Bogota, Colombia
- Misho Ma
- Jul 1, 2018
- 3 min read
Updated: Jul 12, 2018
Colombia has gotten a bad reputation due to its history of powerful drug cartel and Pablo Escobar. But Colombia is a gorgeous country with so much to offer. Colombia's people were warm and inviting, the food was to die for, and the culture was lively.
Our first part of our Colombia trip was in Bogota, Colombia's capitol city. We didn't have much time in Bogota so we decided to spend most of our time in La Candelaria district which is the older part Bogota, the historic district, which is filled, with street art, restaurants, museums and bars. At night, music blasts from the bars where locals gather to unwind after a long day at work.
On our first night we headed out to explore the city and grab a bite to eat. We found a cozy little place a few blocks from our hostel called "El Gato Gris" where we drank wine, had some great empanadas and just took some time to unwind from our flight.
Later In the evenings, we took a walk around the city where we ran into many locals drinking, eating, and just hanging out in Plazoleta Chorro de Quevedo, which is a small plaza in central La Candelaria. It's a relaxed atmosphere where you can buy popcorn, beer, arepas, churros, and much more while you hang out with the locals.
Plaza Bolivar
While in Bogota, you should definitely visit Plaza Bolivar, which is the main square of Bogota. In this plaza you will find the Primitive Cathedral which was built in the year 1539 and the statue of Simon Bolivar (often called "The Liberator" since he played a main role in the liberation of several South American countries from Spanish rule).
Budget travel tip #1: Visit free museums
Botero museum
While in Bogota, you need to visit the Botero museum which is also in La Candelaria district. The museum if free of charge and houses some of the most important art collections. Fernando Botero is known for his depictions of people in large exaggerated volumes.
Monserrate
Another amazing site to see is Monserrate, which is a mountain which houses a church and a market where you can spend about half a day enjoying the panoramic views of Bogota. Monserrate lies about 10,341 ft above sea level, so you may feel lightheaded and tired when you make the climb.
The easiest way to get up there is by either taking the Funicular (small train) or the teleférico (the lift) however, if you are interested in a little more exercise then you can take the stairs although I must warn you, it is a long climb up!
Food time!
on of the best places we ate at was called Casa Vieja they had an amazing Cazuela de Mariscos, a local seafood soup. I'll admit, my picture did not look the best but the taste was spectacular and I would highly recommend you try this place. Casa Vieja was filled with locals and I am pretty sure we were the only non-locals there. When we walked in, we were seated immediately and noticed the restaurant was filled with families, and business professionals on a break for lunch. Food pricing in Colombia was super affordable. As a matter of fact, most places you visit in South America will be much cheaper than the USA which leads me to...
Budget Travel Tip #2: Don't eat in overcrowded tourist locations.
Restaurants are fairly cheap in Colombia, but like any other country, the prices will me more expensive if it's a touristy location. To eat the best food and get the best for your buck eat were the locals eat.
Budget travel tip #3: Stay in a hostel
We had booked our hostel right after purchasing our plane tickets to make sure we got the best deal. We always looks for hotels that have private rooms and bathrooms since we like more privacy and want it to feel more like a hotel. Our hostel in Bogota was called Arche Noah Guesthouse and was located in the La Candelaria district. The room was tight but it had a large enough bed for both of us, and a full bathroom. The price was $20 per night!
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