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colombia travel guide

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

The 9 BEST Glamping Close to Choachi

Posted on October 29, 2022

Glamping just isn’t the same without a spectacular view. That’s why there are SO MANY sites for glamping near Choachi – it’s one of Colombia’s most spectacular destinations, with its mountains and valleys. These are the 9 BEST sites for glamping close to Choachi for you to visit! (I saved the best for last!)

No one paid us to make this list – it’s based on my research to go get to know these places, and it’s so you don’t have to search. Having said that, all of these glamping sites cost between $200,000 and $400,000 Colombian pesos a night (40-80 dollars) depending on the season.

All glamping sites are marked on the map at the end of the entry.

Glamping Close to Choachi

First, to learn how to get to Choachi, you can read this post!

Refugio Explora Verde

This is a hostel that also happens to have some Swiss style cabins. The cabins look comfortable and warm, but they don’t have much space except for sleeping. The whole hostel is rustic Colombian style (everything is made of brick). One of the best things they have is an elevated net between the trees where you can appreciate the scenery.

Colombia Mountain Tours

This is a large, but covered dome, that’s very accessible because it’s close to the road. It’s just off the main road to Choachi towards Parque Aventura La Chorrera. It looks big, has lots of living space and includes a very nice kitchen. It has a view towards La Chorrera, but from very far away.

Glamping Bonaire

This site has a dome and a normal rectangular room, both of which are well apart, and both have a whole lot of transparent walls and windows. The dome has a Jacuzzi, but I think the room looks nicer, so deciding where to stay might be tough. The view from Glamping Bonaire is beautiful. This destination is kind of far from Bogota, beyond Fómeque.

Glamping Fomeque Valto

This place looks elegant and beautiful, although I would say it’s a bit too manicured for my taste. I prefer glamping sites made of wood that blend in well with the nature around it. This one is designed slightly differently and even has a small fence around the glamping. It does have an incredible view, though, and a jacuzzi. I know people will love this place.

El Cielo Glamping

This glamping consists of several large wooden Swiss style cabins, VERY nice. It’s located near Cáqueza. It also has a jacuzzi, and the view from the cabin’s extended platform and the bed itself is amazing. Because of the area’s classic weather, it can be sunny or cloudy at dawn – both have their magic vibe.

La Granja Tacuara

This is where the glamping close to Choachi starts getting crazy! Here, you get a spectacular view of the mountains. The cabins are SO nice, all made of lots of wood and with big windows, and it feels very deep into nature. It has hot tubs, elevated nets and places to make campfires. The only problem is that it’s quite far from Bogota, beyond Cáqueza. But I would say it’s worth the trip.

Glamping Cúspide

This glamping is beautiful, rustic (lots of wood) and elegant. Of all the photos of glamping in Choachi I have seen, I think it has the most beautiful view. Also, it is VERY close to Choachi. It has domes and Swiss style cabins, and I liked them because they look spacious, so you can spend time at the lodge, not just sleeping.

Monte Luna Glamping

I think this glamping close to Choachi is the one we would go to first. And I’ll tell you why: there’s only a single dome on the property, and it overlooks the highest waterfall in Colombia – La Chorrera. The dome looks gorgeous, and it’s more spacious than many of the ones I’ve seen because it has some extensions on the sides.

Horeb Glamping

This place looks like the perfect glamping site, and it has a spectacular view. It’s almost next to Choachi, but very high up on the mountain. The coolest thing about it is that you can wake up above the clouds. They have domes here, and, of all the domes I saw, I liked these the most because they have a ton of windows for gazing at the sky and the gorgeous landscape. The only thing I would change about the site is have more trees.

Well, now it’s time to save up to be able to go to one of these sites for glamping close to Choachi! I’m hoping to go with Lala soon… maybe for an anniversary, but don’t tell her anything!

To learn how to get to Choachi, click here!

Travel Guide

How to Get to Las Lajas Sanctuary

Posted on September 30, 2022

Is it worth your while to drive to the middle of nowhere to see an imposing architectural and historic wonder towering over a gorgeous river? The answer is absolutely yes, although I also have to say the experience isn’t quite as magical as other travel bloggers make it seem. Though Las Lajas Sanctuary is everything they say it is, you’d definitely have to squint a little to ignore some of the negative sides of it, which is relentless crowds (we went on an average Thursday morning) and the gray, disorganized mass tourism infrastructure around the cathedral. That being said, the trip is still worth your while for a foray into culture, history and nature, all at the same time! This is how to get to Las Lajas Sanctuary in Nariño, Colombia.

Want to read about one of our favorite places in Colombia? Click here!

How to get to Las Lajas Sanctuary

I’ve marked all the places and some directions in this travel guide in the map at the end of this post!

If you’re driving, look up “Las Lajas Sanctuary” Google Maps or Waze and follow the directions (there’s 1 toll between Pasto and Ipiales).

If you’ve decided to take a taxi, at what I’d consider an unnecessarily steep price, they’ll take you and some will even work as your guides for a day trip. Finding someone who will do this isn’t exactly straightforward, but if you ask around at your hotel, friends or someone trustworthy, pretty much everyone will know someone who offers this service.

If public transportation is your method of choice (probably a good idea because its inexpensive and easy), here’s what you need to know.

From Pasto:

Take a bus from the bus terminal in Pasto to Ipiales (costs $15,000 pesos, or 3.3 dollars).
Take a bus from the bus terminal in Ipiales straight to the parking lot of Las Lajas (costs $2,500 pesos, or half a dollar).

From Ecuador:

Take a bus from the Quito bus terminal (or any other) towards Tulcán, which is on the border with Colombia.
If the bus doesn’t take you straight to the border (a location called Puente Internacional de Rumichaca), take a quick taxi ride from Tulcán to the border.
Once you’ve made it into Colombia, you can either take another quick taxi ride straight to the Las Lajas Sanctuary or grab a bus to Ipiales and then grab another bus to Las Lajas Sanctuary.

Buses will take you back to Ipiales from Las Lajas Sanctuary until 9 p.m.

Watch this video!

What to do at Las Lajas Sanctuary:

Now that you know how to get to Las Lajas Sanctuary, here’s what we think is worth your while to do!

Take advantage and walk!

Since you made it all the way out here, you might as well view the cathedral from every possible vantage point! From my memory, I believe there are 5 or 6 different lookouts with amazing views of the cathedral, the waterfall (yep, there’s a waterfall) and the river below. It ends up being a lot of uphill walking, and being 2,900 meters (almost 10,000 feet) above sea level doesn’t help.

Paseo de olla.

This is an EXTREMELY Colombian tradition, where families will travel out of the city, usually on Sunday, taking a pot (olla in Spanish) full of potatoes, onion, spices, hen, plantain and other delicacies with them. Paseo de olla translates to pot trip. Families will usually cook everything at their destination. At Las Lajas Sanctuary, you can buy one of these pots full of traditional Colombian food and eat on some stumps while you look up at the giant cathedral.

Visit the inexpensive museum and the inside of the cathedral.

I’m not usually a museum guy, but since it cost $3,000 pesos (66 cents), we gave it a try and it was worth it. The inside of the cathedral is also amazing.

Ride the Cable Car.

On your way to Las Lajas Sanctuary, I recommend you tell the bus driver you’ll be getting off at the cable cars. That way, you can arrive at the Sanctuary with style, enjoying the view of the entire canyon and cathedral from WAY above. It’s also a good idea because then, when you’re ready to leave, you can walk up to the buses and taxis through a gorgeous walkway with traditional foods and souvenirs jam-packed on either side of you all the way there.

The cable car ride costs $10,000 pesos (2.2 dollars) one way and $16,000 pesos (3.5 dollars) there and back. The price goes up on weekends and holidays, to $12,000 pesos one way and $20,000 roundtrip.

Crossing the Border

Whether you’re entering or exiting Colombia, the key word is patience. You never know what you’re going to find at the border. It could be a pristine day and a quick process, or it may take you hours to get a stamp on your passport. This could be due to protests going on in Colombia or Ecuador, or because of Venezuelans migrating to-and-fro. Just wait it out and you’ll be on your way!

Click here to read a little bit about this place’s history!

Travel Guide

How to Get to La Valvanera in Chía

Posted on August 12, 2022

If you’re looking for a hike that’s a lot like Monserrate, but not as crowded, the hike to La Valvanera Chapel is the one for you. It’s not in Bogota, but in a town right outside the city called Chía. The hike is easy, but nice and steep at some points. There are also two bike trails, one on a road up to the chapel and a mountain biking trail to get down the mountain. This is how to get to La Valvanera.

Check out the map at the bottom of the post for a visual guide!

How to get to La Valvanera in Chía

In Public Transportation (check out the map because getting around Chia can be a little confusing):

If you’re in Bogota, head to Portal Norte (marked on the map below) and take a Flota Chia almost all the way to the Chia Transportation Terminal. This costs $3,500 Colombian pesos.
Get off right before the terminal at Calle 11 – you can tell the driver and they’ll drop you off there.
Walk on Calle 11 all the way until it ends, staying on its weird turns, and passing a bridge that goes over a small but beautiful creek.
If you’re hiking, go left where Calle 11 ends and take the first road to the right. A little to the right of where this new road ends, after some shops where you can buy some treats, you’ll see a big sign, which is the trailhead for the hike up to La Valvanera Chapel.
If you’re biking, go right where Calle 11 ends and take the first road to the left. If you stay on this road, you’re pretty much on the bike route. So keep going straight when you get to an intersection and you’ll start the climb up. At the first definite Y in the road, take a left, and then take the middle road at the middle intersection, where there’s a sign towards the La Valvanera Chapel. This is the longest and least steep bike route.
There are two steeper bike rides coming from the other side of the Chapel, and doing all of them on the same trip is a great idea! I’ve marked all of them on the map below.

In a car: Enter “Parqueadero MTB Chia Valvanera” into Google Maps or Waze and follow the directions. This is where you can park, and the hike starts by the mountainside where you see a big sign.

To read about another hike literally IN Bogota, click here!

What to do at La Valvanera:

Like I said before, you can either bike or hike up to the Chapel. Enjoy some wonderful nature while you work those lungs. The hike is half a kilometer long, or about 0.34 miles. There are actually 3 bike routes, from 1 to 2.7 kilometers long, and the shortest one is STEEP. There’s also a gnarly mountain biking descent route.
Have a picnic at the top. You can either take some food and eat on the grass by the Chapel or buy some delicious traditional Colombian food at the restaurant at the top.
As long as you’re in Chia, I’d like to recommend two of my favorite restaurants: El Galápago Campestre, for some huge burgers or amazing steaks, and La Magola, for some of the best Colombian bread (pandeyuca and almojabana) and a fermented rice drink called masato.

Some things to know:

Is it safe? Definitely, if you go in the morning, and even more so on the weekends, because you’ll be surrounded by other like-minded hikers and bikers. It can be a little more lonesome in the afternoon, but still safe. At night, it may or not be unsafe, like any place in Colombia, so just go in the morning!

Going up to La Valvanera Chapel is free.

This hike is pet-friendly.

Take really good care of this area. Not that this doesn’t apply to everywhere you go, but the area is actually an indigenous reserve. Don’t risk everyone’s access to this gorgeous spot by littering or being disrespectful.

To see the biking and hiking routes beforehand, I suggest you search for them on Strava. I’ll link you to the most popular bike route, which is the 2 km one, to see distance, altitude, height gained, etc.

Thanks for making it this far! I’d really appreciate it if you watched the YouTube video above to get a feel for the hike. Happy exploring!

Travel Guide

Everything you Need to Know to Summit Nevado Santa Isabel

Posted on August 9, 2022

If you’ve read our blogs before, you know we prefer doing things on our own. We’re also aware it’s not always possible, and summiting Nevado Santa Isabel is one of those times. I wrote this blog to give you information, from our experience, on how to summit Nevado Santa Isabel – all the way from getting ready, to finding a good guide, to reaching the peak. (Check out our video at the end of this post!)

How to get to Nevado Santa Isabel

Fly or drive to Pereira or Manizales, the two closest cities.

From there, your driver and guide will take care of everything else. The road in Parque los Nevados is absolutely terrible for about 3 hours, so you need a hardcore 4×4 to get to the hike. Entrance to the national park is restricted to certified guiding agencies only.

Guide Services

A quick Google search will get you a myriad of contacts for guide companies ranging from 600,000 to 800,000 Colombian pesos per person (USD 150 to 200).

We chose Montañas Colombianas. It worked out perfectly and, to our surprise, they were on time for eveything, which is saying a lot in Colombia. They’re on the more expensive side, but it was worth it. There’s a saying in Colombia: “Lo barato sale caro” or “cheap now, costly later,” but actually more like “you get what you pay for.” That’s definitely the case with Montañas de Colombia.

Two things to keep in mind: the more people you go with, the less it’ll cost. We went with 2 others, and we loved that group size of 4. It made it a little more affordable, and it’s a good group size for some bonding over an adventure. Then, all that’s left is to choose a date. The season with the least rain is December through March, but there may be no snow on the way up to the glacier (since no rain = no snow). We got extremely lucky and got a perfect day with LOTS of snow on the summit while we hiked up to it. Once we got to the snow line, the sky was blue and it was the perfect day. I’ll link the video below if you want to watch it!

Our training to summit the mountain

We trained very informally for this hike because, truly, anyone can do it. Still, we wanted to be over prepared. This hike actually gets you to a nice elevation, to the point where you could get mild altitude sickness. So, to lower the possibility of that happening, we went on some hikes in Bogota. I think it also helped that facemasks were mandatory at the time, so we also had restricted oxygen!

Living in Bogota will help you train for hiking Nevado Santa Isabel, since you’re already starting at a high elevation. You can go enjoy some hikes, such as Monserrate, Quebrada la Vieja, Matarredonda or La Valvanera in Chia. All of those are links you can click to find out how to get there!

What gear do you need?

This is a part that got a little expensive for us. You do need some proper gear for this hike, as it’s kind of technical, quite steep and the weather is ever-changing. Getting water-proof clothes is super important, mostly because if you get wet you may have to turn back due to the cold and possible hypothermia. You don’t want your clothes to hold you back from summiting Nevado Santa Isabel!

We decided to buy the minimum gear we needed because it’s high quality stuff that we’re going to use in our lives and is probably going to last a long time. It’s already paid off, so it was a worthwhile investment! We bought Quechua products from Decathlon because they have a wide range of prices for beginner to pro gear, and it’s all good.

Gear we bought to hike Nevado Santa Isabel:

Waterproof Jacket
Waterproof Pants
Waterproof Boots
Waterproof Gloves
Fleece sweater (dries quickly)
Quick-drying shirt

Gear we didn’t buy because we had or borrowed it:

30-40L backpack, waterbottle, sun lotion, head lamps, sun glasses (UV 400 filter), dry bags.

Recommended gear we didn’t actually use:

Fleece hat, first aid kit with thermal blanket, wool socks.

There’s also some gear you really shouldn’t buy because its only for hiking in the snow or technical ice climbing, and there’s not a lot of that in Colombia. Make sure your guide service includes the following gear in their price:

Crampons
Helmet
Gaiters
Ice axes (piolets)
Trekking poles

Where to Stay

This is another thing you don’t have to worry about. You also won’t be camping or anything, since this is a one-day hike. Hidden in a location only the gnarliest of 4×4’s can reach is a gorgeous hostel. It’s called Refugio el Cisne and it has warm water and WiFi. It only has space heaters, and they’re on a schedule, so it is pretty cold. But it’s gorgeous and the beds and blankets are SO warm. A huge plus is that the meals are big and absolutely delicious. This is where you’ll stay after the first acclimation hike for one night before getting up at 1 a.m. for your summit attempt.

How to summit Nevado Santa Isabel

For those of you who, like me, like knowing what you’re getting into in detail, this is what your 2-day trip might look like based on our experience:

Day 1, 5 a.m.: the 4×4 picks you up from Pereira or Manizales (or Santa Rosa de Cabal, but you can’t get here directly on a plane) for a bumpy 5-6 hour ride into the mountains. The ride includes a delicious breakfast stop.
11 a.m.: acclimation hike to Laguna Verde. The idea is for you to get used to the altitude (over 4,000 meters or 13,000 feet) and for the guide to see how well off you are to set the pace for the following day. The hike is gorgeous.
4 p.m.: lunch at the hostel
5 p.m.: equipment and safety workshop on how to put on and use crampons, ice axe and gaiters.
6:30 p.m.: dinner
8 p.m.: well-deserved bedtime

Day 2, 1 a.m.: wake up time and final preparation.
1:30 a.m.: quick breakfast and get into the 4×4 to the trailhead
3 a.m.: the hike begins (ideal time to summit is 6 hours, and then 3 back down, which is about what it looked like for us).
6 a.m.: sunrise and a view of Nevado del Ruiz.
8 a.m.: arrival at the snow line and putting on your ice climbing gear for the final push to the summit!
9 a.m.: summit!
12 noon: back at the trailhead for some food, celebration and the road back to Pereira or Manizales.
** For an additional price, you can stop by the hot springs close to Santa Rosa de Cabal, but you have to book that ahead of time.

Watch this video of our experience – it was truly one of the best times of our lives! Now you know how to summit Nevado Santa Isabel, I hope you do it!

Travel Guide

6 Fun Facts about Colombia’s Snowy Mountains

Posted on February 6, 2022

Also called Nevados, there are only a few of them left. You may be thinking, “Snow in COLOMBIA?!” Well, yea… but more than snow, glaciers. And instead of boring you with a ton of information and bad news about Colombia’s melting glaciers, I thought it would be more fun to give you some fun facts about Colombia’s snowy mountains:

General things to think about:

Part of Colombia is right on the equator, so the weather is proportionally warmer at the same altitude as anywhere further north or south. To really help you understand this, I’ll tell you a story. I hiked around the glacier on Mt. Baker in Washington State a few years ago in shorts because it was August. The summit of Mt Baker is at 3,200 meters. Now, you have to climb to about 4,800 meters to see any snow in Colombia! So if you think about it, if Colombia were further north or south, it would have snow EVERYWHERE!
There used to be snow on Monserrate and all of the mountains above Bogota! Of course, this was like 30,000 years ago, but its really fun to think about!
In the 20th century, there were 14 snowy peaks in Colombia, among which were some well-known places like Puracé and El Cumbal. Now there’s only 6 of them!

More specific fun facts:

Nevado Santa Isabel is set to lose its glacier by the end of the decade. Actually, it currently has less than 1 square kilometer of snow on it. It is currently Colombia’s lowest, most accesible summit with snow. I think its worth paying it a visit!
Summiting Cocuy is not allowed right now because of a scandal! Back in 2017, a video came out of people “playing soccer” on the summit. It caused an uproar and the local indigenous people closed access and destroyed the road. But that video was just the needle that broke the camel’s back. The real reason was a lack of respect for such a treasure – a treasure that also happens to be diminishing a little too quickly. Was the reaction a little much? Maybe. I think something could be worked out for everyone’s benefit.
Throughout history, there has been an ongoing debate as to which one of the Sierra Nevada’s peaks is the tallest one. The consensus right now is that Cristobal Colon is the highest, just a few meters above Simon Bolivar. But from what I’ve read, no one’s 100% sure yet. Goes to show how much attention Colombia pays its glaciers.

If you read until here, you must really be interested in Colombia’s snowy peaks! I hope you enjoyed these fun facts about Colombia’s snowy mountains.

We’re planning on summiting as many as we can, just for the fun of it. I’ve always wanted to because I felt like they were a national treasure that will soon be no more. There’s a sort of appeal to that. We’ll be making videos about our summit project, so if you’d like to support us, head over to our YouTube and subscribe! Can’t wait! WOOOOOOOOOOO

You may like to read: How to Get to Choachi

Travel Guide

Where to Go Glamping Close to Bogota

Posted on October 26, 2019

glamping close to bogota, where to, cheapest to most expensive

I did the research so you don’t have to. Also, I did the research because I’m looking for a place to go glamping for our honeymoon! We figured it would be nice to lay low and relax a little before traveling, and some glamorous camping fit nicely. Glamping seems to be getting extremely popular, and lots of places have sprung up in Colombia where you can glamp (is that even a word?). So here’s a list to help you choose where to glamp close to Bogota! I’ve arranged them from cheapest to most expensive (-$- to -$$$$$-), but you can be sure these are all the best spots for glamping close to Bogota at each of their price ranges.

Where to go Glamping Close to Bogota

(from cheapest to most expensive)

1. Glamping La Finca – $

Glamping La Finca isn’t quite as close to Bogota as others (about 3 hours), but it’s quite nice for its price. I would say the only thing I don’t love about the place is that the tents are lined up side by side like suburb houses. Each one of them has a hot tub, though, and they look super cozy. On top of everything, if you stay here, you’re in Villa de Leyva, which is one of Colombia’s coolest towns. There’s a ton to do. From eating at great restaurants to sweating outdoors – it’s got it all. Glamping La Finca’s prices range from $200,000 Colombian pesos (about $65 USD) to $320,000 pesos (about $100 USD) per night for 2 people depending on the day of the week and time of year. You can read about Villa de Leyva by clicking here!

2. Bajo el Cielo Glamping – $$

High in the mountains of Colombia, this glamping hostal is close to Guatavita, looking over the Tomine Dam. Their domes are spacious, minimalistic and well-designed, and their areas have everything you need for comfort. Their standard domes with private bathrooms and outdoor space cost $280,000 pesos a night for 2 people (about $87.5 USD). The domes with a Jacuzzi cost $380,000 a night (about $120 USD). These prices include breakfast, and they increase by $100,000 pesos on the weekends. Being close to Guatavita, there’s also lots to do around the area, such as hiking, town visits and even helicopter rides! Bajo el Cielo Glamping is only an hour and a half from Bogota.

3. Glamping Colombia in Guatavita – $$

This place is also close to the beautiful town of Guatavita, an hour and a half from Bogota. Each one of their glamping areas has a wooden platform, a dome with a view of the dam below, and a private bathroom. The domes are nice and spacious. Its location gives you lots to do while you’re there: you can visit lakes, hike, do outdoor sports and go for a helicopter ride. It costs $360,000 Colombian pesos for two people per night (about $110 USD) and that includes no meals. I’m also not completely sure how their prices change during weekends or the high season. I can’t speak for their customer service, but their online, pre-glamping customer service is pretty bad.

4. Niddo Suesca – $$$

Only an hour from Bogota, we’ve heard a lot about Niddo because it’s close to Colombia’s most popular climbing area. Its tents look extremely warm and homely, and are well-designed and spacious. Of all the glamping close to Bogota I’ve researched, it also looks like the most romantic spot for glamping close to Bogota. The tents are nice and far apart, although not as much as I’d like (you don’t feel as much in the middle of nowhere). The cheapest I found was the smaller Niddo at $233,000 (about $72 USD) and the most expensive was the large Niddo at $490,000 (about $150 USD). These prices are per night for two people and don’t include any food. The prices do vary depending on the day of the week and time of the year.

5. La Villa Suiza – $$$

High in the mountains, this “Swiss Village” (the name, translated) looks over one of our favorite camping areas – the Neusa Dam. I’m not exactly sure if it counts as glamping because what they have is some wonderful chalets, but they look so warm and inviting that I had to include them on this list. They have standard chalets and deluxe chalets. Their prices range from at least $350,000 pesos (about $110 USD) to $450,000 pesos (about $140 USD) for two people per night depending on the day of the week and the type of chalet you’d like to experience. If you want one with a hot tub, though, the price spikes up to $550,000 pesos!

6. Kingdome Glamping – $$$

As you may have deduced from this place’s name, they have glamping in domes. What this place boasts is their 2-story domes with internal, private hot tubs. Their spaces are big and beautifully decorated, surrounded by woods. Like 2 other places for glamping close to Bogota, this one is in Guatavita, so there’s lots to do other than glamping as well. Their 2-story domes with hot tubs cost $450,000 pesos (about $140 USD) and their standard dome costs $400,000 pesos (about $125 USD) per night for two people.

7. Terramaga Glamping – $$$$

Terramaga is located in the town of San Francisco, about an hour and a half from Bogota. This place looks like a near-perfect glamping spot – each space is nice and isolated, everything is in the woods, and some of the glamps are even right by a river. It looks super romantic and outdoorsy. That being said, it is one of the most expensive because of how great it is. Each space costs $480,000 pesos (about $150 USD) during low season and $550,000 pesos (about $170 USD) during high season per night for 2 people. They book on AirBnB.

8. Yuva Glamping – $$$$$

Yuva Glamping is probably the most expensive glamping spot close to Bogota, but also one of the most amazing I found. Each dome’s individual area is huge and nicely far apart. One of them (maybe more) is right by the river, and I can just imagine falling asleep to its gentle lull. Also, all of the glamping areas have Jacuzzis. It’s about an hour and a half from Bogota in the town of San Francisco. Two of their glamping spaces cost $530,000 pesos (about $165 USD) per night for two people and the other two cost $630,000 pesos (about $200 USD). Those prices include breakfast and they increase by $100,000 pesos during the high season.

Well, that’s that for the best places to go glamping close to Bogota! I hope this list helps you narrow down your options for a super fun experience.

If you’re looking for outdoorsy things to do close to Bogota, click here to read our blog post!

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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!

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