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.
