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Travel Guide

How to Get to and What to Do in Cáqueza

Posted on November 11, 2022

If you’ve traveled to Villavicencio, you’ve passed through Cáqueza. It’s well-known on the Bogotá-Villavicencio highway as one of the best places in the country to stop to eat “piquete” (fritanga – more on that later). What not everyone knows is that Cáqueza is a 5-star destination for nature lovers, which makes sense because of its mountains, rivers and warm weather. Here’s how to get to and what to do in Cáqueza!

Everything I mention here is marked on the map below!

If you’re interested in an even more gorgeous place with colder weather, read this post on how to get to Choachi!

How to Get to Cáqueza

In public transportation:

Take a Cootranscáqueza bus from Terminal de Transporte Salitre in Bogotá. The price is below – read on for more!

In a car:

Enter “Cáqueza” in Google Maps or Waze and follow the directions.
From Bogotá, take Avenida Boyacá south, practically all the way to Cáqueza. Just stay on the main road, following the signs to Chipaque, Cáqueza and Villavicencio.
When you get to the intersection to enter Cáqueza, it’s very well signposted, and will be to the right.

What to do in Cáqueza:

Glamping

Cáqueza has a lot of glamping sites surrounded by nature. Glamping is usually best in colder climates, but the mountains and scenery around here make it an ideal place for glamorous camping.

This part of Colombia, along with Choachi and Fómeque, which are very closeby, has some of the BEST glamping we’ve seen. Click here to see them!

Hike to Cerro de Monruta and the Hanging Rock

Walking to Cerro de Monruta is like walking to Monserrate in Bogotá or the statue of the virgin in Villa de Leyva, but much easier. You reach an outlook with a gorgeous panoramic view of the town.

Right next to it is the Hanging Rock (not to be confused with the one in Ubaté), where you can take some great pictures.

Extreme Mountain Biking on the Cuchilla de Cáqueza

This place, which could translate to Razorback Ridge of Cáqueza has one of the most beautiful mountain biking trails I have ever seen. You have to ride up an unpaved road and then ride all the way down the ridge to the river.

It’s a technical descent that many cyclists come to because it is so incredible, always with the river below you… WAY below. It’s even worth coming if you’re not a cyclist.

Here’s a really cool video I found of this trail!

Eat some Grease at a Piqueteadero/Roastery

The piqueteaderos of Cáqueza are famous. Piqueteaderos are restaurants for eating fritanga, which can have any combination of beef, pork and chicken, criole potato, chorizo, blood sausage, pork rind, fried green plantains (patacones), ripe plantains, fried yucca… and more!

Eat until you’re bursting at the seams and then explore the town a bit to digest. The cathedral in this town is gigantic and beautiful, and the town is full of streets and viewpoints for walking.

Jump into the Cáqueza River

If you’re wanting to cool off, a great plan is to stop at the Waterfront of the Cáqueza River. There, you can leave your car next to the road and walk a few meters to the river for a dip. It’s a perfect plan in a very beautiful and natural environment, and I marked the place on the map below!

Other things to know:

There are a total of 2 tolls between Bogotá and Cáqueza.
The bus ticket to get here costs $9,000 Colombian pesos (less than 2 dollars).
The road to Cáqueza is in good conditions, but it can have a lot of traffic.
Make sure you take cash because a lot of stores and restaurants don’t take cards.

Travel Guide

How to get to Fómeque

Posted on November 4, 2022

Without a doubt, the most beautiful destination near Bogotá is the entire area behind its Eastern Mountain Range. The whole area that is Choachi, Fómeque and Ubaqué is in the middle of some of the most beautiful mountains we have ever seen. Plus, most of Fómeque is inside Chingaza National Natural Park! It’s a place you need to get to know because of the nature around it, and it gets bonus points because the town itself is beautiful (especially the main square – more about that below). Here’s how to get to Fómeque!

All points and routes are marked on the map below!

How to get to Fómeque

In public transportation:

It’s REALLY simple. Take a bus from the Cootransfomeque terminal in Bogotá. The address is weird: Ac. 6 #1528, but it’s on Calle 6, one block from Avenida Caracas (walking away from the mountains). I left the price below… read on!

In a car:

Write “Fómeque” in Google Maps or Waze and follow the instructions for how to get to Fómeque. In Bogota, take the Circunvalar south-bound to the Universidad Distrital, where you turn left to exit towards Choachi.
Enter Choachi and follow the map to start heading to Fómeque.

If you’re interested in Choachi too, click here to read about how to get there and more!

What to do in Fómeque:

Hike in Chingaza

Chingaza National Natural Park holds a special place in our hearts. It’s gorgeous, and too few people have been there.

It is one of Colombia’s largest National Parks. The park has entraces from the north through La Calera or from the south, through Fómeque. You’ll see a plethora of lagoons, and its mountains are awe-inspiring.

The only frustrating thing is that it can be difficult to get to some trails because of the TERRIBLE road conditions and the requirements to enter. To read more about how to get to Chingaza National Natural Park, click here!

Go Glamping

If you haven’t experienced glamping, you have to. It’s a combination of camping and glamour. It’s glamorous camping.

You usually sleep deep in the wilderness in domes or cabins made specifically for enjoying nature. The structures are almost always rustic but elegant, offer good food and often have a jacuzzi right next to them.

Click here to read about the BEST glamping near Choachi, Fómeque and even Cáqueza!

Visit Parque Jesús Maestro

Walk around the beautiful town and get to know it, but especially Jesús Maestro Park. This is the main square, and you can tell they have put some love into it because it’s a beauty. Green is how I would describe it, and the town’s cathedral is imposing and attractive.

The square and its surroundings are the perfect place to have a small town lunch, whether you’re passing through Fómeque or it’s your destination.

Try Artisan Beer

Fómeque has a craft brewery known for its beautiful bottles with Colombian animals, such as the jaguar and the spectacled bear.

Stop by for a refreshing drink and support a cool local business!

To see more activities in Fómeque, here’s a link to the official tourist brochure of the Mayor’s Office of Fómeque.

Other things to know:

There are 0 tolls from Bogotá to Fómeque.
The bus ticket to Fómeque costs $13,000 Colombian pesos (about 3 dollars).
After Choachi, the road is still paved, but not in a great condition.
Take cash for paying in lots of stores and restaurants that don’t accept cards payments.

Travel Guide

How to Get to Mangoo Glamping

Posted on March 31, 2021

Mangoo Glamping is a quaint little area with lots of tents of different sizes, a pool and land around it for hiking and birdwatching. It’s about 30 minutes from the town of Melgar in what Colombians would call “hot country”… because it’s hot! If you’re looking for warm weather and hours by the pool, this is the place for you. Read on to discover how to get to Mangoo Glamping and what to do while you’re there!

Click here to read about glamping in Colombia!

How to Get to Mangoo Glamping

(See a map to get to Mangoo from Bogotá at the end of this post!)

In Public Transportation:

Grab a bus at Bogota’s Bus terminal (marked on the map below) to Melgar. A one-way trip costs $25,000 to $35,000 Colombian pesos ($8-$10 USD) depending on the quality of the bus.
Once at the bus terminal of Melgar, find the taxis and tell the driver you’re going to Mangoo Glamping in “Vereda Chimbi.” That’s the name of the area.
At Vereda Chimbi, take a left at the intersection where there’s a sign to Mangoo Glamping and a shop called “Tienda La Estrella.” Go until you see another sign and head right. This tiny road will take you to your destination.
A fair price for the taxi ride is $30,000 pesos. They may try to charge more, so the best idea is to settle a price before you get on the taxi. Just tell them the hostel is 5 minutes from the Vereda Chimbi intersection.

In a Car:

With a GPS: look for “Mangoo Glamping.” The problem here is it might take you to a spot right in Melgar. That is wrong. If you can’t find the right Mangoo Glamping, just check use the map below!

Without a GPS:

Exit Bogota headed south on Autopista Sur/Carrera 30.
Getting to Melgar is pretty simple. It’s popular enough that there are signs towards Melgar from right outside of Bogotá. Just make sure you follow the signs to Melgar/Girardot the whole way.
Once you’re close, you’ll get the option to head to Melgar (right) or Girardot (left). The town names are written on the road, not a sign, and you’ll want to go right towards Melgar.
Once here, it’s best to use a map. Stay on the main road and cut straight through Melgar. Once you’re on the other side, drive until you see a big entrance to an unpaved road on the right.
Take this road for a few minutes and take a left at the intersection where there’s a sign to Mangoo Glamping and a shop called “Tienda La Estrella.” Go until you see another sign and head right. This tiny road will take you to your destination, where there is ample parking.

What to Do at Mangoo Glamping

Birdwatching

I’ll say it straight away, our favorite activity at Mangoo Glamping was birdwatching. You get to go on a beautiful hike under gorgeous trees all the way to a beautiful creek. Actually, when we got to the creek, it was a raging brown river, but it’s usually tiny – the kind of creek in which you walk barefoot on smooth round stones. You can really see bunches of rare species at Mangoo Glamping and Melgar in general, and the hostel will lend you binoculars to see them well. Of course, we preferred birdwatching through a camera lens because we got to capture those memories! If you haven’t watched our video yet, check it out right above.

Pool Times

Melgar is VERY hot, so you’ll want to be in the pool as much as possible, since it really is the only way to escape the heat. Practices some dives, have a drink and enjoy, because the pool is definitely the main attraction here.

Stargazing

One of the activities the hostel has is stargazing with a high-tech telescope. Sadly, it was cloudy while we were there, but they said the activity is incredible when the sky is even partially clear. It includes a more academic part before the actual gazing, which might not be for everyone. We did learn new things, though, so it was definitely worth it.

Some Things to Know

There are three types of tents, from tents for 2 people to family sized tents, ranging in prices from $280,000 to $450,000 pesos, depending on the tent and time of the year. All paid nights include breakfast.
The restaurant serves great food with main dishes that cost between $14,000 and $30,000 pesos.
Activities like birdwatching and stargazing cost $20,000 pesos per child and $40,000 per adult.
There are two tolls from Bogota to Melgar.
We would consider Mangoo Glamping a great, unique place to go with your family. It’s the sort of place we would go when we were kids – lots of nature and a pool – but with the added allure of glamping. That being said, we wouldn’t quite recommend it for a romantic getaway, unless you love hot weather.
Check them out on instagram here.

If you end up going to Mangoo Glamping, let us know how it went!

To read about an amazing glamping spot for a romantic getaway, click here!

Travel Guide

How to Get to Zipaquirá and the Salt Cathedral

Posted on February 9, 2021

how to get to zipaquirá, cómo llegar a zipaquirá

Zipaquirá is a town north of Bogotá known for its Salt Cathedral (more on that below!). We also know it as a great place to climb and bike! If you want to walk around and get to know the place or just do activities nearby, a visit is surely worth your while. This is how to get to Zipaquirá!

Click here to read our latest blog post!

How to Get to Zipaquirá

(See a map to get to Zipaquirá from Bogotá at the end of this post!)

In Public Transportation:

First off, you need to get to Portal del Norte, where a lot of buses exit the city towards smaller towns to the north. It’s right on the Autopista (main highway), so you can get there on a taxi or on a Transmilenio (take pretty much any ‘B’ route, but especially B74, B75 and B13).
Take a bus straight to Zipaquirá at Platform 2, South zone. Look for buses that say “Zipa.” The ride takes about 1 hour.

In a Car:

With a GPS: look for “Zipaquira” on Google Maps or Waze and follow the instructions.

Without a GPS:

Exit Bogota headed north. Keep going, passing a toll, until you get to a bridge.
Once at the bridge, do not cross the bridge. Keep right to go under it towards Chia.
Right before Chia, you’ll get to another bridge. Go up the bridge, staying on the right to begin heading to Zipaquirá, and keep going that way.
When you see a Homecenter, you’ll soon see a sign saying Zipaquirá is to the right. Go right shortly afterwards.
When you get to yet another bridge, stay right following the signs to Zipaquirá and you’ll be there within a few minutes.

What to Do at Zipaquirá

Visit the Salt Cathedral

You may be asking yourself, “Is this a Cathedral made of salt?” Well, no. The Salt Cathedral is a Cathedral deep inside a salt mine right outside of Zipaquirá. Actually, it’s a very touristy attraction, but it is absolutely worth it. You get started walking into the dark salt mine, and it’s a treat from the start. My favorite part of walking inside is looking down into enormous black pits where you can spot workers continuing to mine salt in the most magnificent caverns I’ve ever seen. Of course, there’s also the Cathedral, which is pretty cool, but the real attraction is simply being inside such a huge, ancient mine. You can book tours here. There’s also a climbing wall right outside the mine! That takes us to the next point.

Climb

There’s a cliffside close to Zipaquirá that’s perfect for climbers of all levels! Access to Rocas del Abra is extremely easy and it has enough routes for a whole lot of sport climbing. I marked the spot on the map below. Make sure you pay before you enter and take care of the place. Access here has been blocked before by locals, so please make sure you don’t ruin everyone’s fun.

Bike

Zipaquirá is very hilly, one might even say mountainous, so it has cycling routes in every direction. Our favorite goes up to Páramo de Guerrero, and it’s a gorgeous ride the whole way. You can read about that ride here. Otherwise, we encourage you to explore Zipaquirá and its surrounding towns on a bike!

Walk around Town

If you’ve been to cities and towns in Colombia, you’ve probably realized every one of them has one, if not multiple plazas. Zipaquirá is one of those with multiple plazas. Walking through Zipaquirá is a lot of fun. You can see all the plazas, eat a whole bunch of typical food and visit museums (or so we’ve heard – we don’t love museums).

Some Things to Know

There is one toll from Bogota to Zipaquirá and none on the way back.

Now that you know how to get to Zipaquirá, definitely do so! There’s lots to do in the town and close by!

If you’d like to read about an amazing camping spot close to Zipaquirá, click here!

Travel Guide

You Need to Visit Niddo, and This is Why

Posted on January 18, 2020

Niddo glamping review, romantic honeymoon destination

We had our doubts about Niddo, but it exceeded our expectations. Niddo is a glamping destination close to Bogota. It’s high up in the mountains and is a natural reserve. In addition to the glamping, there’s a ton of hiking you can do. We went to Niddo as part of our honeymoon and it was a near-perfect setting for it – I’ll explain everything below, hope it helps!

How to Get There

Getting to Niddo is actually really easy. Just head north from Bogota following signs to Tunja. You aren’t going all the way to Tunja, though – Suesca is your destination. Click here for detailed directions to Suesca!

Once in Suesca, head into town until you cross a bridge and go right the first chance you get after the bridge. When you get to a fork in the road, head left. From there on out, just stay on the unpaved road that seems best-kept and you’ll get to Niddo.

I recommend you use a GPS in case you lose your bearings on the dirt road. Just download the map beforehand and you’ll be good to go!

Prices

Niddo is quite expensive per night, especially during the high season, which is weekends and holidays. There are three kinds of Niddos: Standard, Superior and De las Rocas (“Of the Rocks”) – the Niddo de las Rocas is right under the cliff and it’s where we stayed. The Standard Niddo is the smallest, and costs less, while the other two are larger and cost a little more. They both cost the same per night.

That being said, the Standard Niddo costs $233,000 (about $72 USD) a night for two people at the cheapest (weekdays), and the other two Niddos cost $490,000 (about $150 USD) a night for two people at the most (weekends, holidays).

We stayed at the Niddo de las Rocas because they are more spread out, so we weren’t very close to other people. Since Niddo Superior and Niddo de las Rocas cost the same, we figured the Niddo de las Rocas was more worth the price.

Real quick: click here to read about the best glamping spots close to Bogota!

Was it worth the price?

Absolutely.

We expected a cool hostel, a special idea, and that it would be nice being in nature. But the experience went beyond that. The truth is, Niddo is an established hostel with stellar accommodations, food and customer service. It exceeded our expectations. It is worth the money.

That being said, we wouldn’t stay more than two nights, but that may be because we aren’t “stay-at-hotel-people.” Also, all their cool services start adding up.

Concepts we Loved

The food was spectacular, although at first we thought it was a little pricey. It costs $35,000 pesos per meal (about $11 USD) or $90,000 pesos for three meals (about $30 USD). Writing this now, it’s not pricey at ALL if you make money in dollars! Anyway, the food is very gourmet, delicious and it comes in large quantities. Worth every peso!
We had freedom. Something I dislike about the outdoors in Colombia is that you aren’t given the freedom to go experience it on your own, or the infrastructure isn’t there to do so. Niddo is on a natural reserve owned by the same people who own Niddo, and they encourage you to hike on your own throughout their 29 acres full of trails. I love that.
It’s very romantic. Niddo is THE place to go on a romantic getaway outdoors. You don’t have the hardships of camping – at all – but you do get the peace of the outdoors.

Some things to Improve

Since the Niddo de las Rocas is by the cliff, sound gets amplified a lot. The restaurant is down the hill from the cabins, so we had some bass bumpin’ in our ears one full day. Once we got the guts to ask them to turn it down, they were extremely nice and not only did they turn it down, they changed the music to birds chirping. That was awesome!
We didn’t have water, although that’s not always the case. I just wanted to write it down because it’s a thing that can happen.

In conclusion, I’d say Niddo is great for a 1 or 2-night romantic getaway. It is a high-quality destination that is worth the money because you really do get what you pay for.

Hope this Niddo glamping review was useful to you!

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Travel Guide

How to Get to Parque Embalse el Hato

Posted on June 21, 2019

Very close to the Neusa Dam is another smaller dam that is also great for camping, walking, fishing and simply enjoying nature. It’s called the Parque Embalse el Hato, or Hato Dam Park. This place is a little further from Bogota (about 2 hours). However, since it’s small, it can feel more crowded even though there aren’t that many people. It also seems to attract a different crowd than the Neusa Dam. During our experience, there was loud music until 1 am and drunken singing until 3 am. This is based on one visit, and I try not to judge, but I would still recommend the Neusa Dam over this place. Despite that, we’ll always remember the Hato Dam dearly because Lala and I GOT ENGAGED HERE!! There’s also lots to do around Ubate, the closest town. This is how to get to Parque Embalse el Hato.

Find out how to get to the Neusa Dam here!

How to get to Parque Embalse el Hato

*Note: the map to get to Embalse el Hato from Bogota is at the end of this post!

In Public Transportation:

Go to Bogota’s Terminal de Transporte (Main Bus Terminal) and take a bus to Ubate. The bus companies that have a route there are Expreso Gaviota, Flota San Vicente and Rápido El Carmen.
Once you get to Ubate, ask around at the bus terminal for transportation to Parque Embalse el Hato. If that doesn’t work, go to Ubate’s main plaza, find the government building or a tourism company and get them to help you out. You could also walk to the dam, but it would take 1 to 1.5 hours.

In a Car:

With a GPS: enter “Parque Embalse el Hato” into Google Maps or Waze and follow the directions.

Without a GPS:

In Bogota, exit the city headed north.
Stay on the highway following the signs to Chia. Shortly after a toll, you’ll head right to go under a bridge.
At the next bridge, stay right on the bridge and follow this road until you see a Homecenter on the right. Then, turn right where you see a sign to Zipaquira and Ubate.
Stay left to cross the next bridge, following signs to Ubate.
Not long afterwards, you’ll get to a round-about. Take the second exit and stay on this road, which will take you through Sutatausa, all the way to Ubate.
When you’re right outside of Ubate, you’ll get to a round-about. Take the second exit towards downtown Ubate.
When you get to a fork in the road, go left on the road that doesn’t have a stoplight. Stay on that road until Calle 5 and turn left onto it, where there’s a red store called Almacen Montevideo.
Go until you cross a bridge, where the road ends, and turn left again.
From here, stay on the main road until you see a white sign that points to Embalse el Hato to the left. Head left and you’ll arrive in a few minutes!

If you’re bored of the city, here’s a list of outdoor activities to do close to Bogota!

What to do at Embalse el Hato:

Camp

Just like the Neusa Dam, most people come here to camp with friends and family. Camping costs $21,500 Colombian pesos or about $7 dollars. This fee covers up to 3 consecutive nights of camping! The area is pretty new, but has a good bit of amenities. There’s actually a bathroom with toilet paper! Also, starting random campfires is prohibited. If you want fire and warmth, you have to use a kind of grill structure they rent out to people. I listed the prices of everything below, but you can also find prices at this link (which is in Spanish, though), where you can also rent a cabin room if you’d rather not camp.

Colfrance

My family has a tradition while we’re traveling back from Villa de Leyva of stopping at Colfrance. Ubate is known for its milk, and Colfrance is known for everything that has to do with dairy. And it’s French. We always get a glass of milk and a pandeyuca, and people look at us funny. You can also get sausages, coffee, cheese, desserts and lots of typical Colombian foods. It’s right outside of Ubate and worth a visit! I marked it on the map below.

Cerro de Chegua

A whole lot of hikes in Colombia and around the world end with a cross at the summit. One summit close to Embalse el Hato has an actual church, or sanctuary, on top of it, and it’s a very significant landmark of Ubate. You can get pretty close to it in a car and then you have to hike about half a kilometer. The sanctuary is nice, but the view is what’s truly beautiful.

Some Things to Know:

Towards the end of the trip, the road towards Embalse el Hato becomes unpaved, but is in good enough conditions for any car.
Take cash, because very few restaurants, stores, etc. will take your credit or debit card!
You’ll pay 3 tolls on your trip: two on the way there and one on the way back to Bogota.
The park is closed on the first business day of every week.
Schedule: Tuesday to Sunday 8:30 AM to 4:00 PM. You can arrive to camp until 6:00 PM Tuesday to Thursday and until 9:00 PM Friday to Sunday and Holidays.
It costs $5,500 pesos ($2 dollars) for citizens to enter the park and $10,500 pesos ($4 dollars) for foreigners.
Camping costs $21,500 Colombian pesos ($7 dollars) and pays for 3 successive nights of camping. If you pay for camping, you don’t have to pay the entrance fee.
Parking costs $3,000 pesos for cars and $2,000 pesos for motorcycles (about $1 and $0.75) , only if you’re there for the day. If you’re camping, there is no parking fee.
Renting a grill structure costs $5,000 pesos ($1.5 dollars).

We hope this helps you find out how to get to Parque Embalse el Hato, and that it motivates you to go!

Another place that’s pretty close to Ubate, and is actually closer to Bogota, is Sutatausa. There, you can rock climb, hike and camp. Read about how to get to Sutatausa here!

Travel Guide

How to get to La Mesa

Posted on June 17, 2019

A quaint town just about 2 hours south-west of Bogotá, La Mesa is a good place to visit for a day or even to spend a weekend. This town is in the middle of the mountains, in a truly beautiful setting. There’s lots to eat, places to see and trails to hike. We’ll get into that shortly. This is how to get to La Mesa!

If you’re researching outdoor activities close to Bogota, we have the perfect list for you here!

How to get to La Mesa

*Note: the map to get to La Mesa from Bogota is at the end of this post!

In Public Transportation:

Head over to Bogota‘s Main Bus Terminal (I marked it on the map) and take a bus to La Mesa. A lot of bus companies will have a route there, but the cheapest is San Vicente, at $12,000 Colombian pesos.

In a Car:

With a GPS: enter “La Mesa, Cundinamarca” into Google Maps or Waze and follow the directions.

Without a GPS:

The easiest way to go to La Mesa without crossing Bogota’s traffic-filled south is to start by getting on Av. Boyacá.
From the Boyacá road, it’ll be easiest for you to head west on Calle 13 towards Mosquera (away from Bogota’s Eastern mountain range). It’ll take you straight to Mosquera.
When you get to Mosquera, don’t go into town. Stay on the main road (which is Occidente 50) headed left towards Facatativa.
Shortly after, you’ll see a sign that says “Para La Mesa Tome Carril Derecho.” This means, stay in the right lane for La Mesa. When the road splits right, go right.
This will lead you to a round-about. Take the third exit, towards La Mesa.
Stay on the main road and you will arrive at La Mesa.

Read about this cloud forest that’s between La Mesa and Bogota!

What to do at La Mesa:

Salto de las Monjas

If you like rivers and waterfalls, this is the activity for you. A short, easy hike will lead you to a beautiful pool carved out by a waterfall. How to get to Salto de las Monjas: follow the same directions to get to La Mesa from Bogota. Once you’re close to La Mesa, you’ll see a white sign pointing towards “Cachipay” to the right. Go right until you get to the Paraiso Terrenal Hotel. You can park there, ask someone where the trail begins and get started!

Macadamia Adventure Park

This park is right outside La Mesa as you get there following the directions above. It’s kind of a ropes course park on steroids. It has zip lining, walking across valleys on thin metal ropes, and adventurous things like that. One thing I will say is that if you’re used to adrenaline (like, if you rock climb) it won’t be as fun. It wasn’t for us because we’re so used to the excitement of climbing. That being said, if you’re not an adrenaline junky like us, you’re in for a treat!

Go Hiking

There are so many hikes around here. Like I said, La Mesa is in the mountains, so there’s enough rivers, waterfalls, and… well, mountains to get some exercise and fresh air. Trails can be hard to find in Colombia, because we just don’t have very good outdoors infrastructure, but they’re there! Check out this website with a long list of hikes in the area and feel free to ask around for directions when you’re close to the trailhead. You may have to do some research, but definitely do it.

Visit the Main Plaza

As with most Colombian cities and towns, La Mesa has a main plaza and a beautiful cathedral. Head over (I marked it on the map) and enjoy the scenery, people watch a little and eat some local food. It’s a good time.

Bike

Since both Bogota and La Mesa are right in the Andes mountains, the road between them is winding and has some nice, steep slopes. Colombians are really into biking, and it’s common for people to travel between the two places on their bikes for exercise. It’s really hard though, especially the way back to Bogota, since it’s mostly uphill. If you’re hardcore, go ahead and do the trek. If not, no problem! Take your bike to La Mesa and bike around… it’s worth it!

Some things to know:

La Mesa is warmer than Bogota.
Make sure you take cash, because a lot of small restaurants, stores, etc. won’t accept debit or credit cards.
There are lots of hotels here. My only recommendation is more of an observation: the further away from La Mesa you stay, the hotels/hostels revolve more around nature.

I hope this blog post helped you understand how to get to La Mesa and gave you some ideas for what to do at La Mesa.

Now, if you love camping, we know the place just for you. It’s north of Bogota, and it’s amazing. Read about the Neusa Dam here!

Travel Guide

How to get to Puente Reyes

Posted on March 6, 2019

Puente Reyes is in our favorite part of the department (or State) of Boyacá. It’s a place with an assortment of small to medium-sized towns, all with quaint plazas, in the midst of some towering mountains with lakes, lagoons and lots of frailejones. What most people don’t know is that in the midst of that natural beauty is a wonderful climbing area. It’s been well-developed, with more than 40 trad and sport climbing routes, and even has a guidebook! This is how to get to Puente Reyes.

If you’re looking for places to climb in Colombia, check out our list of the best areas here!

How to get to Puente Reyes

*Note: the map to get to Puente Reyes from Bogotá is at the end of this post!

In Public Transportation:

Go to the Bogota’s Bus Terminal (called Terminal de Transporte) and take a bus to Sogamoso. This bus ticket will cost about $25,000 Colombian pesos.
In the Sogamoso Bus Terminal, take a bus to Gámeza on a “Cootracero” bus. This ticket will cost about $2,500 pesos.
Tell the bus driver you’ll be getting off at the first right turn after the bridge called Puente Reyes. Be looking for it yourself too in case the bus driver forgets. It’s a bridge with thick yellow rods.
Take that first right turn after the bridge and walk until you see a sign welcoming climbers. Take that right turn and walk until you get to a wooden bridge. In front of the bridge is zone A, “Los Arenales,” which you can see on the guidebook. Enjoy the climbing!

In a Car:

With a GPS: enter “Gameza, Boyaca” into Google Maps or Waze and follow the directions. One you pass the “Puente Reyes” bridge, which is very close to Gameza, turn right until you see a sign welcoming climbers to the area.

Without a GPS:

Exit Bogota heading North. Follow the signs towards Tunja, not the signs towards Chia or Zipaquira.
Once you’re close to Tunja, stay on the main road that goes around the city, following signs to Sogamoso and Duitama.
Go through the cities of Paipa and Duitama, always staying on the main road and following signs to Sogamoso.
Shortly after you pass Duitama, take the second exit at the roundabout, headed towards Nobsa.
Drive along the main road until you see a big sign that says Gameza. Right after the sign is a bridge with thick yellow steel rods. This bridge is the Puente Reyes. Immediately after the bridge, turn right.
Drive along this new road until you see a sign welcoming climbers to the “Parque de Escalada Puente Reyes.” Take that right turn.
Marvel at the imposing cliff-line and climbing potential as you drive all the way to the end, where you’ll find a wooden bridge to the right. Cross the bridge, and you’ve arrived at the climbing.

If you’re looking for other outdoor activities close to Bogota, check out this comprehensive list of places to visit and things to do!

What to do at Puente Reyes:

Climb

Climbing is pretty much all you can do at Puente Reyes. Of course, there’s stuff close by, but this cliff line is pretty much on its own, which is one of the reasons it’s so great. The cliff line extends for about 1.5 km (1 mile) and can reach heights of up to 150 meters (450 feet), all sandstone. As of the last time the guide was updated, there were over 40 sport, trad and mixed routes. Click here to see the PDF guidebook! There are great camping spots along the river.

Visit These Towns

If you’re looking for a rest day activity or want to get to know some more of Colombia, you’re in for a treat. The towns in this area are absolutely gorgeous. #1 on the list is Monguí, known as the most beautiful town in the State of Boyaca, especially at Christmas. Some other towns that are worth visiting are Gámeza, Sogamoso and Nobsa.

Go to the Laguna Negra (Black Lagoon)

On the other side of the mountains from Monguí is the Black Lagoon, a place that we dearly love. Camping at the lagoon itself is magical, and above it on both sides looms what is known as the world’s most beautiful páramo, the Oceta páramo. You can get there walking from Monguí or drive straight to the lagoon. If you decided to hike, you’ll need guides. Read about how to get to the Black Lagoon here!

Visit Lake Tota

Only about 45 minutes from Puente Reyes is Colombia’s largest lake, Lake Tota. It’s a great place for fishing, but the camping is what really takes first place because of the view you get of the cosmos at night. The word “Tota” means “Astronomic Observatory” in the native Chibcha language.

Some things to know:

This climbing area is in a gorgeous location valued for how pristine it is. Be conscious of your impact and clean up after yourself to keep this place open to climbers!
All the climbing is sport and trad.
Make sure you have cash, because most places around this area won’t accept debit/credit cards.
Be careful hiking around here because locals don’t like tourists walking on their land. Hiking rocks, though, so one way to deal with locals is to give them money or food if they confront you. Another is to hike with a local guide.
This area of Colombia produces 90% of Colombia’s onions.

Now that you learned how to get to Puente Reyes, go enjoy the place! This great climbing area is so worth it!

So you like the mountains, but how about a desert… in the mountains? Read about this desert close to Bogota that inspired Just North to begin!

Travel Guide

How to get to the Sutatausa Bluffs

Posted on October 3, 2018

The Farallones de Sutatausa, or the Sutatausa Bluffs or Cliffs (I’ll call them Bluffs from here on out), are an amazing place for a little bit of adventure. It’s a place you can come and go easily in a day and also a place that makes you want to stay a few days. You can rock climb, hike, camp and relax in beautiful hostels. This is how to get to the Sutatausa Bluffs!

You might also be interested in reading “how to get to the Neusa Dam,” for an awesome camping spot nearby Sutatausa.

How to get to the Sutatausa Bluffs

*The map to get to the Sutatausa Bluffs from Bogota is at the end of this post!

In Public Transportation:

In Bogotá, go to the Portal del Norte, which is Bogota’s North Bus Terminal.
Take a bus to Ubaté, which costs about $10,000 pesos or about US $3.50.
Tell the bus driver you’re going to the entrace to the Farallones de Sutatausa. I recommend you look at the map below in Street View to get an idea of where you need to get off. The road to the bluffs is about 5 minutes from the town of Sutatausa, has a sign that points you towards the bluffs, and has a store right next to it called “Parador las Brisas.” Be watching!
Walk along this unpaved road and you’ll get to a fork in the road. Go right until you get to la tienda de Don Antonio (tienda is a small store in Spanish).
From there, you have three options: (1) go up the mountain to climb or to hike to the top of the bluffs on a trail that starts right in front of the store, (2) hike to the right of the store on a stone trail to climb or to hike to the top of the bluff, or (3) hike to the left towards a hostel, Kamp Nattivo, and to other trails that make it to the top.
For more information on these options, read the “what to do at the Sutatausa Bluffs” section below.

In a Car:

With a GPS: enter “Tienda DON Antonio, Sutatausa, Cundinamarca” into Google Maps or Waze and follow the directions.

Without a GPS:

From Bogota, exit the city going north.
Stay on the highway until you get to a bridge after you pass a toll. Don’t go over the bridge. Instead, take the road that goes right, which then curves left and goes under that same bridge.
Stay on this road until the net bridge. Go over it, staying right where it splits in two. Follow this road until you get to a Homecenter on the right. A little later, go right where there’s a sign towards Zipaquirá and Ubaté.
Stay on your left to go over the next bridge, which curves right, following the signs to Ubaté.
Not long afterwards, you’ll get to a round-about. Take the second exit.
Stay on this road all the way to the entrance to the bluffs, which will be on the right. I recommend you look at the map below in Street View to get an idea of where you need to turn right. The road to the bluffs is about 5 minutes from the town of Sutatausa, has a sign that points you towards the bluffs, and has a store right next to it called “Parador las Brisas.”
Get on the unpaved road towards the bluffs and stay right where the road splits in two to get to la tienda de Don Antonio (tienda is a small store in Spanish). You can park there and the cost of parking is to buy something in the store.
From there, you have three options: (1) go up the mountain to climb or to hike to the top of the bluffs on a trail that starts right in front of the store, (2) hike to the right of the store on a stone trail to climb or to hike to the top of the bluff, or (3) drive to the left of the store to a hostel, Kamp Nattivo, and to other trails that make it to the top.
For more information on these options, read the “what to do at the Sutatausa Bluffs” section below.

What to do at the Sutatausa Bluffs:

Climb

One of the best spots to go bouldering in all of Colombia is right underneath the Sutatausa Bluffs. You can find boulders from V0 to V12 and the rock is bomber. You can simply take your crash pad and start climbing (or rent it from Kamp Nattivo), but if you want a guide, you can stop by Kamp Nattivo , which is to the left from Don Antonio’s store, and get one – its not much of a guidebook, more like pieces of paper, but it works. There are boulders right in front of Don Antonio’s store and upwards and to the right of the store in the pine forest you can see from there.

There is also some great sport climbing on the bluffs themselves, up to 5.14a. You can find the routes going right from the store on the stone trail. If you need a guide, you can go to Kamp Nattivo and they’ll get you good to go. If you’re wondering where to climb in Colombia or close to Bogota, this is one of the best options!

Go Hiking

The Sutatausa Bluffs have a lot of trails to get to the top. There are two most well-known hikes. The first one is directly in front of Don Antonio’s Store. The trail is very well developed and is pretty steep. The second one is to the right of the store and starts on an unpaved road that becomes a stone trail that makes it to the top.

You have to hike up to the top! The landscape around the place is incredible, with really uniquely shaped mountains. So make sure you turn around when you rest during the hikes to admire the landscape. Also, take some food to have a picnic, rest and enjoy the view from the top. And don’t forget to hike along the top, since there are some amazing formations there.

Go Camping

You can camp under the stars and surrounded by mountains in lots of places: Quinta de Fragua, which is right to the right of Don Antonio’s store, Kamp Nattivo, which is a few minutes to the left, or up on the mountain with Don Antonio’s permission and only on his property.

Kamp Nattivo is a hostel created by a climber, one of the climbers who most developed this area, and is an incredibly comfortable and beautiful place. It has unique structures in the woods, they have a stellar customer service and if you see photos of the place, you’ll want to go stay there. So go Google Kamp Nattivo and go get to know it!

Take Photos

As always, you have to take photos. This place has a unique, gorgeous landscape. And everyone knows photos are best with action, and what better action than people enjoying, hiking and climbing with an amazing background?

Some things to know:

– You can rent crash pads to go bouldering at the hostel, Kamp Nattivo.

– This is a stellar place to go bouldering and sport climbing.

– To pay for parking at Don Antonio’s store, just buy something in the store.

– Take cash to pay for the bus, something at the store and for places that won’t accept your card, which is most places.

– In 1541, the area’s natives collectively committed suicide, preferring it to falling in the hands of Spaniard missionaries.

– There’s 1 toll on the way to the bluffs and 0 on the way back.

I hope this blog post helped you learn how to get to the Sutatausa Bluffs (or Farallones de Sutatausa) and a little more. But mostly, I hope you go climb in this wonderful area.

If you’re looking for another place to climb, check out this blog post about Suesca, the most popular climbing spot close to Bogota!