Bogota City Guide

Bogota, the capital of Colombia, is a city great history and rich culture.

Visitors to Bogota can expect to be impressed by the city’s historic architecture, diversity of activities, and beautiful mountains.

Bogota was founded in 1538 by the Spanish conquistadors.

Its history is rich with tales of battles, gold, and cathedrals, and today visitors can take in much of Bogota’s history at its museums, churches, and many famous sites.

Bogota is a city surrounded by mountains, and no trip to Bogota is complete without a drive into the hills or a trip up Monserrate by foot or funicular.

If you hike, keep in mind that Bogota is at very high altitude, so make sure to bring plenty of water and pace yourself.

Bogota is also known for its restaurants and nightlife.

Whether you dine at Andres Carne de Res or stay closer to town at Club Colombia, Bogota has no shortage of restaurants, bars and clubs.

Whatever your pleasure, Bogota can keep you busy for weeks.

But if you don’t have unlimited time, try to spend at least four days in Bogota to enjoy everything the city has to offer.

1. Visit the Casa Museo Quinta de Bolivar

2. Go shopping for the high-quality emeralds that Colombia is famous for

3. Hike or take the cable car or funicular up to Cerro de Monserrate

4. Visit the Bogota Gold Museum (Museo de Oro)

5. Taste local specialties like ajiaco

6. Drink aguardiente (but not too much…remember Bogota is at high altitude!)

7. Drive up into the mountains above Bogota for great views of the city

8. Visit the Salt Cathedral in Zipaquira

9. Explore Bogota’s old town

10. Have dinner and dance the night away at Andres Carne de Res

The Salt Cathedral in Bogota is located 25 miles outside of the city in Zipaquira. To get from Bogota to the Salt Cathedral, there are several options:

Trains from Bogota to the Salt Cathedral

Trains leave Bogota for the Salt Cathedral in the morning and return in the afternoon, so it’s easy to make a day of the excursion by train. From the train station by the Salt Cathedral, you can either walk up the hill or take a taxi to the cathedral.

Taxi from Bogota to the Salt Cathedral

It’s difficult to find a taxi driver that is willing to drive from Bogota to the Salt Cathedral, so you’re best off using a car and driver from your hotel. The journey takes about an hour and the driver will wait for you while you tour the cathedral, then take you back to Bogota.

Bus from Bogota to the Salt Cathedral

Buses leave the outskirts of Bogota for the Salt Cathedral, and are a less expensive way to get from the city to the cathedral. The bus is a good way to get from Bogota to the Salt Cathedral if you are on a budget.

The Salt Cathedral (Catedral de Sal in Spanish) is an underground cathedral in an old salt mine near Bogota.

The cathedral is located 25 miles outside of Bogota in the town of Zipaquira.

The Salt Cathedral is a must see on any visit to Bogota, religious or otherwise.

Getting from Bogota to the Salt Cathedral is easy and can be done by several different modes of transport.

Cartagena is a city of beautiful colors, rich history, and great nighlife. Visitors to Cartagena can expect to be dazzled by Cartagena’s beautiful architecture, rich culture, and vibrant energy.

Officially named Cartagena de Indias, Cartagena was founded in 1533 by Spanish explorer Pedro de Heredia. Its history is rich with tales of pirate battles, castles, and cathedrals, and today visitors can take in much of Cartagena’s history at its museums, churches, castle, and other famous sites.

Cartagena is also a city for walking. Whether its getting lost in the walled city’s narrow streets or taking a stroll along the city walls, Cartagena’s bright colors and beautiful flowers are in bloom year round.

Cartagena is known around the world for its restaurants and nightlife. Whether you dine at La Vitrola or have a sunset cocktail at Cafe del Mar, Cartagena is bursting with energy every night.

Its proximity to the Islas Rosarios makes diving in Cartagena a great activity for those wanting to get out of the city. Daily dive and snorkel expeditions leave from Cartagena and offer world class coral reefs and marine life sightings to divers.

Whatever your pleasure, Cartagena can keep you busy for weeks. But if you don’t have unlimited time, try to spend at least five days in Cartagena to enjoy everything the city has to offer.

1. Visit the Castillo San Felipe de Barajas on the hill above the walled city in Cartagena

2. Walk along the city walls for great views of Cartagena and the Caribbean Sea

3. Tour the Gold Museum to learn about Cartagena’s history

4. Take a horse and carriage ride through Cartagena

5. Visit the Modern Art Museum to see the works of some of Cartagena’s famous artists

6. Have cocktails at sunset at Cafe del Mar on the city walls

7. Visit the Palace of the Inquisition

8. Wander through the colorful streets in Cartagena’s walled city

9. Have dinner at the famous La Vitrola restaurant in Cartagena

10. Go diving in the Islas Rosarios

After being the set of the Princess Bride years ago, Cartagena’s fame in the filming word has fallen.

The Miami Herald covers a new and hopeful trend to the contrary:

Cartagena Regaining its Former Cinematic Luster

This historic port city, which once claimed to be the filmmaking center of the Caribbean, looks to rebuild its cinema and tourism industries.

BY JOSHUA GOODMAN

CARTAGENA, Colombia – Even if you’re not a location scout, it’s difficult not to become entranced by the timeless beauty of this Caribbean port’s heavy-stone ramparts and trove of Spanish colonial architecture.

But despite a sharp drop in murders since law-and order President Alvaro Uribe took office in 2002, Colombia’s well-earned reputation for violence nearly cost Cartagena the chance of being featured in the film Love in the Time of Cholera. The best-seller novel on which the film was based was set here by Nobel Prize-winning author Gabriel Garcia Marquez.

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