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glamping close to Choachi

Travel Guide

How to Get to and What to Do in Cáqueza

Posted on November 11, 2022
How to get to and what to do in Caqueza

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:

  1. Enter “Cáqueza” in Google Maps or Waze and follow the directions.
  2. 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.
  3. 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
how to get to Fomeque

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:

  1. 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.
  2. 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 close to Choachi

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!

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