 11001000, Colombiahibrido cafeplace Bogota, ColombiaVia Mariaprice $11 - $16place Calle 83 No 12A-11, Bogota, ColombiaPozzetoprice $29place CRA 7 NO. 61-24, Bogota, ColombiaBelliniprice $14 - $19place Cra 13 N. 83-52, Bogota, ColombiaEl Patio Restaurante-Cafe Bogotaplace Carrera 4 A No 27 - 86, Bogota, Colombia

Top AsianWatakushicuisine Japaneseprice $14 - $21place Cra. 12 # 83 - 17, Bogota, Colombia


Restaurants Restaurants · Top Asian

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WOKcuisine Asianprice $21 - $24place 93 B cr 12 - 28, Bogota, ColombiaHatsuhanacuisine Japaneseprice $26 - $101place Kr 21 no 100-43, Bogota, ColombiaVia Mariacuisine Asian, Italian, Pan-Asian, Peruvianprice $11 - $14place Calle 83 No 12A-11, Bogota, ColombiaRestaurante Irani cafeSharzadcuisine Asianprice $11 - $16place Carrera 16 No 48 - 79, Bogota, ColombiaTanoshii Lounge & Sushi Barcuisine Bar, Japanese, Sushiplace Av El Dorado No 69b - 53 | Bogota Marriott hotel,Bogota 00000, ColombiaKung Fucuisine Asianplace Cll 23 No 7-33, Bogota, ColombiaTeriyaki Sushi Barcuisine Asian, Asian fusion, Sushiplace Calle 69 A No. 05- 79, Bogota, ColombiaArigatocuisine Sushi, Japanese, Seafoodplace Calle 76 No. 12-22, Bogota, Colombiala fragatacuisine Colombian, Argentinean, Asian fusion, Asian,Barbecue, Donuts, Pplace calle 100 # 9 30, Bogota, Colombia


Useful info Useful info · Sunrise/Sunset

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Useful info

Useful info

Sunrise/SunsetSun will rise at 06:00:55 and will set at 18:07:12 in local time.

Useful phrases

English SpanishWelcome Bienvenido (sg) Bienvenidos (pl)Hello ¡Hola!Hello(on phone) ¡Diga! ¡Dígame! ¿Sí? ¿Bueno? ¡Hola! ¿Aló?Good morning Buenos díasGood afternoon Buenas tardesGood evening Buenas tardes / Buenas nochesGood night, Night night, Nighty Night, Good night, sleep tight,hope the bedbugs don't bite!

Buenas noches

Goodbye Adiós, Hasta luego, Hasta la vista, Hasta mañanaHow are you? ¿Cómo está usted? (frm) ¿Cómo estás? (inf)Reply Bien gracias, ¿y usted? (frm) Bien gracias, ¿y tú? (inf)Long time no see ¡Cuánto tiempo! ¡Tanto tiempo sin verte!What's your name? ¿Cómo te llamas? (inf) ¿Cómo se llama Usted? (frm)My name is ... Me llamo ... Mi nombre es ...Where are you from? ¿De dónde eres? (inf) ¿De dónde es usted? (frm)I come from ... Soy de ...Pleased to meet you Mucho gusto EncantadoGood luck ¡Buena suerte!Cheers! Bottoms up! Down the hatch! Mud in your eye! ¡Salud!Bon appetit! Enjoy your meal! (frm) Enjoy! Tuck in! Get stuck in!Eat already! (inf/slang) Happy eating! Get your laughing gearround this! (inf/slang)

¡Buen provecho! ¡Buen apetito! ¡Que aproveche!

Bon voyage / have a good journey ¡Buen viaje!Excuse me ¡Perdón! ¡Perdone! ¡Discúlpe!Sorry ¡Perdón! ¡Perdone! ¡Lo siento!How much is this? / How much does this cost? ¿Cuánto cuesta? ¿Cuánto cuesta esto?Please Por favorThank you Thank you very much Thank you kindly Thanks a lotMany thanks Thanks Cheers Ta (used mainly in northen Eng-land)

Gracias Muchas gracias

You're welcome Don't mention it My pleasure No problem Noprobs Not a problem No worries No big deal

De nada No hay de qué

Where's the toilet / lavatory / bathroom / restroom / powderroom / gents/ladies? Where's the loo / bog / dunny / little boys'/girls' room? (inf/slang)

¿Dónde están los aseos ¿Dónde están los sanitarios? ¿Dóndeestá el baño? ¿Dónde está el cuarto de baño?

Have a nice day ¡Que pase un buen día!Get well soon Que te mejores Que te mejores pronto ¡Recupérate pronto!

Pronta recuperaciónWould you like to dance with me? ¿Querría bailar conmigo? (frm) ¿Querrías bailar conmigo? (inf)

¿Quisiera bailar conmigo? (frm) ¿Quisieras bailar conmigo? (inf)I love you Te amo / Te quieroI don't understand No entiendo No comprendoPlease say that again ¿Me lo puede repetir, por favor? ¿Puede repetirlo, por favor?Please speak more slowly Por favor hable más despacio


Useful info Useful info · Passport and Visa

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English SpanishCan you please write it down? ¿Puede escribirlo, por favor?How do you say ... in english? ¿Cómo se dice ... en español?Do you speak english? ¿Habla usted español? (frm) ¿Hablas español? (inf)Yes, a little Sí, hablo un poquito de español Sí, un pocoLeave me alone! ¡Déjeme en paz!Help! ¡Ayúdame! ¡Socorro! ¡Auxilio!

Passport and Visa

Passport required Return ticket required Visa requiredAustralian Yes Yes No

British Yes Yes NoCanadian Yes Yes NoOther EU Yes Yes No/1

USA Yes Yes No

Passports:

A valid passport is required by all nationals referred to in the chart above to enter Colombia. Your passport must be valid for at least90 days after entering the country, but it is recommended that it is valid for at least six months. You should have at least two freepages in your passport.

Entry with children:

No restrictions on entry with children; however children of Colombian nationality must have the written consent of both parents totravel without them, even if travelling on another nation’s passport.

Visas:

Not required by nationals referred to in the chart above for stays of up to 90 days except the following:

1. nationals of Bulgaria.Note: Nationals not referred to in the chart above are advised to contact the embassy to check visa requirements.

Visa note:

Nationals stated in the above chart will be issued with an entry stamp on arrival which will be valid for up to 90 days (this is at thediscretion of the airport official; the stated nationals are often only given 30 or 60 days); extensions for up to a further 120 days (in 30-day instalments) are available from the Department of Administration and Security in Colombia; all stated nationals are permitted tostay for a maximum of 180 days in any 12-month period, though this is not an unconditional right and is not guaranteed.

Types and cost:

Nationals should check with the embassy or consulate of Colombia for visa cost as fees are fixed according to the exchange rate.

The fee for a Tourist visa is generally £35. A Temporary Visitor visa costs £65 although the above nations are again exempt. Workand Business visas cost £130 whilst Student visas are £30. Payments for consular services have to be paid in cash at the ColombianConsulate.

Validity:

Tourist and Temporary Visitor: Valid six months (multiple entry). Business: Valid four years for multiple entries with maximum stays ofone year each. Work: Valid for two years with multiple entry. Student: Valid for one year with multiple entry.

Transit:


Useful info Useful info · Emergency numbers

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Transit passengers do not require a visa or to pay departure tax providing they do not leave the airport and make their connectingflight within 24 hours of arrival.

Application to:

Consulate (or consular section at embassy).

Schengen visas:

Colombia is not part of the Schengen visa scheme.

Temporary residence:

Enquire at the consulate for forms and details on how to obtain temporary residence in Colombia.

Working days:

It is generally advised to allow plenty of time for applications, but visas should in theory be issued within five days.

Sufficient funds:

You may be asked to provide proof of sufficient funds to cover your costs in Colombia. Up-to-date bank statements showing morethan £1,000 will suffice. In practice, this is rarely requested.

Entry documents:

Apart from your passport, you are theoretically required to show an onward or return ticket. In practice, this is rarely required.

Extension of stay:

You may be able to extend your stay by up to 120 days. You should apply to the Department of Administration and Security oncein Colombia.

Entry restrictions:

Colombia has imposed travel restrictions on those with HIV/AIDS. Exemptions may be obtained; check with your country’s Colombianembassy. A Yellow Fever certificate may be necessary if you are planning to visit the jungle areas of Colombia.

Entry with pets:

You can take your pet to Colombia provided they have been vaccinated against rabies (unless coming from a rabies-free country orunder four months old), distemper, hepatitis, leptospirosis and parvovirus, and they have a licensed vet’s certificate. However, for thepurpose of travelling it is best to leave pets at home.

Emergency numbersPolice: 156, 112 or 123 (landlines and mobile phones)Medical: 132, 112 or 123 (landlines and mobile phones)Fire: 119, 112 or 123 (landlines and mobile phones)

Notes: Traffic accidents 127, GAULA (anti-kidnapping) 165. More specialized three-digit numbers are available; check the local Yellow Pagesfor more information.


Maps Maps · Map index

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Maps

Maps

Map index


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A0


Maps Maps · A1

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A1


Maps Maps · A2

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Maps Maps · A3

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Maps Maps · B0

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Maps Maps · B1

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Maps Maps · B2

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References References ·

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References

References Reasonable care has been taken in creating this personalized travel guide by combining information from the sources identifiedunder the section 'references'. However, the information is provided 'as is' and there is no warranty about the information in the guidebeing accurate, complete or up to date. To the maximum extent permitted under applicable law, all liability arising from the use ofthis guide will be denied. Verifying critical information (like visas, health and safety) before you travel is recommended.

Bogotá data is from Wikitravel, urls:

– http://www.wikitravel.com

This page was last edited at 16:25, on 13 June 2011 by Anonymous user(s) of Wikitravel. Based on work by Menchu Valderama andjan, Wikitravel user(s) Ikan Kekek, Texugo and Rafcha, Anonymous user(s) of Wikitravel and others.

City info data is from Wikipedia, urls:

– http://www.wikipedia.com

Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License; additional terms may apply. See Terms of use fordetails. Wikipedia® is a registered trademark of the Wikimedia Foundation, Inc., a non-profit organization.

Weather data is from Norwegian Meteorological Institute and the Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation yr.no, urls:

– http://www.yr.no/place/Colombia/Bogotá/Bogotá/

Sunset data is from Norwegian Meteorological Institute and the Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation yr.no, urls:

– http://www.yr.no/place/Colombia/Bogotá/Bogotá/

Currency data is from Xavier Finance Api, urls:

– http://finance.xaviermedia.com/

Maps data is from Yahoo Local Maps, OpenStreetMap, Qype, urls:

– http://maps.yahoo.com– http://www.openstreetmap.org– http://www.qype.com


Notes

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Notes

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