Colombian Andes

What is there to do in Bogotá?
Bogotá, as a city for all, offers many different activities that make it an ideal tourist destination. One of these activities is discovering Colombia’s history and its importance. To learn more about Colombia’s history, you can go downtown, where you will find the Plaza de Bolívar, the Primatial Cathedral, and the Casa de Nariño, which houses the Colombian government.

You can also visit touristic places like the neighborhood of La Candelaria, the heart and historical epicenter of Bogotá. There you will find great mansions built in the Colonial era, as well as a unique Bohemian atmosphere in the legendary Plaza del Chorro de Quevedo, a spot you have to visit when you arrive at the capital of Colombia.

You can also visit important museums, such as the National Museum of Colombia, the Museum of Modern Art of Bogotá (MAMBO), the Maloka Interactive Center, and the Gold Museum, which houses an important collection of items from pre-Hispanic cultures.

Bogotá’s cuisine is also worth sampling and enjoying. Bogotá offers an extensive selection of local and foreign foods that are widely recognized as some of the best in Latin America. You can try dishes typical of the region, such as ajiaco (a soup with chicken and potatoes as its primary ingredients), cocido (a soup with vegetables, beans, noodles, and a variety of meats and spices), tamales (seasoned vegetables, beans, or meats wrapped in corn dough and steamed), or almojábanas (cheese breads), and sample Colombian fruit juices and desserts prepared with local ingredients.

There are other tourist destinations in Bogotá, such as Monserrate, El Chicó, and Usaquén, which are considered some of the best places to visit in the capital of Colombia because they welcome both locals and visitors with open arms. You can also get to know one of Bogotá’s parks, such as the National Park, 93rd Street Park, or Simón Bolívar Park, and play sports, take a stroll, contemplate nature, or just sit and read a book.

In Bogotá’s commercial areas and shopping centers, you can find anything you want; that’s why they’ve become a major tourist attraction in the capital. In these commercial areas, you can find the best shops for clothes, shoes, accessories, jewelry, technology, antiques, handicrafts, and whatever else you’re looking for.

Bogotá’s nightlife includes areas of different styles and atmospheres, to suit anyone’s tastes: discos, bars, pubs, craft breweries, and clubs where entertainment and dancing come first.

Unique experiences
Visiting this city is like taking a deep, refreshing breath of culture, because in Bogotá, you’ll find unforgettable events like permanent exhibitions of art and history from all eras, festivals, and amazing concerts.

You can also visit visit other touristic places like one of Bogotá’s exceptional libraries, see a theater production, attend a concert, or enjoy a small, private recital.

There are also a number of significant, internationally recognized events that take place in Bogotá: thousands of spectators come together each year for the Festivals in the Park, where they listen to rock, hip-hop, jazz, salsa, Colombian music, and all kinds of rhythms. These activities are part of the great cultural offer that describes the capital of Colombia.

The Book Fair opens its doors in April, allowing the public to meet well-known authors from the literary world. The Festival de Teatro (one of the largest performing-arts festivals in the world), which is celebrated every year, turns the city into one giant stage ruled by imagination and art.

Activities you won’t want to miss out on
On Sundays and public holidays, you can enjoy a bike ride, run, or leisurely stroll down the city’s Cycleway, which is almost 75 miles long and distributed across Bogotá’s principal roads.

On these same days (Sundays and public holidays), don’t forget to visit the Flea Markets located in Usaquén and downtown Bogotá, places that bring together books, artisanal works, antiques, and a wide range of other items you’ll only find there. Indeed, those are considered to be some of the best touristic places you can visit in Bogota.

Taking a tour of the city’s magnificent open air gallery with works from the best national and international graffiti artists is yet another experience you won’t want to miss out on. Without a doubt, one of the things to do in Bogota.

Recommendations
The best time or season to travel to Bogota can be at any time of the year. However, some times are better than others. Due to the location of the capital of Colombia on the Andes, the weather in Bogota is mild and pleasant. If you want to find a dry climate, you can come between December and January. Another season in which you can find pleasant weather is from June to September.
Bogotá has many information stands for tourists. If you have questions, you can visit one of these stands, where tourism professionals will be more than happy to help you out.
The weather or temperature that you can find in Bogota has a lot to do with the strategic location of the capital of Colombia in the territory. Being a city surrounded by mountains, its weather or temperature ranges between 8 and 20 degrees Celsius (46.4 to 68.0 °F.) Autumn clothes are perfect to enjoy the weather in Bogota. Of course, always carry an umbrella with you, since rains are frequent in the capital.
Keep in mind that Bogota has an impressive altitude of 8,530 feet above sea level. This doesn’t usually cause any problems for tourists; however, try to make a habit out of drinking a lot of water, eating well, and resting properly.
To make sure you don’t lose any time, remember that Bogotá is located in the GMT-5 time zone, and doesn’t adjust its time in the spring and fall as many other countries, like Spain and the USA, do.
As far as public transport goes, Bogotá uses an Integrated Public Transport System (SITP for its initials in Spanish). You can plan your trip beforehand using the TransMilenio website and Moovit app, available for iOS and Android.
There are many ways to get to Bogota. Because the capital of Colombia is in the center of the Colombian territory, which is, in turn, the gateway to the South American continent, many flights include a stopover at Bogota’s airport El Dorado. Some of the airlines that arrive to the city are Iberia, Avianca, Air France, Air Canada, Lufthansa, British Airways, and American Airlines. Another way to get to the capital of Colombia if you are on the continent is by bus from countries like Brazil, Ecuador, Chile, Bolivia, Venezuela, and Peru.
If you take a taxi, it’s best to order one over the phone or using a mobile app from a known company like Easy Taxi or Taxis Libres. Apps like Beat, Uber, and Cabify are also used in Bogotá, and can help you get around without any complications and make the most of your visit.
With these recommendations, you’ll be ready to enjoy the wonderful capital of Colombia. Bogota, the city with a perfect mix of traditional and modern styles, awaits your discovery in the most welcoming place on Earth.

What is there to do in Bucaramanga?
Like we said before, Bucaramanga is known as the “City of Parks,” so we highly recommend taking a stroll through a few of them while you’re here.

Bucaramanga’s most noteworthy parks include Parque Centenario, which is the heart of the city’s cultural and commercial development; Romero Park, a place of great historical significance; and Parque Santander, which just might be the most important park in Bucaramanga thanks to the economic, historical, and commercial significance of the buildings that surround it.

Other important parks include Parque García Rovira, Parque de los Ninos, Parque Bolívar, Parque Las Palmas, and Parque del Agua.

In addition to its many parks, Bucaramanga has many other places of interest for tourists, such as the Cathedral of the Holy Family and the Capilla de Los Dolores, which is the oldest temple in the city and is a prime example of the cultural heritage of the Republic of Columbia.

Another important place you can visit in Bucaramanga is the Centro Cultural del Oriente (Eastern Cultural Center), which was declared a National Monument in 1995 and currently provides valuable cultural services for the city.

Bucaramanga also offers a number of museums, theaters, and other cultural landmarks, such as the Museum of Modern Art of Bucaramanga, the Casa de Bolívar (a mansion where Simón Bolívar once lived, now a museum), the Casa Luis Perú de la Croix (where Luis Perú de la Croix once lived), the Teatro Coliseo Peralta, the Teatro Santander, and the Estación de Café Madrid.

Unique experiences
In Bucaramanga, there are many different events you can attend, such as the Feria Bonita, which is celebrated in September and has free cultural activities for all ages.

One very popular festival celebrated in Bucaramanga is Abrapalabra, which brings together storytellers, musicians, poets, minstrels, singer-songwriters, composers, oral narrators, comedians, and dancers from around the world.

The International Film Festival in Santander, where new cinematic trends from around the world are celebrated year after year, is another event you won’t want to miss out on. One thing that makes this event special is its focus on cinema workshops for children and the general public.

Activities you won’t want to miss out on
In the outskirts of Bucaramanga, where you will find crops of tobacco, cacao, pineapple, corn, and other crops, you can participate in different adventure sports.

Those who visit this Colombian city nestled between the mountains can feel the thrill of participating in activities such as paragliding, rafting, and rappelling.

Paragliders enjoy an exceptional, panoramic view of Bucaramanga and its metropolitan area. The place is perfect for enjoying the beautiful sunsets at the end of each year, whether from a diner or while gliding through the air.

But if there’s one thing that you can’t miss, it’s visiting Chicamocha National Park, which is easily reached from Bucaramanga, to enjoy the unique landscape and practice paragliding, in addition to other sports. Chicamocha National Park it is one of the Colombia’s parks that is dedicated to ecotourism.

Recommendations
Bucaramanga’s climate is warm and dry, and its average temperature is 73.4 °F. At the same time, the city’s maximum average temperature is 87.62 °F, so it’s best to bring along some cool clothes to handle to heat.
For getting around the city, it’s best to use the Metrolínea bus system. We recommend that you plan your travel beforehand.
If you have questions during your travel, or simply would like to learn more about places of interest in the city, you can visit a Tourist Information Point (PIT for their initials in Spanish), which offer guidance to those wanting to explore the most emblematic places and cultural events in the city.
These points are located in a shopping center called Centro Comercial Cuarta Etapa (on the first floor, next to the Information Point) in the Municipal Institute of Culture and the Transport Terminal.
With this itinerary you can fully enjoy the charm of the ‘City of Parks’. Visit Bucaramanga, a destination where the warm weather blends with carefree joy.

What to do in Cúcuta?
In the capital of North Santander you mustn’t miss a stroll on the boardwalk to enjoy the cooling breeze of the Pamplonita River, and a wander along the broad sidewalks of Avenida Cero.

The boardwalk, also known as the “Paseo de los Próceres” (or the promenade of the founding fathers), is located on the banks of the river, on Avenida Los Libertadores, a place where locals and visitors mingle and enjoy the evenings in the city. Built in 1980, it immediately became the hub of this north-eastern Colombian city, offering a wide variety of restaurant options and an exciting nightlife.

Another must-see is the Clock Tower, which was declared a National Cultural Heritage site in 1982. An interesting fact about the clock tower is that when the hands of the clock strike the hour it chimes to the tune of the Colombian national anthem; this is also a venue for exhibitions and artistic and cultural events.

The Cathedral of San José is also worth a visit. Located in front of Santander Park, this neoclassical cathedral is stunningly beautiful, decked with enormous imported stained-glass windows.

Another significant temple is the Church of Our Lady of Chiquinquirá, a Gothic creation with a main tower evoking a needle pointing to the heavens. Inside, the temple conserves an original painting of Our Lady of Chiquinquirá, dated from 1587.
Other major attractions in the city include the Julio Pérez Ferrero Public Library, the Palace of the Regional Government (also known as the “Palace of Cúpula Chata”), the Bolívar Column and the Santander Park, which forms the city’s main plaza.
You should also make time to visit the Sanctuary of the Virgin of Fatima, located between the city’s San Miguel and Loma de Bolívar neighborhoods. The monument is 40 meters high and is one of the city’s main vantage points.
Cúcutan gastronomy is a major draw for all visitors. Some of the most popular dishes include “mute” (corn soup), “hallacas” (tamales), “cabrito” (suckling goat meat), “dulce cortado de leche de cabra” (sweet goat’s milk slices), and “solteritas” (rosette cookies).

Unique experiences
Cúcuta’s wonderful local annual fairs and festivities are held each year in mid-July.

They feature shows by international and local performers and showcase genres from traditional “vallenato” to electronic music. The city also holds processions, beauty pageants, comedy festivals and a host of other activities.

Another important highlight of the year are the Easter passions, celebrated with great fervor in the churches and on the streets of Cúcuta.

Activities you won’t want to miss out on
During your stay in Cúcuta you’ll have the opportunity to pursue a range of activities. For instance, you ought to add a visit to Cerro Jesús Nazareno to your list. A striking 35-meter-high monument topped with a stunning metal sculpture of Christ carrying the cross.

From the monument, you will have a full 360-degree view of the lovely city landscape below.

Another popular attraction in Cúcuta is the open air “Cielo Abierto” Shopping Mall, the largest of its size in Colombia.

Situated in the center of the city, it offers a whole host of options, including big brand department stores, a food hall and a movie theater, all in a pretty setting that blends urban and natural elements and where you can enjoy a pleasant stroll in the warm climes of Cúcuta.

Another awesome activity you really won’t want to miss is an excursion to “Pozo Azul”. This natural pool characterized by its intense blue waters can be found out in the beautiful wilderness of San Cayetano. To get there, you’ll have to walk a beautiful ecological trail from Cúcuta for about an hour and a half until you reach the pool itself.

You should also make it your business to visit Villa del Rosario, a picturesque neighboring district steeped in history. This was the birthplace of Francisco de Paula Santander, a hero of Colombian independence who became the second president of Colombia.

In Villa del Rosario, you can view the house where Santander was born, and also visit the historical complex where the country itself was literally founded.

Recommendations
You can get to Cúcuta by land, but also by flying into the Camilo Daza International Airport, which has several major national and international connections.
Bear in mind that the climate in Cúcuta is warm all year round, with an average temperature of 27.6 °C. You should bring light clothing, use sunscreen and be sure to stay hydrated at all times.
To get around the city, you’ll find buses, coaches and taxis.
Follow these simple tips and go with the flow of this wonderful city full of history and beauty. Don’t miss out on your opportunity to get to know Cúcuta!

What is there to do in Ibagué?
Ibagué has many different national and ecological parks that you can visit to enjoy the area’s flora and fauna.

You can also take a stroll through the Jardín Botánico San Jorge, a botanical garden full of fantastic natural scenery, while simultaneously learning more about the area’s incredible biodiversity.

The garden is considered an important part of the city’s historic, cultural, and environmental heritage, conserving about 60 hectares of subandine forest and displaying 516 species of plants.

Centenario Park, affectionately known as the city’s lungs thanks to its ample vegetation and the beautiful trees that surround it, is also worth visiting.

The park is ideal for watching ducks paddle in the stream from the shade of majestic ocobo trees. In the morning, the park is crowded with athletes and in the afternoon, it offers a great view of the sunset.

Inside the park, you’ll also find the Garzon y Collazos acoustic shell, which serves as the backdrop for musical and folkloric presentations, many of which take place during the Colombian Folklore Festival.

Another of the city’s main attractions is the Conservatory of Tolima, which is very important to the so-called ‘Musical Capital of Colombia’ because it represents a century of the area’s music and history.

You can also visit Bolívar Square, located in front of Ibagué’s city hall, where you’ll find many different types of food and attractions for children.

In the square, you’ll also be able to see the Cathedral of Ibagué, which houses a statue of Pope Juan Pablo II.

Unforgettable experiences
As hinted at by the city’s nickname, Ibagué has a number of important celebrations where you’ll have a chance to learn about the area’s music and folklore.

One such event, the Columbian Folklore Festival, is celebrated in June of each year, and has been since 1959.

Parades, horseback processions, folklore presentations, pageants, and special stage presentations are some of the activities you’ll be able to enjoy during your visit to the festival.

You’ll also be able to listen, dance, and sing along to the famous “Sanjuanero,” a song that is as much a part of Ibagué as its beautiful scenery.

Another celebration held in Ibagué is the National Colombian Music Festival, created in 1987 as homage to the duet, Garzón and Collazos. Within the framework of the festival, the National Princes of the Song Duets Contest and the National Leonor Buenaventura Composition Contest take place, as well as concerts in the city’s squares and parks where you can enjoy tiple and guitar music in the fresh air.

Other important celebrations in Ibagué include the Festival Internacional de la Oralidad Mundopalabra, the Festival Internacional Ibagué Ciudad Rock, the Festival de Música Sacra, and the Festival de las Artes. To wrap up Ibagué’s many cultural attractions, you can visit the Tolima Art Museum, which opened in 2003 and has a collection made up of about 600 pieces.

Activities you won’t want to miss out on
If you’re in the area, don’t forget to stop at the Los Nevados National Nature Park, comprised of the Nevado del Ruiz, the Nevado de Santa Isabel, and the Nevado del Tolima.

As part of the scenery, you can also take a moment to admire the Nevado del Tolima Volcano, whose peak is in the Los Nevados National Nature Park. The climb up the volcano is striking and unforgettable.

Another trip you’ll want to make is to the Parque Museo La Martinica, which is perhaps the best place to start your visit to the city. From there, you can admire nearly all of Ibagué and take some spectacular photos.

The park is made up of over 123 acres of land where you can go on nature walks and hikes or enjoy the spa. You can also participate in sports like rappelling.

Finally, don’t forget to visit Combeima Canyon, where you can see waterfalls and tiny tributaries, explore an immense tropical forest and appreciate the area’s magnificent biodiversity.

Recommendations
One peculiarity about Ibagué that you should keep in mind for your trip is that, within the city itself, there are a number of different climates. For example, the neighborhood of La Pola generally has a cool climate, whereas in areas like Picaleña or Salada, the weather will feel different.

So, as the area’s natural destinations will also have their own distinct temperatures, we suggest you bring along clothes suitable for the areas you plan on visiting.

The city also has a wide range of accommodations for all tastes, from reasonably priced hostels to luxury hotels with specialized services for corporate events.

The city’s bus system is available to help you get around the city during your stay.

With these simple recommendations, you’re ready to enjoy your trip to Musical Capital of Colombia. Come visit Ibagué and explore its many cultural and natural attractions!

What is there to do in Villa de Leyva?
First of all, let’s put on some comfortable shoes, and get ready to tour the municipality because you’ve got a date with history, and maybe even prehistory.

In Villa de Leyva, you’ll find the incredible Plaza Mayor, which is characterized by its colonial style, with stone flooring, a fountain in the middle, buildings with their original architecture. The City Hall offices, museums, hotels, and shopping passages are located in these buildings. ​​​

The magnificent Church of Our Lady of the Rosary, built in 1604, is also near the square. The building exhibits colonial baroque architecture and still has its altarpieces carved from wood and covered in gold.

If you leave the historic center of the city, you can also find other attractions, such as the Museo Prehistórico, which has sculptures of dinosaurs and fossils that were found in the area.

There’s also the city’s paleontology museum, the Museo Paleontológico, which has fossils from the Cretaceous period. It has 2,425 pieces in its collections and 441 exhibited pieces. The building that houses these treasures is itself an architectural gem from 1570, during colonial times.

Villa de Leyva also has a fossil museum, the Museo El Fósil, founded in 1977 by the initiative of local farmers after a pliosaur specimen, Kronosaurus boyacensis hampe, was discovered during agricultural work. This specimen is currently the most complete pliosaur fossil ever found in the world.

Lastly, we recommend you take a tour of the desert area to reach the marvelous Pozos Azules (blue pools) which are just a little over a mile from Villa de Leyva.

The Pozos Azules are two man-made pools that, although they are on private property, can be visited for an entry fee.

This location offers an incomparable view, as the greenish-blue of the pools changes depending on the temperature, and serves as a striking contrast against the desert and nature. It is, undoubtedly, one of the places you should visit while you’re in Villa de Leyva.

Unique experiences
Villa de Leyva is an ideal place to visit any time of year because it has so many things to offer. However, it’s always good to jot down a few specific festivals on your calendar that are particularly worth attending.

One of them is the Festival del Árbol (Tree Festival), whose main theme is the protection of the environment. Those dedicated to environmental work and the cultivation and preservation of different types of plants help display and sell a variety of ornamental, exotic, native, and medicinal plants. This event also offers cultural activities.

Two very important events are the Villa Film Festival and the International Independent Film Festival, events dedicated to the art of filmmaking, including screenings, workshops, conferences, and recreational experiences.

There’s also the National Wind and Kite Festival, which is celebrated in August and lets you enjoy the region’s strong winds by flying kites and enjoying shows full of color and creativity.

In December, the Christmas lights in Villa de Leyva offer an incomparable view, and are accompanied by an alternating program that offers painting exhibitions, choirs, and other activities.

Thanks to the favorable conditions of Villa de Leyva’s night sky, the municipality is an exception place for star gazing. In fact, the municipality holds an Astronomy Festival, which give the public an opportunity to admire the stars using telescopes installed in the Plaza Mayor.

Activities you won’t want to miss out on
In addition to all the aforementioned activities, Villa de Leyva offers countless alternatives, such as strolling through town, and letting go of all your cares to enjoy shopping and sampling local cuisines. In fact, the municipality’s different ways of preparing meats like suckling pig and rabbit are very famous.

Villa de Leyva also has many options for hiking and extreme sports enthusiasts, such as rappelling, rappelling down waterfalls, and zip lines.

You should also visit the Iguaque Flora and Fauna Sanctuary, where you’ll find the sacred Lake Iguaque which, according to Muisca mythology, is the cradle of humanity. The Muisca’s mother goddess, Bachué, is fabled to have emerged from the lake, for which reason the Muisca believe that pilgrimage to the sacred lake cleans the soul purifies the spirit.

Recommendations
Villa de Leyva is located about 25 miles to the west of Tunja, capital of the department of Boyacá, which makes it very easy to reach by land from there or from Bogotá.
In Villa de Leyva, you will find a great number of hotels, hostels, and camping areas. There are also many tourism companies that provide plans catered to all tastes.
Keep in mind that the average temperature in Villa de Leyva is around 64 °F. Sometimes, during the day, it can get hot, but it’s best to bring a jacket to wear at night. And, of course, wearing sunscreen is essential.
If you are going to visit the Pozos Azules, hike, or participate in any other outdoor activities in Villa de Leyva, don’t forget to bring along appropriate clothing and shoes. Keep in mind that swimming in the Pozos Azules is not allows, as the water isn’t suitable for swimming.
With these simple recommendations, you’re ready to enjoy one of the best destinations for a weekend getaway. So, come visit Villa de Leyva and feel the rhythm of this charming town, located in the beautiful department of Boyacá.
These recommendations will help you make the most of a town that bears rich heritage along colonial-style streets. Get ready to be welcomed by one of the most beautiful places in all of Colombia.