City Guide: Bogota, Colombia
05 February, 2020
- Words by
- Anna Haines, Ashli Molina, Tijana Tamburic and Santiago Rodriguez Tarditi
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.
hotel
B.O.G
Bogota, Colombia
hotel
Hotel de la Opera
Bogota, Colombia
Address
Calle 10, 5-72
Calle del Coliseo
Candelaria Historic Centre
11001
hotel
Hotel Click Clack
Bogota, Colombia
hotel
Casa Medina
Bogota, Colombia
hotel
Masaya Hostel
Bogota, Colombia
hotel
Casa Cubil
Bogota, Colombia
hotel
Casa Legado
Bogota, Colombia
The hotel has an open kitchen mentality and for those looking to heighten their experience of true Colombian living, guests are invited to visit the owner, Helena’s countryside home, an hour outside Bogota, and spend a relaxing afternoon or evening at this rustic lodging for a small surcharge.
hotel
Aurora Hostel
Bogota, Colombia
hotel
Casa Lelyte
Bogota, Colombia
hotel
W Bogota
Bogota, Colombia