Bogotá, Colombia
Set high up in the Andes, Bogotá is Colombia's sophisticated, cool city. Here, you'll find late 20th century buildings alongside preciously preserved colonial buildings, museums, churches, restaurants, hotels and bars.
GENERAL INFO
Recommended stay: 2-3 nights
Currency: Colombian Peso (COP)
Tipping: Not necessary, most round up when paying taxis, vendors, nicer restaurants collect a 10% service charge
Transportation: taxis arranged by hotel or nice restaurant, uber during day
Weather: in February-March, you can expect lows in the 40s and highs in the 60s
Attire: dark colors, pants, sweaters, light jackets
Altitude: 8660 feet above sea level - watch the alcohol (one drink = three) and be sure to hydrate!
STAY
Luxe: FS Casa Medina
The Four Seasons' new Casa Medina is situated in the heart of Zona G, a neighbordhood packed with restaurants and bars of all cuisines and price points. The area is safe and easy to explore on foot, and is one of the best value FS properties out there at under $200/night.
Urban: B.O.G
The B.O.G Hotel is located in the trendy Northern sector of the city, is a hub of style, food and fashion. The stylish hotel features a heated rooftop pool opennthroughout the year, perfect for relaxing after a long day in the city.
Quirky: Click Clack
At a lower price point, Click Clack is a great choice given its funky and chic design + location in El Chicó, a buzzing design-oriented district. The hotel has a fun rooftop lounge, and is also just a few minutes walking from Parque de la 93, where you can find great restaurants and bars.
Business: W Bogotá + JW Marriott
If you're a Marriott/SPG loyalist, the W + the JW are your best bets. With state of the art gym and spa facilities, both hotels have space for meetings and events for those who need it. The hotel is located in the upscale Santa Barbara neighborhood, a prime spot for good shopping, entertainment venues, and restaurants nearby. Note: if you're not here on business (or using SPG/Marriott points), I'd try something else!
SEE + DO
In addition to serving as the country's capital, Bogotá sets itself apart with its business culture, Andean cuisine, and cool mountain weather year-round. To get a full taste, we recommend checking out the following:
SIGHTS
Monserrate
From Santa Fe, take the cable car up or train up to Monserrate - one of Bogota’s most iconic landmarks. From here, you can catch amazing views of the white cathedral, the Andes, and the city below. and the pure white cathedral can be seen from all over the city. It’s only from here – 3,250 meters (10,660 feet) above sea level – that you get a true sense of the immense scale and magnificence of Colombia’s capital.
Museo del Oro
Located in Bogotá’s historic downtown area is the famous Gold Museum, which contains over 50,000 individual pieces of gold dating back centuries. The museum focuses on indigenous communities, the areas they inhabited, and how they used the gold. With one of the largest collections of gold in the world, this museum is a must-visit when in Bogotá.
La Candelaria
La Candelaria is one of Bogotá’s most historic and beautiful neighborhoods, and is worth a visit for the museums, libraries, restaurants, and colonial architecture. Almost every building has a wooden balcony that looks out onto the busy streets, with elaborate doors and entryways painted in bold, bright colors. In addition to the Botero and Gold Museums, be sure to visit Santuario Nuestra Señora del Carmen, one of the most beautiful and historic Catholic churches in Bogotá, dedicated to the Virgin Mary.
Museo de Botero
If you are interested in Latin American art, be sure to visit the Botero Museum. The museum houses the works of Fernando Botero - one of Colombia’s most famous artists. In addition to Botero's unusual works, the museum also features pieces donated by Botero himself, including works by Picasso and Monet. Located in a historical building in La Candelaria, the museum is a traditional Spanish-influenced building with a courtyard and a picturesque view of the Monserrate.
DAY TRIPS + TOURS
1/2 Day: Coffee Tour
If you're not combining your trip with a visit to Medellín + the zona cafetera, a coffee tour is a great way to spend a half day in Bogotá. The tour takes place in the mountainous regions surrounding the city, where you'll visit a small family-run coffee plantation. If you'd like to book, please reach out for more information :)
1/2 Day: Salt Cathedral of Zipaquirá
The Catedral de Sal in Zipaquirá is one of the country's most unique attractions. The space was carved out due to salt mining activities, and was later flipped into a gorgeous underground Roman Catholic church. If you're interested, we can help you arrange the 1/2 day trip. Tickets to the Salt Cathedral include admission to other museums and shows in and near the cave, but these are ok to skip.
Full Day: Villa de Leyva
Villa De Leyva is a beautiful, historic village several hours outside of Bogotá. Explore the town's fascinating history, walk the cobblestone streets, take in the colonial architecture, and shop locally crafted goods from artisans on this full-day tour. If you'd like to book, please reach out for more information :)
EAT + DRINK
The best way to get to know Colombia (and therefore, Bogotá) is through the food. Make sure you try the following before leaving:
Bandeja Paisa: the national dish, consisting of red beans, rice, ground beef, chorizo with lime, plantain, arepa, avocado, chicharrón, and sometimes a fried egg on top
Morcilla: blood sausage (if you're adventurous)
Patacones/Tostones: fried green plantains, salty, often served with white cheese
Maduros: fried sweet (ripe) plantains, also often served with white cheese
Chicharrón: fried pork rinds
Sancocho de Gallina: a personal favorite, chicken soup with corn, green plantains, potatoes, yucca, and cilantro (recipe varies by city)
Ajiaco: chicken soup with corn, scallions, garlic, cilantro, potatoes, and herbs (traditionally from Bogotá)
Aguardiente ("Guaro"): liquor made from sugar cane + flavored with aniseed, unquestionably Colombia's national drink, literal translation is "firewater"
Club Colombia, Águila: Colombia's favorite beers
Coffee: Azahar Café
Despite producing some of the best coffee in the world, Colombia is lacking the coffee-house culture you find in the states and in Europe. Azahar, located in the Parque de la 93 area, is one of the new coffee houses to emerge in Bogotá Here you can sample local coffee, and choose your bean + brewing method.
Lunch: Misia
For Colombian mainland classics + Caribbean fare, head to Misia for a sit-down lunch or casual dinner. Come hungry and try an arepa de huevo, a posta Cartegenera, and a fruit juice to pair for a truly coastal meal.
Late Lunch - Early Dinner: Casa
For an afternoon snack or casual dinner, head to Casa. On a prime dining street, set in a 1950s home designed by famous Colombian architect Guillermo Bermúdez, Casa serves an excellent Mediterranean-inspired menu. Its interiors have a sophisticated midcentury modern style, while the back terrace has a luxe jungle feel, perfect for enjoying a sunny afternoon or a clear evening.
Asian Fusion: Osaka
Osaka, also known as Osk, opened a year ago in Bogotá following the success of its sister restaurants in Chile, Peru, and Argentina. The restaurant serves excellent Nikkei cuisine (Asian-Peruvian fusion) in a beautifully designed space in Chapinero.
Disco: Armando Records
For a lively night out, Armando Records is the answer. The multilevel venue includes a back garden and rooftop, among several other spaces, each with different styles and music.
Aperitivo: Bar Enano
ideal intimate spot for cocktails, light bites, and a selection of tunes that includes classics from the 1950s and 60s. Have a drink while waiting for a table at El Bandido, or stop by for a post- dinner drink to round-off the night.
Quick Bite: Empanaditas de Pipian
This old-school Bogotá fast-food chain specializs in empanadas, which vary by region in Colombia. Also on the menu are other regional specialties and delicious fruit juices. Tip: try a lulada!
No Reservations: Tábula
To sum it up: simple, fresh food, in casual but elegant space. Tabula was featured by Anthony Bourdain, and lives up to the hype. This place is definitely worth a visit if you're in the neighborhood and are up for a hearty lunch or dinner.
Monserrate Lunch: Casa Santa Clara
You won’t find a better view of Bogotá than at Casa Santa Clara, located at the top of Cerro Monserrate. After taking the cablecar or train up to the top, walk over to Santa Clara for cocktails and traditional Colombian dishes. Tip: go in the later afternoon/early evening to catch the sunset.
Dinner + Dancing: Andrés Carne de Res
Hands down our favorite restaurant + bar + nightclub in Bogotá (it's actually in Chia, a 45 minute drive, but well worth the trek). Andrés is a Bogotá institution known as much for its after-hours as its food - the massive restaurant is made up of decorated enclaves, salsa rooms, and outdoor spaces for dancing. The menu is massive, but here quality + quantity seem to go hand-in-hand. Be sure to end your night with a little caldo - a delicious cup of soup they serve outside the restaurant to warm you up on your way home. Note: it is best to hire a driver or have your hotel arrange transportation both there and back, happy to help arrange if needed :)
Specialty Cocktails: Club Colombia
For incredible cocktails using local fruits, stop by Club Colombia for a pre or post-dinner drink. Our favorites have lulo, a local fruit similar in color and taste to kiwi.