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Founded in 1538 by Gonzalo
Jiménez de Quesada, Bogotá is the cosmopolitan, metropolis and
capital city of Colombia. A vibrant, energetic nightlife helps
the people of the city unwind after a hard day’s work and its
picturesque, modern parks and huge shopping malls add to the
charm which makes the citizens of Bogotá so proud to call it
their home. Visitors are prone to falling in love with its
warm residents, fun-loving lifestyle and things to do.
Bogotá is situated on a plateau on the western ridge of the
Eastern Mountain Range of the Andes almost in the centre of
the country and stands 2,600 metres above sea level.
Take a step back in time and explore “La Candelaria” which is
where the founder of Bogotá originally established the city to
announce the arrival of this amazing city in the Americas.
This historic area is now surrounded by a sprawling metropolis
but retains its old-world charm and architecture where
visitors can eat mouth-watering dishes from across the
Colombian territory, enjoy a play at one of La Candelaria’s
many theatres or browse important museums and libraries such
as the Botero Museum or the largest library in South America;
the Luis Ángel Arango.
For a laid-back, lazy afternoon or a stylish, sexy lunchtime,
a visit to Bogotá is not complete without whiling away a few
hours on the lush grass of Simon Bolivar Park, sipping a
cocktail in the rich surroundings of 93 Park or taking a
smooth, aromatic coffee in the T-Zone where contemporary
restaurants and bars bring this district to life. A short
journey out of the city delivers a whole new world to the
tourist of adventure-sports, pretty, Spanish-colonial towns,
salt-cathedrals and mountainous national parks.
Bogotá is the heart-beat of Colombia.
| Climate: |
Cool/Wet – Warm/Clear |
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Temperature: |
Average
14 degrees centigrade |
| Dry Season: |
December – February |
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Wet Season: |
April – May & September - November |
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Bogotá at its altitude does not
usually reach extremes of temperature either cold or
hot. However sun-filled, clear days are common and are a
delight in which to enjoy parks and plazas. Heavy rains
can also be impressive. A two hour drive out of the city
of Bogotá will bring you to temperatures reaching in
excess of 30°C which makes these towns a huge weekend
draw for citizens of Bogotá. |
Bogotá’s culture is a rich
mix of all races and people from across Colombia as well as
from across the globe. It is a true melting pot of
international flair and a great example of different cultures
enjoying this wonderful life together.
Previous to the arrival of the Spanish colonisers, various
indigenous tribes such as the Chibchas and the Muiscas
inhabited the land and the name of the department
“Cundinamarca” of which Bogotá is the capital means land of
the condor in indigenous tongue. Vestiges of the ancient
tribes of the Bogotá savannah and also of the Spanish
colonisation of this land are evident throughout Bogotá City
as well as in its surrounding lands.
| January: |
The Kings
Party (Egipto neighbourhood). |
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January/February: |
Bull-Fighting Season. |
| February
& December: |
Concerts
of the Philharmonic Orchestra of Bogotá. |
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March/April: |
Holy Week.
Iberoamericano Theatre Festival.
Eurocine (European Cinema). |
| March &
September: |
Colombian
Fashion Week.
Bogotá Fashion Week. |
| April: |
National
Artists Room. |
| April &
June: |
Zarzuela
Season (Musical Theatre Performance). |
| August: |
Summer
Festival.
Bogotá’s Birthday. |
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August/September: |
Opera
Season. |
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September: |
Festival
of La Candelaria.
Free Theatre International Jazz Festival. |
| October: |
Bogotá
Film Festival. |
Adventure &
Extreme Sports |
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A short
journey out of the city boundaries, adrenaline-seekers can
choose from a wide selection of destinations in which to
do exciting activities, surrounded by breathtaking
scenery, including; rafting, canyoning, abseiling,
climbing, caving, kayaking, trekking, “puenting”,
bungee-jumping and parasailing.
Destinations include; Suesca, Tobia and Útica. Please
request information regarding which activities can be
enjoyed in which destination. |
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The Salt Cathedral of Zipaquirá |
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This architectural masterpiece began life as a salt mine
but has since been meticulously sculpted underground to
form rooms, walkways, planetariums and altars which make
up the cathedral.
There are many people in Colombia who believe that the
Salt Cathedral of Zipaquirá has the attributes to be named
as the 8th Wonder of the World. |
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Chingaza National Natural Park |
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Chingaza is a protected National Park in which exists a
unique eco-system called Páramo. The páramo is created
when warm, equatorial air rises and meets the cool, fresh
air of the Andean mountain peaks. The landscape of the
páramo appears to be alien but this is where the Andean
Condor and Andean Spectacled Bear call home.
Chingaza is made up of páramo, forests, rivers and lakes
and due to its high annual precipitation, provides Bogotá
with a large percentage of its water consumption. |
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Guatavita |
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This small town is a quaint, beautiful example of
Spanish-colonial architecture with cobbled plazas,
churches, restaurants and buildings that remain in a state
of preservation at the time they were originally
constructed.
Not far from this small town is the Guatavita Lake which
myths say is the site of El Dorado where the first Spanish
colonisers attempted to discover a huge hoard of gold
treasure. Fact tells us that the ancient indigenous tribes
of the area once performed a ceremony which involved
casting solid gold idols of their gods into the lake to
appease the god of the lake. Gold statuetteshave been
discovered in the area but the legend of El Dorado’s
massive gold hoard remains safe and unsolved to this day. |
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Melgar |
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This is a small town not far from Bogotá which is perfect
for weekend trips out of the city as the temperature is
always warm and Melgar has a vibrant nightlife of bars and
clubs as well as hotels and small resorts for the family
to relax by a refreshing swimming pool. |
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Girardot |
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A bit further on from Melgar, about 2 and a half hours
from Bogotá, is the town of Girardot which has a
year-round temperature of 30 degrees centigrade plus.
Travel to Girardot, relax by the pool and enjoy the
ambience of the Magdalena River valley. |
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La Vega |
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La Vega is another small village with a pretty plaza and
church but what makes La Vega a draw for visitors is its
warm climate but also for the picturesque surroundings in
which the village is set.
While in La Vega, pay a visit to the Jericó Ecological
Park and the Tabacal Lake. |
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La Candelaria |
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To walk the cobbled streets and admire the 16th century
buildings of La Candelaria is to step back in time to when
the might of the Spanish crown had recently arrived in the
Americas.
Typical food restaurants, museums and theatres capture the
imagination of all visitors. |
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Bolívar Plaza |
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As in all great cities, Bolívar Plaza is the major square
which showcases the most important buildings and
architecture of the country’s history. Visitors to the
plaza can marvel at the City Hall, Arzobispal Palace and
of course Casa de Nariño where the President of Colombia
lives. |
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Museums |
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Throughout the city are many museums that catalogue and
display the rich and often turbulent history of Colombia
and also of the world.
Bogotá’s museums include; the National Museum, the Botero
Museum and the Gold Museum. |
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Simón Bolívar Park |
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A beautiful park complete with paths ideal for lazy
strolls around the lake where pedalos and and kayaks can
be rented. The park is also often converted into an arena
for the arrival of international concerts and festivals.
In the centre of the park is a cross that stands 30 metres
tall which commemorates the visit of Pope John Paul VI. |
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93 Park |
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This small, pretty park is surrounded on all sides by
chic, fashionable restaurants, bars, clubs and cafes and
is extremely popular day or night to visit and just relax
with a warm or cold beverage in hand. |
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Monserrate |
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Monserrate is the peak of the mountain that overlooks
Bogotá and is visible from almost every location in the
city. Atop the mountain is the Sanctuary of Monserrate, a
church which is a pilgrimage point for many people of the
city. For all visitors, a trip to the Sanctuary is a must.
One can ascend to the top by foot, by cable-car or by a
train-type system and as well as the church, at various
times of the year, there is a market which sells
handicrafts. |
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José Celestino Mutis Botanical Gardens |
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A centre of study, education and demonstration of the
Andean flora and specifically of the flora of the Bogotá
savannah. |
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Maloka |
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Children and parents alike love visiting Maloka to
interact with many of its attractions which are designed
to educate about science and technology. One of the main
attractions is the “Cinedome” where various educational
films are projected onto the dome above the heads of
visitors to give
an almost 365 degree experience. |
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Shopping Malls |
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Across Bogotá, there are the finest examples of huge,
contemporary shopping malls which cater for everything
needed all under one roof with between 3 and 5 floors of
pure shopping and a food quart usually situated along with
a cinema on the top floor.
Among the most popular shopping malls are; Unicentro,
Centro Andino, Atlantis, El Retiro, Salitre Plaza and
Hacienda Santa Bárbara. |
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Zona T |
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This fashionable hang-out spot comprises a t-shape of
small roads which are lined with some of the most chic
restaurants and bars in Bogotá. Due to Bogotá’s
cosmopolitan spirit, Zona-T is where you can find dishes
and beverages from around the globe, from Thai food and
sushi in WOK to a pint of stout in the Irish Pub.
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