Bogota Blogger

Bogota is about 8,000 feet above sea level, so sometimes the altitude is a problem.  Maybe you will be a little sick for a day or two, and maybe not, and no one seems to be able to say what factors will determine this.  I  expected to be sick, but was not, when I first came.  I don’t even think I was particularly tired.  The common advice is, of course, to rest as much as possible and drink lots of water.

Subiendo (Going up) Monseratte

For real altitude, though, you climb (or otherwise get to the top of) Monserrate, one of the two peaks towering over downtown, on the top of which is a huge church and lots and lots of kiksch.  Besides walking up, you can go on a train or on a tram.  Either way, you end up another 1,500 feet above sea level.

If you walk, it’s best to go on a Sunday or at least on a Saturday, because those are the high tourist times, and there’s less chance of crime.  Unfortunately, but just like in any large city, if you find yourself partway up the mountain and sort of isolated, you’re a good target for robbery.  Sundays are crowded, but not outrageously crowded, so that’s a good time to go.  The path is basically very old cobblestone steps, so it’s a little bumpy and hiking boots might be a good idea, though I have often walked it in tennis shoes, and you will see people in flip-flops, women in heels, and even people barefoot.  It will take about an hour, or maybe 1.5 hours, depending on what shape you are in and how you are reacting to the thin air of Bogota in general.  The path is a little windy, of course, and there are great places along the way to stop for views and rests.

What to Do Once You are up There

Monserrate is probably the number one tourist thing to do in Bogota (though most of the people subiendo are locals);  it’s impressive, unique, cheap, and gives you an accomplishment.  When you get to the top, there’s the church, of course.  There is also an outdoor stations of the cross made with sculptures and gardens that is very impressive.

There is a path loaded with stands selling any tacky tourist item you can possibly imagine, but a few things, like key chains with tiny leather coffee pouches, can be good souveniers, and they’re really, really cheap.  Down the way a bit there are also many, many restaurant stalls serving comida tipica (typical food), for low, low prices.  Comida tipica is not really my thing, but if you like it, it’s a bargain.

There are also two very upsacale restaurants across from the church, but I have not eaten there, and though they look very nice, the word is that the food is just okay and very, very overpriced.  My gastronomic experiences have been limited to a little pan de yuca and crackers from the snack shop near the tram station.

The views from Monserrate are the best in the city.  You are directly over downtown and can see every part of the city in every direction–the north and beyond, the airport in the far west, the crowded south and the small mountain ranges at the southwest.  You’ll be looking down on the Colpatria building, the tallest building in the country.

There’s also a moderately good view of the other peak over downtown, called Guadelupe.  There’s also a church there, but you can’t hike up, so it’s less of an attraction.

Bajando (Going Down)

Going down takes about half an hour to 40 minutes, but requires a little more caution than going up, probably.  Taking the tram is very, very cool; each car has huge glass windows facing the view.  It’s pretty cheap, too.

Remember, though, if you want to go during the week, stick to the train or the tram.

This entry was posted on Sunday, March 25th, 2007 at 9:58 pm and is filed under Tourist Stuff in Bogota. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.