If you’ve looked into what to do in Bogota, you’ve surely heard of Monserrate. From downtown Bogota, just look up to the mountains and it’ll be there with its imposing cathedral. Monserrate is a very well-known destination, and it is easy to reach! There have been some changes due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but everything is now open to the public. Keep reading to learn how to get to Monserrate post-COVID-19.
There is a giant statue on another peak across from Monserrate. That is Cerro de Guadalupe… it’s less touristy and you can read how to get there here!
How to Get to Monserrate Post-COVID-19
*The map to get to Monserrate is at the end of this post!
In Public Transportation:
(we recommend you arrive in public transportation because finding parking can be complicated)
- First, get to the Las Aguas Transmilenio Station. The routes that pass through this station are J23, J70 and J74.
- Exit the station headed north (with the mountains on your right) and then walk towards the mountains of Calle 21 or 22. You’ll pass Universidad de los Andes and Quinta de Bolivar.
- Once you get to the Ticket Office for the Funicular and Cable Cars, you have three options to get up to the cathedral – walking or on the Funicular or Cable Car. If you’re going to walk, the path is a little to the left (north) of the ticket office. Entry is free.
In a Car:
With a GPS: look for “Taquilla Funicular Monserrate, Bogotá” on Google Maps or Waze and follow the instructions. You can park in front of the building or in the area.
Without a GPS:
- What is important here is getting to the Circunvalar, the road that borders Bogota’s eastern mountains. You can get on this road lots of ways, but the easiest is Calle 26. Once on the road, head south until you hit Calle 21, where you’ll find the ticket office for Monserrate.
- You can park in front of the ticket office or in other parking lots close to downtown.
- From the ticket office, you can get up to Monserrate walking or on the funicular or cable car. The trailhead in less than a block north from the ticket office.
Click here to read about some more outdoor adventures close to Bogota!
What to Do at Monserrate
Eat Typical Colombian Food:
There are 2 restaurants on the mountain top. Eating up there on Monserrate is definitely a fun experience. Both restaurants serve delicious Colombian and international food starting at about $25,000 Colombian pesos ($10 dollars). Currently, since the coronavirus pandemic, you need to make a reservation to eat here. Make your reservation here!
Hike
We definitely recommend hiking up to Cerro de Monserrate. You can enjoy the landscape all the way up and get some good exercise done. Then, it’s definitely worth heading down on the funicular or cable car, since they’re also fun experiences. Before hiking, officials will have you fill out a form, and access to the trail is free. You can start the hike from 7:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Cable Cars and Funicular
If the 1-hour walk doesn’t sound like fun, you can take the cable cars or funicular. These comfortable trips are fun because you can watch Bogota get smaller and smaller as you slowly rise hundreds of meters. From Monday to Saturday, a one-way trip costs $13,000 pesos and round-trip costs $22,000 (about US $4 and $6). On Sundays, one way costs $7,500 and round-trip is $13,000 pesos (about US $2.5 and $4).
Watch the Sunset
The best part about Monserrate is the landscape! Truth is, people may visit it to see the cathedral or for the restaurants, but we’ve been there for the views. The sun just so happens to set right over Bogota as you watch from Monserrate, giving tourists a unique experience. The best way to do it is watch the sunset and then see the city light up with life and color. It’s actually a very beautiful experience!
Some Things to Know:
- Monserrate’s hours are as follows: Monday and Wednesday from 6:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., Tuesday closed, Thursday to Saturday from 6:30 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. and Sundays from 6:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
- Monserrate will be closed on Tuesdays for maintenance.
- All of Monserrate’s services are currently available after the COVID pandemic, although with social distancing measures and rules. It’s actually much more organized than before.
- It’s no longer mandatory to wear a mask!
- Pets are not allowed.
- If you plan on paying with cash, the rule is you need to pay the exact amount.
Now that you know how to get to Monserrate post-COVID-19, there’s no use waiting anymore. Let us know how it goes!
Would you like to discover Bogota as a local? Click here to read our suggestions!
