Bogotá Travel Forum

I will be in Bogota for a business meeting next week, so I have available Thursday (since I arrive 5am) and Saturday. I know, it is not enough time to see any new city/country, but that's all I have :-)

So, any advices on the "must see" things?

I am "outdoorish" type in general, are there some trips I should take out of the city? So far the candidate is Zipaquirá/Guatavita. Any advice on tour operators?

PS how long does it usually take to go through the immigration/customs in the Bogota airport?

Thank you all in advance!

Immigration and customs is quite swift. Within approx. 30 mins you are outside.

Things to do: indeed Zipaquira and Guatavita (the lake=legend of El Dorado, see the balsa in the Gold Museum).
Going up Monserrate.
Plaza Bolivar and the Candelaria, the Gold Museum, the museum Artes y Tradiciones Populares.

Read my tip upon how to act/organise when LEAVING Colombia (the Exencion stamp).

Zipaquirá/Guatavita is a nice excursion, but you won't have time to see both the city and do the daytrip. If you stay in Bogota you could start with going up to Monserrate (the first cable car leaves at 9.30) for great views over the city. Then visit the gold museum and after have lunch in Candelaria. It is nice to stroll around in the old courters of Candelaria and there you should also visit the Botero Collection (it doesn't close until 19.00).
The National Museum is also great, but you will probably not have time to visit.

As as has been said, the customs is swift, but when i got back to the USA, that was when customs was a bit tighter on me and they took their time opening my luggage. Definitely, Montserrat would be the ideal choice and take the funicular up --- do not walk up (dangerous to tourists hiking I hear), I just hired a driver to bring me to Zipaquira which I think cost $200? last year.Can't remember. Also, if you do get a driver, he can have you pass smaller cities around Bogota and my driver even brought me to a local grilling spot which was really cheap. If going to the gold museum, make sure there are no renovations still going on...enjoy your Bogota adventure -- it is a nice city to visit...

Hi there, we were just there in August. It really depends on what you like. Do you like to eat well? shop? architecture? there are some really great and hip neighborhoods to check out - Zona T, Zona Rosa, Usaquen, Candelaria. I would skip the gold museum at this time since it's being refurbished and the current exhibition is very limited. Unless of course, you are a big fan of this type of thing. Near the current home of the gold museum is also the Botero museum. If you let me know what you like to do, I can make some suggestions.

I see you're back.

And? How did it go?

Would be nice to know for us.

But I see from your home-page that it's not your habit to respond back to people who anwered your questions in the forums.

Not a very friendly attitude, in my opinion.

Thanks to all of you for your help! I had a great time in Colombia. Immigrations at 5am very so swift, that I was outside before people, who were supposed to pick me up, arrived :-)