I made my second go to to Bogota this month on a tour via Colombia, this time within the nation’s two largest cities. Some facets of town are positively holding it again (the extent of graffiti tolerance beats out some other metropolis I’ve ever visited), however it’s dwelling to some nice museums value visiting and a wierd attraction outdoors of city.
Flights to Bogota are a number of the greatest values within the Americas when coming from the USA or Canada, so don’t dismiss the arrival metropolis and transfer on instantly. There are many issues to do in Bogota. A minimum of spend a few nights within the capital to see these worthwhile sights in and close by the metropolis.
Bogota Gold Museum
The Gold Museum in Bogota (Museo de Oro) is an academic have a look at Pre-Colombian historical past and reveals how the valuable steel was utilized by varied indigenous teams in several areas. A lot of what the Spanish discovered they melted down, however loads of nice items survived. Some are delicate and complex, others meant to dazzle topics with their sheer glow on the top and physique.
The presentation is well-designed and the items nice and small are enhanced by nice lighting. Lots of the attention-grabbing items are mounted in glass bins that may be seen from all sides. Among the chieftain adornments are proven on a head and physique shadow to present a way of placement on an individual.
The Bogota Gold Museum is without doubt one of the world’s biggest bargains. Admission is just about US$1 on the present alternate charge and is free on Sunday. I wouldn’t advise going then although: even the official web site says, “Admission is free for everybody on Sundays (and it’s crowded…).”
There are 4 sections on a number of flooring, so plan on staying for some time if you wish to take all of it in. See extra particulars on the official web site or on the official Bogota tourism web site.
If you wish to dive deeper into the tales and legends of gold in Bogota, head to Lake Guatavita about an hour outdoors of town. Legends going again to pre-Colombian instances have made individuals consider that there are treasure troves of gold on the backside, however a number of efforts over the centuries to confirm this have solely positioned a number of trinkets. There are some mountaineering trails within the space although and it’s a great spot for birdwatching.
Botero Museum of Bogota
The opposite must-see in Bogota is the museum of Fernando Botero. Even in the event you don’t know his identify, you actually have seen the work of this Colombian painter and sculptor. (And in the event you keep at Sofitel Santa Clara in Cartagena, there’s a sculpture in the principle courtyard and a portray in the perfect suite.) He’s the person behind the fleshy, whimsical works just like the one proven right here.
This free museum just isn’t large, but it surely has a wonderful assortment of Botero work. Attempt to see it with a information or somebody who is aware of the right way to interpret the symbolism within the works to totally admire the degrees.
For those who had been questioning what the “flesh” a part of this text’s title was for, you’ll discover loads of it right here. Botero was not afraid to have a good time the bare physique, even within the exaggerated type he liked with rolls and piles. There are 123 of his works within the museum, plus some from different nice artists from around the globe.
The Botero Museum is in a group provided free every day, within the Financial institution of the Republic’s museum complicated in Bogota’s historic Candelaria district. For those who’re concerned with cash and its historical past, subsequent door is the Casa de Moneda (Cash Museum).
The official web site is in Spanish solely. See the itemizing right here on the official Bogota Journey web site for extra data in English on Bogota. This museum is owned by a neighborhood banking firm and you may make up for all these ATM charges you pay at this museum: admission is free. It is without doubt one of the few museums in Latin America that’s open on Monday, so come right here in the event you’re visiting Bogota then. It’s closed on Tuesdays as a substitute.
Colombia’s Salt Cathedral in Zipaquira
As a veteran journey author and editor, I don’t get shocked and awed very simply anymore by widespread vacationer sights. I wasn’t anticipating a lot when on my second journey to Colombia, the information stated we’d be visiting a “salt cathedral” outdoors of Bogota.
I’d been to the enormous Salar de Uyuni salt flat in Bolivia a number of months earlier, the place some buildings are constituted of salt blocks. I used to be anticipating one thing comparable, an overhyped attraction that was actually only a chapel fabricated from salt.
Wow, was I flawed. I’m sort of glad I knew nothing in regards to the Zipaquira Salt Cathedral earlier than arriving as a result of that may have eradicated the shock and awe I felt once I walked into an enormous underground chamber that may maintain 1000’s of individuals for Sunday mass. It’s actually spectacular.
This can be a well-designed and artistic repurposing of a spot that may have in all probability simply been deserted. In underground passages which were mined out to take away tons of (largely industrial) salt, a spot like this might usually have been blocked off and forgotten. On this case, it has grow to be one of many area’s largest vacationer sights. It’s even received an enormous ballroom that may make most lodge house owners drool, plus a VIP room for govt conferences and a full restaurant that may serve marriage ceremony banquets.
The doorway is thru this disco-lit half-circle passage, which seems like a cross between a film set and a carnival experience.
As soon as inside, the temper is sober: 14 stations of the cross are arrange as small chapels, some in small nooks, others located in lengthy mine shafts. They’re summary and highly effective, with nary a Jesus or Mary anyplace: simply gentle and symbolism.
After you undergo all these you get to the payoff: a hovering church area that appears unbelievable from each angle. The principle corridor is pictured right here, however there are two different naves nearly as giant as this one. Standing on the alter right here, with a choir singing on this high-ceiling place, it should be a trippy place to be a priest.
I simply visited for the second time in 2022 once I was in Bogota for a convention and it was simply as spectacular as I bear in mind. I used to be a part of a gaggle that had drinks and dinner underground, so I actually received to spend a while soaking all of it in.
Exiting, you get to cease being critical. You should purchase popcorn (loads of salt out there), peruse the reward store stalls, or drink a Colombian espresso 180 meters below the floor. You depart by strolling again out or taking a practice via a mine shaft to the floor.
If you wish to nitpick, this isn’t actually a “cathedral” since there’s no bishop, however it’s a functioning church—an enormous one at that. And whereas I’ve seen greater than my share of church buildings in Latin America, none of them have seemed something like this! The LED lights maintain altering the colours on the wall and cross and there’s even a projected gentle present operating at common intervals.
I didn’t hassle with this, however they’ve even put in WiFi within the place in case you simply can’t wait to submit these social media pictures. You’ll have a information who can clarify issues in your language or there’s an audio tour that’s self-guided. One choice providing is which you can don a tough hat, seize a choose, and see what the salt miner’s life was like.
The official web site is right here in Spanish solely, or you may see extra on the Colombia Tourism web site in English.
E-book a Native Tour Right here
The Bogota Botanical Backyard
The official identify of this attraction subsequent to the large Simon Bolivar Park in Bogota is nearly as grand as its buildings: Jardín Botánico de Bogotá José Celestino Mutis. It’s a beautiful architectural presentation and the attractive rose gardens are a pleasant introduction too. (See this text: Your Roses Are Most likely From Ecuador or Colombia.)
Exterior you’ll additionally discover some wax palms, the world’s tallest palm timber of their pure space within the Espresso Triangle close to Solento. They gained’t develop as giant right here as a result of the circumstances aren’t proper, however they’re a pleasant contact to the outside.
When you begin the tour, you see totally different ecosystems of Colombia in several buildings, beginning on the highest elevation after which attending to cloudforests, rainforests, and the dry areas with cacti. Some facets are a bit too city, just like the concrete ceiba tree and the piped-in hen sounds meant to replicated an actual forest, however for the sake of training it really works. They in all probability can’t truck in mature timber and preserve an actual aviary below a glass dome.
The remainder of the vegetation are actual although, plus you go by terrific pictures of the nation’s wildlife and excessive mountain areas coated by snow. Since these are each facets of Colombia that almost all guests won’t ever see in particular person, it’s value visiting right here to get a way of the nation’s biodiversity and vary of landscapes. This is without doubt one of the most biodiverse nations on the earth, in any case, possibly within the lead relying on the way you measure it, so it will be a disgrace to go to and never get a style of all that.
Elements of the official web site are in English. Admission is round US4 in the event you do every little thing, a fantastic worth, even much less for locals. Just like the museums above, it’s closed on Mondays.
These are only a few of the highest issues to do in Bogota in the event you solely have a number of days. For those who’ve received extra time, you may transcend. See choices right here for day excursions in Bogota.
