Bogota - Post Report Question and Answers
What have been the highlights of your time in this country? Best trips or experiences?
The warm culture and Colombian people who adore kids and dogs (including extra large ones)! The diversity of the Colombian terrain and experiences you can find (Medellin, Salento/Quindio, Cartagena, Santa Marta, Tayrona, Cano Cristales, etc. along with local towns and fincas like Villa de Leyva, La Palma y El Tucan, La Trinidad Cafetel, Guatavita, Apulo, Giradot, etc.). I did not expect to have so many places in country I wanted to visit! Unfortunately with two years and having a baby here we ran out of time (didn’t make it to Guatape, San Andres, Cali, Leticia/Amazon, Lost City Trek, etc.), but the places we did experience were truly remarkable. We made it to the Galapagos and Panama nearby which were terrific, but we wish we had time for other places like Costa Rica, Argentina, Brazil, Curaçao, etc. Pursue and prioritize the trips you’d most enjoy—Colombia and nearby areas have everything. - May 2024
The friendliness of the people, the endless activities and hobbies that one can do, and the ability to visit virtually every possible ecosystem/weather without even leaving the country. - Aug 2023
The travel to Zona cafeteria, Cartagena, Santa Marta and Medellín is amazing! The country side outside of Bogotá and the camping is pretty plentiful and impressive as well. - Feb 2021
Cool trips to small towns in the mountains. Dance floors can be fun. - Jul 2020
Ciclovia. On Sundays and local holidays they close some major streets for biking, running and walking. Bring your bike! - Feb 2020
The mountains and landscape are absolutely beautiful; I've loved living surrounded by mountains. There's great travel although most travel requires flying - our favorites have been Cartagena, Tayrona National Park, coffee country, and the Amazon. We've also done some amazing camping and hiking. There are fantastic restaurants, and prices are very affordable so we can go to 5-star restaurants every weekend. On Sunday and holidays, they close the roads for ciclovia and everyone is out on bikes or skates. - Nov 2018
I loved getting out to Villa de Leyva, Cartagena and Nemocon (check out the salt mine and museum there). We've done camping trips with girl scouts. There's hiking. Relaxing fancy homes for rent in Anapoima or simple homes for rent out of Bogotá. I think for me the main highlight, though, has just been living here. I get out a lot with my dog and so I feel like I really live in my neighborhood, in a way that lets me engage with a wide variety of people. - Sep 2018
The hiking! Colombia is a gorgeous country, and no one should stick to just Bogota! We hiked to La Chorrera, which is a waterfall about an hour from Bogota and it was amazing. We haven't been yet, but everyone loves Coffee Country and Cartagena. - Aug 2018
Parque Tayrona in Santa Marta, Cartagena. - May 2018
You can have anything delivered and/or done in your home. You almost never have to leave your home to get a haircut, waxing, receive your dry cleaning, massage therapist, grocery and pharmacy home delivery, etc. I even have a mechanic that will come and pick up my car to get it serviced and then return it at the end of the day. - Aug 2015
Cartagena is a beautiful historic town and a great 3-4 day trip to take when you tire of the cold rainy Bogota weather. Day trips to the countryside outside of Bogota - parrilla lunches. Paragliding in Sopo and Bucaramanga. Stays at idylic coffee plantations. Biking and running during Bogota's ciclovia when many roads are closed on Sunday mornings and holidays for exercise. - Jun 2014
We loved Andres DC. It is a fun and unique place that is both restaurant and floor show. The green spaces all around were well cared for and really made many of the neighborhoods prettier, allowing for dog walking, kids playing, etc. Hiking is great here, but make sure you're in shape if you're going to try Montersatte. The view from the top is one of the best you'll ever see anywhere in the world. The local microbrew (Bogota Beer company) provides great local beer in a friendly, warm setting. The fresh flowers are incredibly cheap and so beautiful - we always had vases of them around - something we had never done previously. Christmas here is spectacular. And don't forget Ciclovia - when they shut down traffic on up to 70 miles of local streets and highways on Sundays (and holidays - of which there are many) for biking, running, walking, or people watching. - May 2013
Medellin; Tayrona National Park; weekends away down the mountains. - Oct 2012
We've loved exploring Bogota as well as visiting all the other places that Colombia has to offer. Cartagena, Medellin, Tayrona, Coffee Country - this country is rich is natural beauty. - Jul 2012
Good dining opportunities, lots of theater and art, all the amenities that you would expect in a large city - imagine being in New York. - Apr 2012
The music and salsa dancing culture are great. Most Western goods and activities are available. - Dec 2011
Travel. - Jul 2011
I am a single dad in my 40s, and for me Bogota is boring! It is not a pretty city, nor is it well run. There are one or two good museums. Bullfights are fun, but the season is just 6 weeks. For a person like me, or any family probably, you will have to leave the city to find much to do. Because of security restrictions, though, that is not always easy to do. - Aug 2010
Cartagena is amazing - I'd like to retire there. And I really enjoy living in Bogota because everything is so accessible and easy: great restaurants, good shopping, fun stuff for kids (we have one young child). - Aug 2010
The people, new fruits, cool temperatures, nice housing, excellent medical care.... - Aug 2010
Legal suits from maids, and car accidents seem to be very common. In the legal suits, the embassy doesn't help you at all. If you don't speak spanish, you are lost. The weather is not the best; it rains almost every day from March to July. You cannot make plans for outdoor activities,so the kids have to be indoors all the time. It is expensive. A preschool costs about 400 dollars (US) per month, and the kids just go 4 hours per day and they have lots of holidays and vacations -- and still you have to pay for 12 months. You also have to pay an inscription fee of about $800 dollars per year plus the monthly fee of $400, so people with young kids just cannot save much. - Jun 2010
