Bogotá Travel Forum

We are planning a trip in March to either Bogota or Costa Rica for 5 days....we haven't made up our minds just yet. We would like to get some info on both to make an informed decision. Could anyone help with some questions? Here they are:

Bogota
1. If my spanish isn't all that great(meaning I butcher the language, but still able to get my idea across) would it be safe?

2. We are looking for a safe, nice, reasonable hotel. Safe meaning able to walk in the eve/night time. Nice meaning not fancy, but not a dive. Reasonable meaning around $60-$80 USD/night per room.

3. What is the nightlife like?

4. My friend the gambler would like to know if there are any casinos.

5. Are the people there friendly...in other words my friends would like to know are the girls approachable...lol

6. What is the weather like in March?

7. Is the national park there nice and should I include it on my list?


Costa Rica
1. I would love to see an active volcano erupt and see the lava flow at nighttime.

2. What is the nightlife like? What is the best bar to go to?

3. My friend the gambler would like to know where are the best casinos.

4. What is the weather like in March?

Thank you for reading and taking the time. I know these were alot of questions, but I'm trying to accomodate all that are going some we each have our interests fulfilled.
Much appreciated

two very different selections. People go to Costa Rica mainly for the beaches and nature and in Bogota, you are often advised to stay in the city

Spanish is needed much more in Bogota than Costa Rica and Colombians boost they speak the best Spanish.

The city is pretty modern and we walked around a lot, certainly safer than I was expecting. Their zona rosa may have had the best nightlife I have seen anywhere. You would love it I am guessing. And the people are both friendly and approachable; very differnt than you might expect.

Zona Rosa is pretty young though, an adjacent neighborhood (forgot the name, but has a Bogota Beer Company (other than the one in Zona Rosa) is trendy with people in their late 20s and 30s.

I would guess your chances of seeing a volcano errupt anywhere is rare, unless you hop on a plane once it starts. Honestly, more to do in Costa Rica (a trip that could warrant weeks), but Bogota was fun and worth a few days (weekend days in your case). I did not see any casinos in Bogota

I have to say that I think that your question is really unfair because you are pitting an entire country against a city. I have never been to Colombia but I am planning to go next month. I have been to Costa Rica so I can give you a little info about that half of your question. First of all, in a comparison of weather, I was shocked to find out that Bogota can actually get pretty cold because it is situated high up in the mountains so depending on when you decide to go you might be wearing a sweater. For this reason I changed my Colombian travel plans and am planning to go to Cali instead because I prefer warm weather. As for the weather in Costa Rica it is generally warm to hot but it can get to be really rainy depending on when you go. The weather is really unpredictable and because it is also situated in mountanous terrain you can have situations where there is a full on storm in San Jose, for example, and in Heredia (only an hour away) it could be a beautiful summer day. The weather is really unpredictable in Costa Rica. Don't get your hopes up with respect to seeing the volcano explode. When I was there there was a thick layer of fog and they only let you hike so close for safety reasons. We couldn't see the top of the mountain at all. As for casinos in San Jose I liked the Colonial. The best area for nightlife in my opinion is the Pueblo. (check my web pages on Costa Rica for a review) Whenever you go to Costa Rica the weather is going to be unpredictable but there is a time when they have the monsoon and that is when you really don't want to go if you are into outdoor activities. For nightlife in Costa Rica think San Jose, Jaco, and Manuel Antonio. For Colombia (I have been advised) to check out Cali, Cartagena, and Bogota. If you decide to go to Colombia I think that you should investigate other areas besides Bogota. It is not as dangerous these days as you think and actually , if danger is a serious concern for you, I have heard that the safest areas now are in the North so you should be more focused on Cartagena.

Bogota is perfectly safe if you take normal precautions. Public transport and taxis very well organised.
Hotels preferably stay in the north-I always stay in Dann Norte (USD 80), there´s also a good hostal: Bogota Real, also in the north (around USD 35).
Zona Rosa (around Calle 85, Shopping Centre Centro Andino) is good, yes, also Parque 93 (Av. 15 with C. 93). Visit Gold museum, the Cerro Monserate, Plaza Bolivar (the centre).
Girls very approachable must master spanish, at least a litle. Casinos abound. Weather is almost always the same, sunny in the morning (20-25 degr C max) and chance of showers in the afternoons/evenings. Mind, BOG altitude is 2800 meters above sea-level.
You may want to check my pages, just been in BOG during Xmas and New Year, I am now in Lima, Peru.

March should have great weather in Costa Rica. It's the dry season across the country, and i never had a rainy day that time of year. Of course, it's possible, especially on the Caribbean coast. The nightlife isn't as cosmopolitan as Bogota would be but it's fun. I saw the lava flow at Arenal volcano, and you'll have a decent chance of seeing it. It's a pretty area, with lots of outdoor activities (windsurfing is especially popular).

Can I ask why Bogota? A lot of people, myself included, prefer Cartagena. The arts/museums would be better in Bogota, but Cartagena is a beautiful colonial city, right on the Caribbean ocean, with great beaches nearby. The Tayrona National Park is a few hours away and is gorgeous. It's on the beach and you can walk along classic tropical beaches for hours or days.

Thank you all for your responses. I think our trip will be to Costa Rica this March. From the all the responses, it seems that CR will fulfill all of our interests. I personally still want to visit Colombia since I hear it's a beautiful country. I may decide on an August visit to Medellin for la feria de las flores.

Amy, the reason Bogota....I had heard that the city was beautiful and interesting. I also enjoy historic places, museums, galleries, and parks. But now, that you mentioned Cartegena, I have to put that city on my list too. Thanks for the info...much to see so little time to do it in.....