I made my second go to to Bogota this month on a tour by Colombia, this time within the nation’s two largest cities. Some features of town are undoubtedly holding it again (the extent of graffiti tolerance beats out some other metropolis I’ve ever visited), however it’s residence to some nice museums price visiting and a wierd attraction outdoors of city.
Flights to Bogota are a few of the finest 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. At the very least spend a few nights within the capital to see these worthwhile points of interest in and close by the metropolis.
Bogota Gold Museum
The Gold Museum in Bogota (Museo de Oro) is an academic take a look at Pre-Colombian historical past and reveals how the valuable steel was utilized by numerous indigenous teams in several areas. A lot of what the Spanish discovered they melted down, however numerous nice items survived. Some are delicate and complicated, 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. Most of the attention-grabbing items are mounted in glass containers that may be seen from all sides. A few of the chieftain adornments are proven on a head and physique shadow to offer a way of placement on an individual.
The Bogota Gold Museum is without doubt one of the world’s best bargains. Admission is barely about US$1 on the present alternate price 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 website or on the official Bogota tourism website.
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 occasions have made individuals imagine that there are treasure troves of gold on the backside, however a number of efforts over the centuries to confirm this have solely situated a number of trinkets. There are some mountain climbing 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 should you don’t know his title, you definitely have seen the work of this Colombian painter and sculptor. (And should you keep at Sofitel Santa Clara in Cartagena, there’s a sculpture in the primary 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 will not be big, however it has a wonderful assortment of Botero work. Attempt to see it with a information or somebody who is aware of methods to interpret the symbolism within the works to completely respect the degrees.
If you happen to have 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 cherished 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 advanced in Bogota’s historic Candelaria district. If you happen to’re fascinated with cash and its historical past, subsequent door is the Casa de Moneda (Cash Museum).
The official website is in Spanish solely. See the itemizing right here on the official Bogota Journey website for extra data in English on Bogota. This museum is owned by a neighborhood banking firm and you can also 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 should you’re visiting Bogota then. It’s closed on Tuesdays as an alternative.
Colombia’s Salt Cathedral in Zipaquira
As a veteran journey author and editor, I don’t get stunned and awed very simply anymore by widespread vacationer points of interest. 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 large Salar de Uyuni salt flat in Bolivia a number of months earlier, the place some buildings are created from salt blocks. I used to be anticipating one thing related, an overhyped attraction that was actually only a chapel product of salt.
Wow, was I fallacious. I’m form 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 a large underground chamber that may maintain 1000’s of individuals for Sunday mass. It’s actually spectacular.
It is a well-designed and artistic repurposing of a spot that may have in all probability simply been deserted. In underground passages which have been mined out to take away tons of (principally industrial) salt, a spot like this might usually have been blocked off and forgotten. On this case, it has turn out to be one of many area’s largest vacationer points of interest. It’s even bought a large ballroom that may make most resort homeowners drool, plus a VIP room for government conferences and a full restaurant that may serve marriage ceremony banquets.
The doorway is thru this disco-lit half-circle passage, which looks 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 wherever: 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 keep in mind. I used to be a part of a gaggle that had drinks and dinner underground, so I actually bought to spend a while soaking all of it in.
Exiting, you get to cease being severe. You should purchase popcorn (loads of salt out there), peruse the present store stalls, or drink a Colombian espresso 180 meters beneath the floor. You depart by strolling again out or taking a prepare by 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 regarded something like this! The LED lights hold altering the colours on the wall and cross and there’s even a projected gentle present operating at common intervals.
I didn’t trouble with this, however they’ve even put in WiFi within the place in case you simply can’t wait to put up these social media photographs. 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 could don a tough hat, seize a choose, and see what the salt miner’s life was like.
The official website is right here in Spanish solely, or you possibly can see extra on the Colombia Tourism website in English.
E book a Native Tour Right here
The Bogota Botanical Backyard
The official title 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 gorgeous 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 bushes 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 completely 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 features 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 schooling it really works. They in all probability can’t truck in mature bushes and keep an actual aviary beneath a glass dome.
The remainder of the crops are actual although, plus you go by terrific photographs of the nation’s wildlife and excessive mountain areas coated by snow. Since these are each features of Colombia that almost all guests won’t ever see in particular person, it’s price 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 spite of everything, perhaps 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 website are in English. Admission is round US4 should you do every thing, an excellent 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 should you solely have a number of days. If you happen to’ve bought extra time, you possibly can transcend. See choices right here for day excursions in Bogota.
