Introduction/Overview
Bogota is Colombia’s high-altitude capital. With consistent weather throughout the year and green mountains surrounding it, it is quite the city to behold. Featuring colonial-era landmarks like the neoclassical performance hall, Teatro Colon and the 17-century Iglesia de San Botero, there is much history to see here as well. Zona Rosa and La Candeleria are just a couple of neighborhoods to explore and Montserrat awaits the visit of any tourist. With that said, let’s get to talking about this city in more detail!
Population
The population of Bogota sits at around 8,000,000 people while the metro area boasts around 11,000,000. With the recent and consistent influx of Venezuelans, it is likely that these figures are actually higher.
Geography
Bogota is settled within a valley that is surrounded by mountains. The land is very lush and green, should one venture outside of the city you will find a mixture of tropical and temperate flora and fauna. Dense lush forests exist within the hills and mountains, many with billowing creeks and rivers flowing throughout as well.
Climate
Throughout most of the year, the weather in Bogota hovers around the mid-60s. During any day, one can experience rain, clouds, and glaring sun. Walking around with an umbrella on-hand is advisable as some of the downpours can be extreme and seemingly come from out of nowhere.
Transportation
Buses and taxis are the main forms of public transportation here. The bus system can be an efficient way to get around for some, but I recommend taxis. Hailing a cab from the streets is not recommended here, even the locals warned me of the dangers of scopolamine and the infamous “paseo millonario”.
Call a cab from a reputable company ahead of time. When you get to the airport, there will be a kiosk for renting white cabs just before you left the secure area. I highly recommend you rent a taxi here, but be prepared with some Spanish phrases of a translator if you don’t speak Spanish.
Safety
Zona Rosa is safe according to gringos, however, locals have informed me that it is a hunting ground for some criminals. I am not sure how often or how true it is, but I was told by multiple cab drivers and people I met that Zona Rosa is a scopolamine zone; if any locals can confirm or give more details, I would appreciate the input.
What is scopolamine? It is a drug that is created from the plant known as “”. It can make you fall unconscious quite fast. The most common way people ingest this substance is when they leave their drinks unattended or allow strangers to buy drinks for them. DON’T DO THIS! If you go out drinking for fun, go with a friend and always keep an eye on your drinks.
Traveling during the day is safe throughout many neighborhoods North of the airport. If you speak Spanish, you will get around even better. The touristy areas near Montserrat and Casa de Narino are full of military soldiers and police armed with assault rifles. I wouldn’t be surprised to see an occasional tank roll through. Okay, that’s an exaggeration, but they seem to take security very seriously here. The police and military were very helpful and friendly to me when I asked questions too, so don’t be afraid to approach them if you need help. Be prepared to converse in Spanish, however. You need Spanish here, have I made that clear enough?
Cost of Living
Compared to the US, it is relatively cheap. A nice apartment in a safe area can run as low as $600-750/mo. Food is extremely cheap if you eat like a local here too. Fruits, vegetables, rice, bread, chicken, these things are all very cheap here compared to the US, Canada, or Europe.
Food
It’s okay. Some restaurants that serve foreign food make some awesome dishes. I will be writing a more detailed article on Colombian food at some point. I highly recommend coconut rice and some dish I forgot the name to. Do your shopping at Exito, you may find these stores in any large Colombian city.
Places of Interest
The two high mountains known as Cerro de Guadalupe and Montserrat are worth visiting. You may drive a car to the top of Cerro de Guadalupe, however, Montserrat will require you to take a cable car, tram, or walk up. I highly recommend you take the cable car or tram, as walking up the thing is a bitch. This advice is coming from someone who runs a six-minute-mile three times per week; keep that in mind!
The downtown area also has a variety of places to see. I highly recommend visiting Casa de Narino, Museo de Oro, and Plaza Bolivar. You can easily see the two mountains I mentioned and each of these sites in one day. It would be a rushed day, but it’s doable if you are short on time.
Useful Links
- https://www.internations.org/bogota-expats/forum/402
Conclusion
Bogota is a pretty cool place to visit if you like cooler weather, mountains, and historical architecture. I highly recommend it if you are proficient in Spanish like I am. If you don’t know a single word of Spanish you may certainly visit, but you’re going to run into a few confusing conversations as you interact with the locals. They are very friendly, however, and I really enjoy spending time with rolos and Colombians in general.
As long as you follow this advice, you should be fine. I hope this article will prove to be helpful to those of you whom are planning to visit Bogota, Colombia. Thank you for reading my travel blog!