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Eric Gomez

Travel Guide

What to do in Taganga

Posted on May 30, 2018
what to do in Taganga, how to get to, what to do in Santa Marta, adventure, tourism, vacations, scuba diving

Taganga, land of the fishermen. I’ve been to this town more times than I care to count, and I’ve enjoyed every stay. This blog post probably even counts as a “What to do in Santa Marta” because I’d always rather stay in the tiny Taganga than the city of Santa Marta. Also, this blog post, even though it’s called “What to do in Taganga,” includes a lot of activities that are outside of Taganga because the area is one of the most beautiful, diverse and well-known in Colombia. So get ready for a whirlwind of things to do and get to planning your adventure on the Caribbean coast of Colombia – in Taganga.

What to do in Taganga

Activities

  1. Scuba Dive. Taganga became a Colombian tourist hot-spot because of the diving. For such a small town, it really has a lot of dive centers. They’re all trustworthy, but I’d recommend Tayrona Dive Center and Scuba Master. Taganga is known for how inexpensive it is to dive, and, though the diving is not the best in the Caribbean (compared to a place like San Andres), I’ve enjoyed most dives and seen turtles, barracudas, sharks, groupers, etc. The further you get from the town towards Tayrona National Park, the better the diving and the clearer the water. My favorite dive spots are Punta Aguja, Salidero and and La Piedra del Medio.
  2. Go to Tayrona National Park. Taganga is kind of the pit stop for people headed to Tayrona Park since it’s on the park’s edge. The entrance to the park is only 40 minutes from Taganga. It is one of Colombia’s most beautiful National Parks and is 150% worth a visit!
  3. North of Taganga, towards Tayrona, there are small islands along the coast that rise to great heights. These are so much fun to hike up because you feel like no one has been where you are at the moment – there are no trails or anything, and it’s probably true that few people have been there. On top of these islands you have an incredible, expansive view of the coast and the water surrounding you. Find someone to take you on a boat and get to hiking! A more accessible way to hike is to go north along the coast towards Playa Grande and the Tayrona. The trail starts right below the Bahia Taganga hotel.
  4. Mountain Bike in the Sierra Nevada. This is one of the best things I’ve done close to Taganga. The Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta has one of Colombia’s few snowy peaks, and is a wonder to bike down. You can contact TayronaTrips, Elemento Outdoor Adventure or Minca Bikes and they’ll hook you up. If you’re in for an adrenaline rush, I recommend you tell them you want to do the downhill biking, although they have lots of other trails to ride.
  5. Hike to Ciudad Perdida. “The Lost City” is a Pre-Columbian town that was discovered in the 1970s deep in the jungles surrounding the northward slopes of the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta. This is one of Colombia’s most popular multi-day hikes (4-6 days), giving all who venture onto the path a sense of oneness with nature. The Lost City is remote, and so worth it. Some tour companies that can help guide you are: Wiwa Tour, Expotur and many others.
  6. Watch the sunset. Taganga has the most consistently beautiful sunsets of any place I know. That’s probably because it never rains there, which is actually a problem, but at least it gives us a pink, purple, orange and yellow sunset almost every day.

Logistics

  1. Where to stay: I’ll get straight to my favorite hostel – La Casa de Felipe. I’ve stayed there a couple of times and had the time of my life. It’s comfortable, absolutely beautiful, and a little farther from the beach and, thus, the crowds. Some other places to stay that I would recommend are Ballena Azul, Hostel Nirvana, Taganga Dive Inn, and Bahia Taganga.
  2. Most people love beaches. Some love crowded, popular beaches, others desolate, pristine beaches. Here’s a short list of both. Popular: any of the beaches in the Taganga Bay and Playa Grande. Pristine: Playa Chengue, Playa Brava, Playa Cristal and any beach in the Granate Bay. Ask around and any boatman will take you to any of these for a fee! Some of the more desolate beaches are far away, but so worth it.
  3. Where to eat: I’m just going to list my favorite restaurants for you to try them. Bitacora, Baguettes de Maria, the Casa de Felipe Restaurant, the huts by the beach (get a sancocho de pescado there) and the Ballena Azul restaurant.

How to get to Taganga:

The first step is to get to Santa Marta, Colombia by plane, bus or car.

If you arrive in a plane, you can take a bus or a taxi from the airport all the way to Taganga. A taxi from the airport will cost $40,000 Colombian pesos or $14 US dollars. The trip takes about 40 minutes. Taking a bus from the airport is a little more complicated. You’ll have to take a bus to Santa Marta and get off on Carrera 5 (find the map below) and then take a bus to Taganga right there.

If you arrive on a bus, you can take a bus from the terminal to the Historical Center (Carrera 5 on the map below) and then take another one from there to Taganga. Otherwise, take a taxi to Taganga from the bus terminal, which will cost about $15,000 Colombian pesos or about $5 US dollars. (Quick tip: when traveling on a bus in Colombia, make sure you take warm clothes because the air conditioning might freeze you!)

If you arrive in a car, it’ll be best to use a GPS, type in “Taganga” and follow the instructions. If you’re old school, the map is at the end of this post and here are my instructions: get on Carrera 5, which is the second main road away from the beach, going north or with the sea to your left. At the end of this road, take a right. Take a left on Carrera 9a, which will be the second left, going over a train track and then take the next right turn. Stay on this road and it will take you over the mountain along its windy path all the way to Taganga.

Some things to know:

  • Before taking a taxi, settle on the price to Taganga or back to Santa Marta before you get on so that there aren’t any misunderstandings later and so you don’t get cheated.
  • Do your part in taking care of the town, the beaches and the ocean. Taganga is a classic example of what happens to a small town when it is overrun by mass tourism – trash, crowds, crime. So what can you do? Throw your trash away in the trash, don’t buy or sell drugs, say no to plastic and choose ethical tour operators (do your research!).
  • Use water sparsely. Taganga suffers from chronic drought and most people get water from tankers that visit the town every week, so limit your showers, etc. Also, drink bottled water so you don’t get sick.
  • High season is June and July, December and January, and Holy Week.
  • Take cash in Colombian pesos because most of what you will buy or spend will be in places you cannot use your card to pay. There is one ATM in Taganga, right at the entrance.
  • Be safe. There’s a saying in Spanish that goes, “No des papaya.” Literally, it means don’t give papaya (a fruit). What it really means is, don’t do anything that makes you a target, such as going to a sketchy part of any town with all your bling on, your camera hanging from you neck, talking on your phone. Do give papaya!

I hope this will help you plan your adventures! If you’d like to read about a more remote place on the Caribbean coast, read our blog post on Isla Fuerte!

Or if you’re stopping by Bogota, check out this list of places to go on outdoor adventures close to the city!

 

Travel Guide

What to do in San Andres, Adventure Edition

Posted on May 3, 2018
fit, strong, what to do in san andres, adventure edition, scuba diving, beach, ocean, caribbean

I’m so glad San Andres is Colombia. I say this because it is a tiny island that is a full 800 km (500 miles) from mainland Colombia. The island is surrounded by “the sea of seven colors”, a visual effect created by the sea-bottom’s varying depths and huge, expansive coral reefs. Clear, calm waters, beautiful beaches, chill vibes, and great diving make this island a paradisiacal vacation hot-spot. Lala and I had our honeymoon here! I’m going to let you know my favorite way to adventure in San Andres. Read this travel guide if you like doing exercise, enjoying nature and feeling fulfilled! Let’s get into it – this is what to do in San Andres, adventure edition!

If you’re looking to have a classy, super relaxed vacation, read our post “What to do in San Andres, Tourism Edition.”

What to do in San Andres, Adventure Edition

  1. Rent bikes.

The best way to move around in San Andres is on a bike. When we go to San Andres, we bike all the time—to the city, the lagoon, the beach, you name it! San Andres isn’t nearly as small as the other paradisiacal islands surrounding it, but biking is the best way to get to know the place and get some great exercise while you’re at it. You can park them practically anywhere you go. There once was a study that showed cyclists are the happiest athletes. And who isn’t happy vacationing on an island? Biking is a must. Our friend Konan, whose contact info is below, can get you what you need, but so can hundreds of other companies and people!

  1. Scuba dive.

Because you can’t go to an island in the Caribbean and NOT scuba dive!! This place has incredibly clear water, and the underwater world is as colorful as it gets. San Andres’ main attraction is the sea itself. No, scratch that, it’s a DESTINATION! Here’s my view on diving: it may sound scary before doing it, since the ocean is enormous and unknown. But scuba diving is the most relaxing and impacting thing you can do on the island. We’ve gone diving with Sharky Dive Shop or Karibik Diver, and we’ve enjoyed both experienced a ton!

  1. Snorkel.

Because if you don’t want to scuba dive, at least you can go snorkeling in crystal clear water. Actually, when we’re not diving, we’re snorkeling. The depths (or shall I say shallows?) of San Andres are something everyone needs to experience. What I love about San Andres is that the visibility is so perfect, the water so clear, that you can literally float, look down, and see the world beneath you without a problem. If you have your gear, get in the water anywhere and enjoy the reefs! You can see tons of colorful fish, and there’s large sting rays and sharks if you’re lucky. Our contact Konan is a snorkeling pro, and any dive shop will rent you some gear or guide you on a trip.

  1. Go to the Rocky Cay Wreck.

Rocky Cay is a Cay that is about 100 meters (300 feet) from the San Luis beaches. It’s a small islet with a few trees and clear water. Even though it’s pretty far from the shore, you can walk to the cay because the water never gets above your neck. Further on from the cay is and enormous, decomposed wreck where the water is 20 to 30 feet deep. You used to be able to jump from the top of the wreck into the sea, but a few hurricanes hit recently and made it pretty dangerous. I was thankfully able to do it beforehand, though!

  1. Find Lodging far from Downtown.

San Andres looks like this: the Northern tip is the touristic downtown, much like any other downtown: loud music everywhere, restaurants, hotels, and crowds. Though it can be awesome, we honestly prefer being able to choose when we want all of that – and we like sleeping well. The western or south side of the island are best for being away from the party tourism. There are some great hotels and hostels that feel secluded and outdoorsy. We’ve stayed at the Sunset Hotel, and its great. The only problem on the western or south side is that there are few sand beaches: it goes from spiky coral beaches to the ocean. It makes for great snorkeling and diving, though!

The eastern side of the island is where most locals live, in the city of San Luis. There are some great AirBnBs, and you don’t get crowds quite like you do in the north. Also, there are some great beaches on the eastern side, and the ocean has a lot larger waves. Our recommendation is to find a hostel on the western side or the eastern side. That way, you’re close enough to everything to bike everywhere, but also far enough away from crowds and partying to have peace and quiet.

  1. Surf.

You can surf in San Andres if you travel between November and February or June and September (hurricane season). San Andres is perfect for beginner or amateur surfers because the water is calm and the waves are generally small. Some surf spots are El Paraíso, Yelllow Moon (La Perla Bar), and Punta Sur. Most of the surfing is over coral reefs, except Punta Sur, which has a sandy bottom, so that’s the best place to learn. That being said, it is very expensive.

  1. If You’re Going Shopping…

Do it right! Go the day you’re leaving; maybe even after dropping off your bags at the airport! There’s a room at the airport where you can leave your bags if you can’t check them yet – the perfect solution if you have to check out of your hotel way before your flight. The airport is only a few blocks from the downtown area. San Andres has some really good products to offer, and it’s known for having great prices because of reduced taxes. Fun fact: there are malls called San Andresito in Bogota named after the island and its great prices. What is cheaper in San Andres is perfumes and alcohol.

A video for you to SEE what there is to do!

How to get to San Andres:

The only way to get to San Andres is to fly from Colombia, Panama or Costa Rica. There’s also a direct flight from Miami!

You can sail there, of course, but no one does because of the Pirates of the Caribbean. Seriously though, there’s pirates.

Some things to know:

–          You need to get a tourist card that costs $108.974 Colombian pesos, or $38 USD, before flying to San Andres. Get it at the airport before flying to San Andres. You have to show it when you enter and leave the island, so keep it safe. Children below the age of 7 don’t have to pay it, as well as if you’re going to be on the island for less than 24 hours.

–          We know a great driver who has a big car and is extremely trustworthy. His name is Julio Machado. His telephone number is  (316) 622 8720 or (311) 874 6749.

–          Konan can take you snorkeling and can rent bikes and golf carts. Go ahead and contact him at +578 (317) 518-0579 or at konanparadise@gmail.com.

–          The North side of the island has buildings, more crowds, more restaurants and hotels, and calmer water. The South side of the island is less populated, there are less crowds, and the water can tend to be a little rougher (but in San Andres it’s never really rough!)

–          Take extreme care of your surroundings. San Andres is suffering overpopulation and pollution, and they’re connected. So please do YOUR part and throw your trash away, even returning with the trash you can take back to the mainland. Clear, perfect water will be worth nothing if it becomes a plastic grave for everything that lives in it.

I hope this has helped you know what kind of adventures you can have in San Andres!

Would you like to visit another Colombian island on the Caribbean? Check out our blog post about Isla Fuerte!

Travel Guide

How to get to the Laguna Verde de Tausa

Posted on April 9, 2018
camping, hiking, Green Lagoon, how to get to the Laguna verde de Tausa, outdoor adventures close to Bogota

Lala and I had a blast with 3 other couples at the Laguna Verde (Green Lagoon in English). We called the trip a quadruple date. It was awesome. Now, the Laguna Verde is an aquifer that actually creates the river that feeds the Neusa Dam! When I was camping at the Neusa Dam, I felt very deep in nature even though I was still close to civilization, so you can just imagine how wild the Laguna Verde feels. You get see thousands of frailejones (probably my favorite plant) and other alpine plants and a beautiful, pristine lake on a trail that, though it isn’t well known or highly hiked, is really well preserved. We met the guy who owns the property – a ginormous property that includes the lake. He keeps the trail preserved and is really cool about letting people in. He didn’t charge us anything! And he gave us his phone number, so you can call him before going, just for him to know. I totally recommend you go to this wonderful, off-the-beaten-track spot! This is how to get to the Laguna Verde de Tausa (Tausa is the closest town).

Misiades Salazar’s (the owner) phone number: (571) 312 4938840

How to get to the Laguna Verde de Tausa

*The map to get to the Laguna Verde from Bogota is at the bottom of this post!

In a car

With a GPS (highly recommended): type in “Laguna Verde Tausa” in Waze or Google Maps. Make sure you picked the one in Tausa, Cundinamarca, Colombia and follow the directions.

Without a GPS:

*Some tips before you read: (1) this will all make more sense if you can see it, and Google Maps has Street View all the way to step 8, so use it to get your bearings, and (2) you’re probably going to have to ask locals for directions as you go, so brush up on your Spanish!

  1. In Bogota, drive north on the Autopista and leave the city. Keep heading north until you reach the first bridge. Don’t go over it. Follow directions to Chia, taking a road to the right, which will then curve to the left, under the bridge.
  2. Stay on this road until the next bridge. Go over this bridge, staying on the right. Continue on this road until you see a Homecenter on your right. Shortly after, you’ll take a right where there’s a sign for Zipaquira and Ubate.
  3. Stay on this road until you get to yet another bridge. Stay on your left to go over the bridge, which will take you to the right, following the sign to Ubate.
  4. Shortly afterwards, you’ll run into a round-about. Take the third exit, staying on the main road.
  5. From here on out, having a GPS is best because you’re going to take a left on a corner where you’ll see two stores named ‘Viejo Mao’ and ‘Alejo 2.’ There are no signs to Cogua or the Laguna Verde.
  6. Stay on this main road, and you’ll get to Cogua. Where the road seems to end, take a right and then immediately take the next left. Then, still in Cogua, stay left where three roads intersect.
  7. Soon enough, you’ll get to an obvious fork in the road. Go left. If you take a right, you’ll see a sign that says LA PAZUELA 2, and you’ve gone the wrong way. Stay on the road to the left.
  8. After you pass the Rio Borracho (Drunk River), take a right on a downward sloping dirt road to the right. Drive down to a house at a small intersection before the beginning of the trail and park there. The house is at the very bottom, where everywhere else you go is up.
  9. Walk to a fork in the road. To the left, it goes up, and to the right, it goes down. Take the road to the left, go through a gate, and begin the hike! It’ll last about an hour.

On public transportation

  1. You can get on a bus that says ‘San Cayetano’ at Bogota’s Bus Terminal (Terminal de Transporte) or at the North Bus Terminal (Terminal Satélite Del Norte).
  2. Take this bus for a while, passing Cogua. Tell the bus driver you’re getting off at the entrance after the Drunk River to go to the Laguna Verde. He probably won’t know English, so say: “Voy para la entrada a la Laguna Verde después del Rio Borracho.” Good luck!
  3. You’ll be dropped off at a downward sloping dirt road to the right. Walk a good 15-20 minutes to the beginning of the trail, following the main road.
  4. You’ll get to a fork in the road. To the left, it goes up, and to the right, it goes down. Take the road to the left, go through a gate, and begin the hike! It’ll last about an hour.

Check out our video!

What to do at the Laguna Verde:

Camp: the friend we made, the man who owns the property that includes the Laguna Verde told us to give him a call if we ever want to camp, for two reasons. First, just to let him know so he can make sure everything is good and second, because he offered to rent us a small house there is on the property. The house is in really bad conditions, though, so I would just camp outdoors… right next to the lake. Much better, huh?

Breathe fresh air: I only mention this because I think it’s important to do it consciously!

Have a long picnic: there’s a few really nice spots quite close to the lake to have a picnic and enjoy the view for a good long time. Bring your choice of food and enjoy! The ground will probably be soggy, because this ecosystem is just very wet, so bring a blanket or jacket to sit on or just get your bum wet, it won’t hurt!

Go on a double, triple or quadruple date: seriously, there’s no better way to enjoy nature than with friends. So grab some people you love and go on this adventure!

Take pictures: of course! Pick up your camera and capture some earthy, wet, moody, beautiful shots in this gorgeous place.

Some things to know:

  • Though our friend, who owns this property, will let you in for free, the township of Cogua doesn’t really love people going to the Laguna Verde because it’s such an important body of water (it feeds the Neusa Dam and 17 towns). Please take care of this wonderful place – don’t leave your trash, try to stay on the trail – so that it doesn’t get taken from us. It’s true, this place should be pristine because of its importance, but I also think it’s important for people to enjoy special outdoor places like this one. Both can be true. Let’s keep it that way.
  • Call Misiades Salazar at (571) 312 4938840 just to let him know you’ll be going!
  • Like I said, everything is free: entrance to the property and parking at a farmer’s house, but give the people some money as thanks. They aren’t obliged to help us out, but they do.
  • A car can make it all the way to where the trail begins in good conditions, but definitely not if the road is wet. If it’s been raining, you’ll have to park further up the road or be in a car with 4-wheel drive.

Now that you know how to get to the Laguna Verde, make sure you go! So recommended. Let us know how it went!

If you saw a big lake on your way to Laguna Verda, it was actually a dam. The Neusa Dam! Click here to find out how to get there.. or click here to see a list of places to have outdoor adventures close to Bogota!

Travel Guide

How to get to the Sisga Dam

Posted on March 29, 2018
outdoor adventures close to Bogota, Biking, bicycle, how to get to the sisga dam

Any person in Bogota who’s left the city going north has more than likely seen the Sisga Dam, only being 55 kilometers (34 miles) away. The truth is that few people have gotten to know it or, if they have, they’ve only been to the Refugio del Sisga, a beautiful restaurant close to the shore that’s well known as a rest area for people going to Tunja, Villa de Leyva, or other towns northward. We’ve gotten to know this place because we love riding our bicycles, and the Sisga Dam has a road that goes all the way around the dam – 26 kilometers (16 miles) of unpaved road with lots of uphill and downhill biking (you gain a total of 385 meters or 1,263 feet). We’ve done this ride about 5 times now, and we always love it. On top of that, the Dam has a lot more to offer. And the best part of it all: whatever you do, you always have an amazing landscape to look at. Here’s how to get to the Sisga Dam!

How to get to the Sisga Dam

*The map to get to the Sisga Dam from Bogota is at the end of this guide!

In a car

With a GPS: Look for “El Refugio del Sisga” on Waze or Google Maps and follow the directions.

Without a GPS:

  • Leave Bogota going north and stay on the main road going towards Tunja, not the one that passes Chia. On the way to the dam, you’ll pass the entrances to Suesca and Guatavita.
  • After 55 kilometers (34 miles) along the highway, you’ll get to a long downwards section, after which you’ll cross a bridge that rises over the dam (you can get off right before the bridge to check out the view).
  • A little after the bridge, the dam’s main entrance will be to the right, which is one of the dam’s few public entrances. The Refugio del Sisga is also right there, where you can eat great food (it’s a restaurant only, not a hotel).
  • You can park right next to the restaurant or get down closer to the water on another entrance just before the Refugio’s parking lot and enjoy the view!

On a bus

  • Get to the Portal del Norte (North Portal, a mini-terminal where you can get on buses to towns north of Bogota) and take a bus to Choconta.
  • Tell the bus driver to drop you off at the Represa del Sisga or the Refugio del Sisga. Still, be watching to stand up when you cross the bridge over the Sisga dam just in case the bus driver forgets.
  • A little after the bridge, the dam’s main entrance will be to the right, which is one of the dam’s few public entrances.
  • You can eat right there and also go down to the water’s edge to enjoy the view!

What to do at the Sisga Dam:

  • Ride your bike: for us, this is the best thing you can do at the Sisga Dam. As I said before, there aren’t many public entrances to the dam. Going around it on a bike, although you never get right on the water’s edge, you get to see its landscape from every angle. There’s no better way to enjoy the dam: you see it all and get to do some great exercise.
  • Eat a lot: The Refugio del Sisga has delicious food at good prices. They sell traditional meals from the region, as well as others, and it’s a great place to get warm. My favorite dish: agua-panela with cheese (the cheese goes in the agua-panela) and an arepa, but only in the morning! The other option is to eat by the water’s edge. That’s what we always do after biking. It’s so great.
  • Camp: I’ll be honest with you. The Sisga Dam is not the best place to camp if you’re going to do it at the main entrance because it’s really close to the highway, and there’ll be a lot of noise. Still, you can camp right there below the Refugio and it’s free, although they might charge you for taking care of you and your car! The other option is to befriend a local with property by the water and ask for permission to camp.
  • Fish: you can fish here for free!
  • Rent an Airbnb with your friends: I’ve seen there are some absolutely gorgeous houses for rent on Airbnb with amazing views towards the Sisga Dam. They’re a little pricey, but if you’re coming with dollars or euros or go with a group of friends it won’t even be an issue. Check these awesome places out!

I hope you now know how to get to the Sisga Dam and go! Now, if you’re looking for another dam good time, check out this post on the Neusa Dam! If you’re just looking for outdoor activities close to Bogota, we’ve got you covered too!

Travel Guide

What to do in Puerto Leguizamo

Posted on March 14, 2018
amazon, Sunset Puerto Leguizamo, what to do in Puerto Leguizamo, putumayo river, beancestro, boat

I thought we were going to the middle of nowhere. And… we were! But in the middle of nowhere is a town that is a lot more developed and booming than you’d think, being in the south of Colombia in the Amazon rain forest… in Puerto Leguizamo, Putumayo. We got there and there were hotels, restaurants, touristy activities, adventure tourism, and just a lot to DO! And the beauty of the town – oh my goodness. Built on the edge of the Putumayo river, you can expect gorgeous sunsets every day. Puerto Leguizamo is the place to travel in Colombia in 2018, so this is for you to get to know a little more about this place, so you can go and so that, and this is a beautiful thing about tourism, Puerto Leguizamo and its people may thrive. So here’s what to do in Puerto Leguizamo!

Before we start, though, I want to talk a little bit about BeAncestro. Their mission is for the town to thrive off the natural and cultural tourism the town has to offer. We love what they stand for and would love to see it boom, so give Tati a call when you visit Puerto Leguizamo! Her phone number is: (+57) 310-419-8115. You can also message them on Facebook!

What to do in Puerto Leguizamo

  • Sunset on the Bongo: the most popular spot to watch the sunset is on the bongo. The bongo is a yellow floating box of metal that allows you to stand on the river, instead of on its tree-covered edge. Word is the bongo is also a very popular place to ask someone to be your boy/girlfriend.
  • Swim in lagoons: swimming in the Putumayo river can be pretty dangerous because of its strong current, but swimming in lagoons that feed the river is safe and so refreshing. Being in the middle of the Amazon is a unique experience, and one of the best parts of swimming in these lagoons is that it can only be done with permission from the local tribes. You feel like you’re being included in something special, and so it is.
  • Meet the world’s biggest freshwater fish: only a 30 minute hike from Puerto Leguizamo will take you to Don Zuleta’s farm, where you can meet and feed a specimen of the world’s largest freshwater fish – a Pirarucu named Barrabas. Don Zuleta considers it his child. A 2.3 meter, 150 kilogram (7.5 feet, 330 pounds) child. Don Zuleta actually farms these wonderful creatures, attempting to educate people about fishing this endangered species. His idea is that if people want the fish for their meat, which is said to be the best in the world, they can go get the meat at farms instead of killing the fish in the wild. Don Zuleta also wants people to understand that these animals aren’t dangerous, as Discovery and other TV channels have portrayed it to be. They have small throats, so they only eat small fish. The Pirarucus are like children!
  • Survive in the Jungle: The Rock, in Jumanji, has nothing on Don Zuleta. He’s a true Amazonian badass. He’ll teach you how to survive in the jungle during the day… and at night!
  • Find Exotic Birds: the Amazon rain forest is a birdwatcher’s heaven. We went out on a rainy morning, saw hundreds of birds and monkeys, and were then told it had been a pretty inactive morning. I can only imagine what it must be like when the birds and monkeys are out and about instead of hiding from the rain! Birdwatchers in the area identified 215 birds, of the 1,486 birds identified in Colombia during the Global Big Day event. The birdwatching around Puerto Leguizamo is ridiculously incredible.
  • See Pink Dolphins: you know, there are few places in the world where you can see Pink Dolphins, and Puerto Leguizamo is one of them. Only about 20 minutes from town along the river, we found a bunch of them and watched them show us their fins and catch their food.
  • Get to know indigenous cultures: the wealth of indigenous cultures around Puerto Leguizamo is one of the main reasons you should visit the town. BeAncestro considers it one of their main focuses: it’s even in their name – ancestro, which means ancestor – and rightly so, since the indigenous culture of the Amazon is so foreign to most people, but also something we all should know more about. You’ll learn about mambe, which is a coca leaf powder they ingest like chewing tobacco, watch traditional dances, eat traditional foods (casabe and fish), and can get to know them personally.
  • Go to La Paya National Park: we sadly didn’t get to go to this national park, but we heard it’s THE park for birdwatching. You can also see monkeys, jaguars, boas, and much, much more.
  • Drink juices at the Galeria: one of my (Eric’s) favorite meals was a breakfast where we drank juice and ate fried stuff. But the winner there was the juice. In the main square there’s a small indoor plaza where people go to eat and buy groceries. Ask for the guy who makes juices and then indulge! When my dad and I travel together we occasionally have a meal of only juices if we find spectacular juices. This place 147% makes the cut for a juice meal.

If you call Tati, from BeAncestro, you’ll do a lot of these activities depending on how long you’re there. Let her know what sounds best to you!

How to get there:

In a plane: your two options are to fly to Puerto Asis and make a connection to Puerto Leguizamo or fly to Florencia and make a connection to Puerto Leguizamo. The only airline that flies to Puerto Leguizamo is Satena.

In a boat: you can ride a boat to Puerto Leguizamo from Puerto Asis or Florencia, but it’s better to just fly in.

Some things to know:

Once a very dangerous region of Colombia, Puerto Leguizamo now, I can with certainty, is ridiculously safe. You can walk around with camera equipment or valuable items and nothing will happen, and Leguizamenios are proud of that fact.

Just to reiterate, Tati’s phone number is: (+57) 310-419-8115. Call her and she’ll give you a tour of a lifetime.

Get the yellow fever vaccine 10 days before your trip. If you’re in Bogota, you can get vaccinated for free at the airport. There were no cases of yellow fever in Colombia in 2017, but it’s best to be safe.

Even if you were vaccinated, take bug spray. There are many, many insects that want to suck your blood in the Amazon Rainforest.

Make sure you drink bottled water. Really, this tip applies to any town or city in Colombia other than Bogota.

The rainy season is from March to July.

Take a camera. Obviously!! Puerto Leguizamo is one of the most photogenic places I’ve ever been. Part of that may be because there are no roads to the town, which have kept it from crowds of tourists. Let’s hope it stays that way… take care of it when you go!

 

Are you going to be in Bogota for some time? Here’s a list of places to go while you’re there!

Travel Guide

Indoor Climbing Gyms in Bogota

Posted on January 17, 2018
indoor climbing gyms in bogota, laladventures

Colombia has a ton to offer when it comes to climbing, indoors and outdoors. You could consider Lala and I weekend warriors, climbing indoors during the week, and making it outdoors on the weekends. This is a list of indoor climbing gyms in Bogota.

If you’d like to read our local tips for touring Bogota, click on the link!

Where to Climb Indoors in Bogota

Before we start, for non-climbers, I’d like to point out that there are two kinds of climbing you can practice at climbing gyms in Bogota. First is bouldering, which is without a rope because it’s not very high (you do have pads beneath you, though). Second is sport climbing, which is with a rope and harness because you climb high.

Roca Solida

Roca Solida is our home gym. Lala and I have come to this gym for the most part of our climbing lives, which makes it about 10 years. I’ve worked here as a coach and also set for them (if you go, look for routes with the name “Eric” on them and let me know how you liked them!). This indoor climbing gym, like most in Bogota, only has bouldering. Its walls are filled with holds and are very featured: slabs, overhangs, crazy overhangs, and roofs.

Address: Av 19 #125 – 26

Phone Number: (57-1) 812-1208

Hours: 10am-10pm Monday to Friday, 10am-8pm Saturday, 9am-3pm Sundays and holidays.

WEYA

WEYA is through and through a bouldering gym for boulderers. Come here to boulder your socks off, because everything here is overhung except for maybe a 1 meter by 50 cm section at the end of the wall. Really nice people work and climb here, I must say, and the sports therapist who works on the second floor of the gym, Liliana Roa, is a magician (she’s healed me twice).

Address: Carrera 20b No. 73-17

Phone Number: (57-1) 732-2314

Hours: 1pm-9:45pm Monday to Friday, 9am-6:45pm Saturday, not open Sunday and holidays.

Zona de Bloque

Zona de Bloque is probably Bogota’s most complete bouldering gym. But, again, you can only boulder here. It is a big gym, with a lot of holds and a lot of features. I’d say Zona has the best setting too, so expect to do some fun climbing.

Address: Carrera 21 No. 50-34

Phone Number: (57-1) 255-4305

Hours: 10am-9:45pm Monday to Friday, 9am-9pm Saturday, 11am-5pm Sunday and holidays.

Gran Pared

Gran Pared used to be undoubtedly Colombia’s best climbing gym. It was huge and the sport climbing amazing – world class, even. They closed down for years, but are now up and running again. The gym is smaller now, but still has amazing sport climbing. So if you’ve gotten tired of all those bouldering gyms in Bogota, this place will be a good rest.

Address: Calle 52 # 15 – 27

Phone Number: (57-1) 288-4061

Hours: 2pm-9:45pm Monday to Friday, 10am-6:45pm Saturday, 10am-5:45pm Sunday and holidays.

Cumbre Andina

I honestly don’t know much about Cumbre Andina, except that it is another only-bouldering gym and looks really cool in pictures! It has lot of cool features and holds. So go get to known this gem of a gym.

Address: Calle 78 # 24 – 45

Phone Number: (57-1)  388 27 84

Hours: 8am-10pm Monday to Friday, 8am-7pm Saturday, 9am-5pm Sunday and holidays.

Rocópolis

Rocópolis, for a long time while Gran Pared was closed, was Bogota’s only gym where you could sport climb, so a lot of people came to love it. It’s also really close to my house, so I was able to enjoy it a good bit. This gym is smaller, but it has fun routes and great people work and climb there.

Address: Carrera 49 #128c-17

Phone Number: (57-1) 322 306-1737

Hours: 2pm-10pm Monday to Friday, 9am-6pm Saturday, 12pm-6pm Sunday and holidays.

 

Interested in getting outdoors close to Bogota? Check out this link with our recommendations!

Travel Guide

How to get to the Neusa Dam

Posted on January 2, 2018
how to get to the Neusa Dam, Camping at the Neusa Dam, Reflection on Water, mountains, andes, sunrise

One of the most popular dams close to Bogota is the Neusa dam. Only an hour and a half away from Bogota, this dam makes for a great spot for outdoor activities and is especially well-known for its camping. What’s best about this place is that it’s so dam big that even though it’s a popular spot, it doesn’t feel saturated with people. Here’s how to get to the Neusa Dam and some things you should know about it!

*Bored of the city? Check out this blog post for a list of places to do outdoor activities close to Bogota!

How to get to the Neusa Dam

You can find the map to get to the Neusa Dam at the bottom of this post!

In Public Transportation:

  1. In Bogota, make your way to the Portal del Norte, which is a bus station in the north of the city (you can plan your route there from your location on Google Maps).
  2. Take a bus to Zipaquira, which will cost about $5,000 COP ($1.70 USD). Once you’re there, ask for a bus that will take you straight to the Neusa Dam. This one costs about $4,000 COP ($1 USD). Both buses, and actually all buses, will have signs attached to their windshields saying where they are headed.
  3. After climbing up the road to the Neusa Dam, the bus will drop you off at the entrance, where there’s a fork in the road to go left or right. To the left about 1 kilometer, you’ll find the Dam’s administration, where you pay, and then one of the camping areas, called “Chapinero,” with 5 camping spots if you keep going. To the right, you’ll find the other camping area, called “Laureles,” with 7 camping spots. The camping to the right is more popular because of the pine forests. We recommend zone 4 of Laureles.

In a Car:

With a GPS: type in “Embalse Neusa Park” on Waze or Google Maps and follow the directions.

Without a GPS:

  1. In Bogota, drive north on the Autopista and leave the city. Keep heading north until you reach the first bridge. Don’t go over it. Follow directions to Chia, taking a road to the right, which will then curve to the left, under the bridge.
  2. Stay on this road until the next bridge. Go over this bridge, staying on the right. Continue on this road until you see a Homecenter on your right. Shortly after, you’ll take a right where there’s a sign for Zipaquira and Ubate.
  3. Stay on this road until you get to a bridge. Stay on your left to go over the bridge, which will take you to the right, following the sign to Ubate.
  4. Shortly afterwards, you’ll run into a round-about. Take the second exit. This road is adjacent to the main road, but much quicker. When it runs back into the main road, get on it to the right.
  5. Soon, you’ll see a sign that says “Embalse del Neusa 14km.” There, get on the left and do a U-turn where the road allows it (in Spanish it’s a retorno). The entrance to go up to the Neusa Dam is the first entrance to the right after the U-turn.
  6. From there, just follow the main road and you’ll reach the main entrance of the Neusa Dam!
  7. At the entrance, there’s a fork in the road to go left or right. To the left about 1 kilometer, you’ll find the Dam’s administration, where you pay, and then one of the camping areas, called “Chapinero,” with 5 camping spots if you keep going. To the right, you’ll find the other camping area, called “Laureles,” with 7 camping spots. The camping to the right is more popular because of the pine forests.
  8. Find a picnic, or camping spot and park right next to it!

Click here to read some of our tips on car camping!

Prices

Camping at the Neusa Dam costs $60,000 pesos (15 USD) per person, and you can stay up to 3 nights with this. If you’re camping, you don’t have to pay an additional entrance fee. Don’t throw away your receipt, since park authorities will ask for it every night.

The entrance fee to the park for day-trips costs $6,000 pesos ($1.5 USD) for Colombians and $13,500 pesos ($4 USD) for foreigners.

To see all the prices for everything (cabins, fishing, grill, etc.), go to this link.

Some things to know:

  • Make sure you have cash, especially small bills for buses.
  • The Neusa Dam is open from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm for people going just for the day. Service hours for camping are from 8:30 am to 10:00 pm. The dam is open every day except Monday, or Tuesday if Monday is a holiday, to allow the environment a day to recover from the crowds.
  • This park is pet friendly.
  • If you have a boat or kayak, and a license to use it at the Neusa Dam, which you can get for free at the Ministry of Transport in Bogota, you can use it and go fishing in the dam. Each day of boat-use costs $26,500 COP ($9 USD).
  • The rainiest seasons are April to June and October to November.

What to do at the Neusa Dam:

The challenge: take a bike with you and bike around the dam! There’s a road that goes the whole way around the dam. Whichever way you go (left or right when you get to the dam), you’ll bike along an unpaved road until you enter Tausa, a nearby town, and then make your way to the unpaved road on the other side of the dam to continue your trek and make it back. If you’re up for the challenge of challenges, ride your bike from Bogota, ride around the dam, and then ride back!

Camp: the Neusa Dam is most well-known for its camping. That’s because in a country where there is a tiny amount of infrastructure for outdoor activities, this place is a breath of fresh air. The roads, though unpaved, are easy to drive along, and you don’t have to hike to your camping spot – you can park your car right next to your tent, only 15 meters from the water’s edge. It’s comfortable but still adventuresome, which means it draws crowds.

Pack for comfort: I say this because my brother and I didn’t do it right. We had little food, no fire, no warm place to sit while still outside of the tent, BUT we did have a thermos full of hot coffee. We’re used to camping simply, hours from the car. But we realized you can take a lot of things with you when you’re right next to your car. Take anything you need, such as to make a big fire, two foldable chairs, a guitar, a harmonica, TWO thermoses of hot coffee and lots of food.

Take pictures: especially at dawn. The place is beautiful, but at dawn there’s fog over the water, birds flying around, and the water is so still that everything is almost perfectly reflected.

Another ridiculously beautiful place, where you can also camp, is La Chorrera. This place is a must, since it houses Colombia’s tallest waterfall. It’s also only an hour and a half from Bogota!

Uncategorized

5 Photographer Travelers to Follow in 2018

Posted on December 21, 2017
Christmas decoration, New Year, 5 Photographer Travelers to Follow in 2018

Having people to inspire you is super important. What’s coming up next is a list of people who inspired me (Eric) during 2017 and I know will continue to inspire me in the upcoming new year! They motivate me to do things, help me be more creative, and challenge me to be better. So here are 5 photographer travelers to follow in 2018:

Camilo J Universe:

I first ran into Camilo’s work while browsing through Instagram pages that feature Colombian photographers or photos of Colombia. Camilo’s work is absolutely amazing, so it doesn’t come as a surprise that he gets featured a lot on Colombian feature accounts. He mostly does night photography with awesome, interesting, creative compositions that make you wonder how he created each image. I’ve actually learned a lot about night photography from live tutorials he hosts on his Facebook page called Universe.

I’m really psyched to see more work from him this new year and to get inspired to get out there and make something myself. That should be a goal, to do more night photography in 2018.

Julia Wheeler:

I ran into Julia Wheeler’s Instagram page recently because I was searching for anything scuba-related. You know how you have a trip coming up and you get obsessed with it? Well, Lala and I were going to Isla Fuerte, and I just couldn’t get my mind off of scuba diving and underwater photography. So Julia’s Instagram came up because she’s a world-class free diver. And that’s not the only thing that makes her cool: she’s also an experienced photographer and loves taking care of our world.

One of my lifetime goals is actually to be able to free-dive alongside whales for over 3 minutes without going up for a breath. To be up close to whales is one thing, but to be able to do it for extended amounts of time is the goal.

I’m psyched to see where Julia goes in 2018, how she captures it, and how she uses her influence to encourage others to preserve our world so that we can follow suit here at Just North.

Roamaroo (Scott & Collette):

I found these guys this year and they immediately pretty much monopolized my attention for a good while. You see, they’re someone to look up to for Lala and I because they’re being successful at something we like to do. They’re a couple, we’re a couple, they like adventure and sports, we like adventure and sports, they travel, and we… like to travel!

On top of just being plain cool, their writing on each little Instagram or Facebook post or every comprehensive blog post is really captivating.

I’m psyched to see where their travels take them in 2018 and to keep learning from them!

Christian Byfield:

I discovered Christian long ago when I first started using Instagram. He’s an inspiring guy: Colombian, quit his job to travel the world successfully, and always smiling. I’ve honestly never seen him NOT traveling and smiling. From his social media, I’ve deduced that he loves nature, loves people, and has a general appreciation for our world – that is something Lala and I, at Just North, want to convey as well, so we look up to Christian and try to follow his lead wherever we can.

A secret hope we have that won’t be so secret anymore is to hang out and collaborate with Christian someday. Maybe that’ll be 2018, maybe not! Regardless, I’m psyched to see all the places he goes in the new year and to continue to be inspired and reminded to smile!

Mari Travesia:

I’ve known Mari since I was 12, when she took me and my family to rappel, and I cried just thinking of hanging off of that bridge (I didn’t rappel that day, but you could say I’ve grown into it). Lala actually works with her right now on Travesia TV! Travesia is the #1 travel and adventure show in Colombia. It’s been a crazy, amazing opportunity for Lala to be able to do what she loves right out of college.

Mari has been all over the world in her 15 years as a traveler, and I’m psyched to see where her adventures take her in 2018, beginning with Curaçao in January. You can keep up with her travels on Travesia’s YouTube channel… you know I will!

Conclusion for 2017: I’m psyched!

That’s a short list of people who inspire me. There are lots more, but that list would be too long! So who inspires YOU?! Let us know so we can check them out!

Travel Guide

How to get to Chicaque Natural Park

Posted on December 14, 2017
pico del aguila, Eagle's Peak, How to get to Chicaque Natural Park, hiking, soacha, outdoor adventures close to bogota, travel couple

When a place is described as Cloud Forest, you go there because it is called Cloud Forest. It’s hard for me to think of two more attractive words.

Lala and I have been to Chicaque Natural Park a number of times: we went with a group of friends the first time, then we went with Kyle, from The Dive Wagon, Lala and I went once on our own, and the last time we went was to shoot an engagement at a beautiful lookout.

And we can’t wait to get back. We’ll probably be there soon to make a video to show you guys!

Anyway, getting there can be kind of a hassle, so I’m going to let you know how to get to Chicaque. I hope you get out there and enjoy the hike!

(If you’re just looking for outdoor activities to do in Bogota, check out our list of recommended places here!)

How to get to Chicaque Natural Park

In Public Transportation:

  1. Make your way to the Portal 80 Transmilenio station (you can plan your route from your location on Google Maps).
  2. There, take a bus to Mosquera and get off the bus at the main plaza of the town. Then take a Coomofú bus (it’s black and white) that says Soacha and tell the bus driver to drop you off at Chicaque. Both buses, and all buses for that matter, will have signs attached to their windshields saying where they are headed.
  3. Once you get off on a bend where there’s the beginning of a dirt road, you’ll have to walk along that dirt road for 3 kilometers (or 1.8 miles).
  4. At the end of the dirt road you’ll get to the Chicaque Natural Park Entrance and just keep walking!

In a Chicaque Van (only available on weekends):

  1. Make your way to the “Terreros/Hospital” Transmilenio station (you can plan your route from your location on Google Maps).
  2. When you exit the bus at that station, go right (which is south) and then go right again to cross the street across the bridge. You’ll see a gigantic home goods store called “Hogar y Construcción: Easy.” Go the OTHER way.
  3. The bridge will leave you at a little plaza. Look for some vans on a corner with small stores that has a sign that reads: “Terreros Droguería.” There will be one or two vans there, which head out to the park once they’re full.
  4. Pick-up times at this spot are Weekends at 7:00 am, 8:00 am, 9:00 am, and 11:00 am. They will get you straight to the Chicaque entrance. These vans will take you back to the “Terreros/Hospital” Transmilenio station on Weekends at 9:00 am, 2:00 pm, 3:00 pm, and 4:30 pm.

In a Car:

You can find the map to get to Chicaque Natural Park in a car at the bottom of this post!

If you have a Google Maps or Waze, just type in “Chicaque Natural Park” and follow the directions. If you don’t, here are the directions (good luck!):

  1. In Bogota, drive to Calle 80. You’ll take this road west (away from the mountains) and take a left at the first roundabout. You should be following signs to Mosquera or La Mesa.
  2. Stay on this road, pass the Mondoñedo toll, and take a left turn soon afterwards, where there’s a sign that points to Soacha.
  3. Shortly after that, to the right, there’ll be the beginning of a dirt road that has a sign pointing towards Chicaque. Get on the dirt road and drive along it, which ends in an incline into the park.
  4. Then, get ready to walk a good bit!

Some things to know:

Make sure you have cash, especially small bills for buses.

The entrance fee for Chicaque Natural Park is $15,000 COP ($5 USD) during low season and $15,500 COP ($5.20 USD) during high season.

The vans to get to or from Chicaque cost $6,000 COP ($2 USD) one way.

If you take buses to get to the park, they cost between $1,800 and $3,000 COP ($0.50 – $1.00 USD)

Chicaque Natural Park opens every day at 8 am. If you are a day-hiker, the latest you may enter the park is at 3 pm. If you are camping, the latest you can enter the park is 5:30 pm. Ask about what time you should be leaving, because it changes depending on the conditions.

The Park offers a bunch of services, from really nice rooms in which to stay, to restaurants, to zip lining. Check out their full list of services here!

The walk through Chicaque is downwards all the way to the end, which means… yep, the entire way back is up, and I mean UP. So be ready to sweat.

What to do at Chicaque Natural Park:

The challenge: try to see every feature and lookout in one day. It’s possible, I promise!

Camp: this place is so wild and so deep in its little part of the world that the nighttime at Chicaque Natural Park is something you need to experience. Stay up to see the stars, but don’t be disappointed if you don’t see them, since it’s a Cloud Forest after all – the best time to see the clouds because of cloud cover is usually 2-4 am.

Get engaged: this place is pretty magical, and we shot an engagement here once. It was a great spot (Eagle’s Peak or Pico del Aguila, if any of you guys are interested).

Take pictures: as usual! There are some amazing lookouts, the hostels blend beautifully with the landscape, and the unique ecosystem make for some awesome shots.

I hope knowing how to get to Chicaque Natural Park makes you go! Another great place to hike, just as amazing as this one is Chingaza. Check out how to get there!

Travel Guide

How to Explore Bogota on a Bicycle

Posted on November 17, 2017
How to explore Bogota on a bike, ciclovia, bicycle

*This blog post isn’t sponsored; we just want to help!

In our previous blog post, which was a local’s edition of what to do in Bogota, one of my tourism tips was to ride a bike around the city to explore it. It soon hit me… people who come to Bogota don’t inherently have a bike to ride around.

So I thought I would do the research and help you guys out so you can just come here, to Just North, and find out where to rent a bike or where to take the best bike tours.

Here we go!

BogoTravel Tours

BogoTravel Tours has the best prices for renting bikes I could find online. They range from a simple setup to use for 4 hours that costs USD $11 to a setup with everything you need up to a baby seat for an entire day that costs USD $25. They even have tandem bikes!

As for bike tours, this company offers one of the most complete tours that operators in the city normally offer, at one of the best prices (USD $20).

BogoTravel Tours also offers an amazing graffiti tour, in which you just ride around to see Bogota’s graffiti. And I say the tour is amazing because Bogota’s graffiti is amazing. I hear during the trip they tell you about how Justin Bieber’s ill attitude started a graffiti revolution in Bogota. I’ll say no more! You’ll have to see it yourself!

Graffiti tours cost the same as a normal bike tour and are offered Monday to Friday because on Weekends and Holidays there’s a City Bike Tour, which covers most of the Graffiti tour’s spots.

Check them out here for more information and how to contact them!

Bogota Bike Tours

I had to include Bogota Bike Tours in this post because I just like them. On top of offering bike tours that are just as complete as BogoTravel Tours and at the same price (USD $20), they will give you a free tour if you donate an old, working computer. They give those computers to children who need them, and I like that.

Check them out here for more information and how to contact them!

Tips:

1. Always be prepared for rain. Bogota’s weather is crazy; you never know when or where it’s going to hit!

2. Make sure you definitely bike or jog or do some exercise on Sunday. The city of Bogota closes a whole lot of city streets for people to exercise, but mostly for bikers to do their thing. It’s called Ciclovia.

3. Don’t stay downtown, go explore the city! Tours have upsides and downsides. The upside is that you get a lot of cool information and do activities you wouldn’t have known existed otherwise. The downside is that tour operators confine you to a section of the city.

On the other hand, when you go out on your own you get to see a lot more stuff because you can go wherever you want. But, you don’t get information along with the sightseeing and you may miss out on activities you don’t know exist. At Just North, Lala and I usually prefer to do our own thing.

In conclusion, take a bike tour AND bike by yourself! There we go.  Here are just some ideas for places you can look up and search for on a bike: Parque Simon Bolivar, El Campin, Parque 93, Parque Virrey, La Calera, and Club Naval Antares (those last two are for serious bikers).

4. Uber it up to get to the bike shop. Taking an Uber is by far the safest, most comfortable way to get around town. You’ll also be surprised at how inexpensive it is if you make money in a currency that’s more valuable than the Colombian Peso. A lot of tour operators will offer to pick you up, but it’ll cost WAY more than an Uber, which you can get yourself.

Of course, you can save even more money if you take a bus or a Transmilenio. These can be more complicated to use, but that just makes them more fun.

Looking for outdoor activities to do while you’re in Bogota? Check out our list of places for outdoor activities near Bogota! We’ve been there, and we recommend them.

Here’s a video of Eric wreaking havoc, or just being weird with a GoPro biking on the streets of Bogota:

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