For For many years, the Colombian capital's official slogan was "Bogota, 2,600 metres closer to the stars". The motto, coined during Enrique Peñalosa's term in office, is a reminder of how far the city is from the sea and how thin the air is. So much so that locals have come up with a word for the lack of breath, dizziness, and headache that overwhelms unaccustomed visitors: "soroche". But fear not, there are many cures, such as a hot agua de panela (melted sugar cane with squeezed lemon) and plenty of sleep. If that fails, a shot of aguardiente, a local aniseed-flavoured spirit made from sugar cane, should do the trick.

The truth is that even if this is your first time in Bogota and soroche does strike you, chances are you won't feel it. There's so much to see and do that a headache is soon forgotten. With over seven million inhabitants, Bogota is its own universe made up of microcosms that live almost independently from one another; each neighbourhood is so unique that you might find that if it's pouring down in the leafy upscale district of Usaquén there's a chance that in La Candelaria, the well-preserved colonial centre, people are walking around in shorts, soaking up the sun and enjoying the summery weather. Keep that in mind while packing; Bogotá's unexpected weather will have you walking around in flip-flops and a rain jacket.

At last, Bogotá has become a cosmopolitan destination as vibrant as Buenos Aires or São Paulo. Yet what makes this city stand out is its variety of contemporary accommodation options and burgeoning coffee, cocktail and culinary scenes. Behind it all is a new generation of young creatives who once left the country for safer metropolises but have returned, brimming with energy and ideas, ready to give their city a makeover. If you want to be a part of Bogota's continued transformation, now is the time to go.