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what to do in bogota

Travel Guide

How to get to the Sisga Dam

Posted on March 29, 2018
outdoor adventures close to Bogota, Biking, bicycle, how to get to the sisga dam

Any person in Bogota who’s left the city going north has more than likely seen the Sisga Dam, only being 55 kilometers (34 miles) away. The truth is that few people have gotten to know it or, if they have, they’ve only been to the Refugio del Sisga, a beautiful restaurant close to the shore that’s well known as a rest area for people going to Tunja, Villa de Leyva, or other towns northward. We’ve gotten to know this place because we love riding our bicycles, and the Sisga Dam has a road that goes all the way around the dam – 26 kilometers (16 miles) of unpaved road with lots of uphill and downhill biking (you gain a total of 385 meters or 1,263 feet). We’ve done this ride about 5 times now, and we always love it. On top of that, the Dam has a lot more to offer. And the best part of it all: whatever you do, you always have an amazing landscape to look at. Here’s how to get to the Sisga Dam!

How to get to the Sisga Dam

*The map to get to the Sisga Dam from Bogota is at the end of this guide!

In a car

With a GPS: Look for “El Refugio del Sisga” on Waze or Google Maps and follow the directions.

Without a GPS:

  • Leave Bogota going north and stay on the main road going towards Tunja, not the one that passes Chia. On the way to the dam, you’ll pass the entrances to Suesca and Guatavita.
  • After 55 kilometers (34 miles) along the highway, you’ll get to a long downwards section, after which you’ll cross a bridge that rises over the dam (you can get off right before the bridge to check out the view).
  • A little after the bridge, the dam’s main entrance will be to the right, which is one of the dam’s few public entrances. The Refugio del Sisga is also right there, where you can eat great food (it’s a restaurant only, not a hotel).
  • You can park right next to the restaurant or get down closer to the water on another entrance just before the Refugio’s parking lot and enjoy the view!

On a bus

  • Get to the Portal del Norte (North Portal, a mini-terminal where you can get on buses to towns north of Bogota) and take a bus to Choconta.
  • Tell the bus driver to drop you off at the Represa del Sisga or the Refugio del Sisga. Still, be watching to stand up when you cross the bridge over the Sisga dam just in case the bus driver forgets.
  • A little after the bridge, the dam’s main entrance will be to the right, which is one of the dam’s few public entrances.
  • You can eat right there and also go down to the water’s edge to enjoy the view!

What to do at the Sisga Dam:

  • Ride your bike: for us, this is the best thing you can do at the Sisga Dam. As I said before, there aren’t many public entrances to the dam. Going around it on a bike, although you never get right on the water’s edge, you get to see its landscape from every angle. There’s no better way to enjoy the dam: you see it all and get to do some great exercise.
  • Eat a lot: The Refugio del Sisga has delicious food at good prices. They sell traditional meals from the region, as well as others, and it’s a great place to get warm. My favorite dish: agua-panela with cheese (the cheese goes in the agua-panela) and an arepa, but only in the morning! The other option is to eat by the water’s edge. That’s what we always do after biking. It’s so great.
  • Camp: I’ll be honest with you. The Sisga Dam is not the best place to camp if you’re going to do it at the main entrance because it’s really close to the highway, and there’ll be a lot of noise. Still, you can camp right there below the Refugio and it’s free, although they might charge you for taking care of you and your car! The other option is to befriend a local with property by the water and ask for permission to camp.
  • Fish: you can fish here for free!
  • Rent an Airbnb with your friends: I’ve seen there are some absolutely gorgeous houses for rent on Airbnb with amazing views towards the Sisga Dam. They’re a little pricey, but if you’re coming with dollars or euros or go with a group of friends it won’t even be an issue. Check these awesome places out!

I hope you now know how to get to the Sisga Dam and go! Now, if you’re looking for another dam good time, check out this post on the Neusa Dam! If you’re just looking for outdoor activities close to Bogota, we’ve got you covered too!

Travel Guide

Indoor Climbing Gyms in Bogota

Posted on January 17, 2018
indoor climbing gyms in bogota, laladventures

Colombia has a ton to offer when it comes to climbing, indoors and outdoors. You could consider Lala and I weekend warriors, climbing indoors during the week, and making it outdoors on the weekends. This is a list of indoor climbing gyms in Bogota.

If you’d like to read our local tips for touring Bogota, click on the link!

Where to Climb Indoors in Bogota

Before we start, for non-climbers, I’d like to point out that there are two kinds of climbing you can practice at climbing gyms in Bogota. First is bouldering, which is without a rope because it’s not very high (you do have pads beneath you, though). Second is sport climbing, which is with a rope and harness because you climb high.

Roca Solida

Roca Solida is our home gym. Lala and I have come to this gym for the most part of our climbing lives, which makes it about 10 years. I’ve worked here as a coach and also set for them (if you go, look for routes with the name “Eric” on them and let me know how you liked them!). This indoor climbing gym, like most in Bogota, only has bouldering. Its walls are filled with holds and are very featured: slabs, overhangs, crazy overhangs, and roofs.

Address: Av 19 #125 – 26

Phone Number: (57-1) 812-1208

Hours: 10am-10pm Monday to Friday, 10am-8pm Saturday, 9am-3pm Sundays and holidays.

WEYA

WEYA is through and through a bouldering gym for boulderers. Come here to boulder your socks off, because everything here is overhung except for maybe a 1 meter by 50 cm section at the end of the wall. Really nice people work and climb here, I must say, and the sports therapist who works on the second floor of the gym, Liliana Roa, is a magician (she’s healed me twice).

Address: Carrera 20b No. 73-17

Phone Number: (57-1) 732-2314

Hours: 1pm-9:45pm Monday to Friday, 9am-6:45pm Saturday, not open Sunday and holidays.

Zona de Bloque

Zona de Bloque is probably Bogota’s most complete bouldering gym. But, again, you can only boulder here. It is a big gym, with a lot of holds and a lot of features. I’d say Zona has the best setting too, so expect to do some fun climbing.

Address: Carrera 21 No. 50-34

Phone Number: (57-1) 255-4305

Hours: 10am-9:45pm Monday to Friday, 9am-9pm Saturday, 11am-5pm Sunday and holidays.

Gran Pared

Gran Pared used to be undoubtedly Colombia’s best climbing gym. It was huge and the sport climbing amazing – world class, even. They closed down for years, but are now up and running again. The gym is smaller now, but still has amazing sport climbing. So if you’ve gotten tired of all those bouldering gyms in Bogota, this place will be a good rest.

Address: Calle 52 # 15 – 27

Phone Number: (57-1) 288-4061

Hours: 2pm-9:45pm Monday to Friday, 10am-6:45pm Saturday, 10am-5:45pm Sunday and holidays.

Cumbre Andina

I honestly don’t know much about Cumbre Andina, except that it is another only-bouldering gym and looks really cool in pictures! It has lot of cool features and holds. So go get to known this gem of a gym.

Address: Calle 78 # 24 – 45

Phone Number: (57-1)  388 27 84

Hours: 8am-10pm Monday to Friday, 8am-7pm Saturday, 9am-5pm Sunday and holidays.

Rocópolis

Rocópolis, for a long time while Gran Pared was closed, was Bogota’s only gym where you could sport climb, so a lot of people came to love it. It’s also really close to my house, so I was able to enjoy it a good bit. This gym is smaller, but it has fun routes and great people work and climb there.

Address: Carrera 49 #128c-17

Phone Number: (57-1) 322 306-1737

Hours: 2pm-10pm Monday to Friday, 9am-6pm Saturday, 12pm-6pm Sunday and holidays.

 

Interested in getting outdoors close to Bogota? Check out this link with our recommendations!

Travel Guide

How to get to Chicaque Natural Park

Posted on December 14, 2017
pico del aguila, Eagle's Peak, How to get to Chicaque Natural Park, hiking, soacha, outdoor adventures close to bogota, travel couple

When a place is described as Cloud Forest, you go there because it is called Cloud Forest. It’s hard for me to think of two more attractive words.

Lala and I have been to Chicaque Natural Park a number of times: we went with a group of friends the first time, then we went with Kyle, from The Dive Wagon, Lala and I went once on our own, and the last time we went was to shoot an engagement at a beautiful lookout.

And we can’t wait to get back. We’ll probably be there soon to make a video to show you guys!

Anyway, getting there can be kind of a hassle, so I’m going to let you know how to get to Chicaque. I hope you get out there and enjoy the hike!

(If you’re just looking for outdoor activities to do in Bogota, check out our list of recommended places here!)

How to get to Chicaque Natural Park

In Public Transportation:

  1. Make your way to the Portal 80 Transmilenio station (you can plan your route from your location on Google Maps).
  2. There, take a bus to Mosquera and get off the bus at the main plaza of the town. Then take a Coomofú bus (it’s black and white) that says Soacha and tell the bus driver to drop you off at Chicaque. Both buses, and all buses for that matter, will have signs attached to their windshields saying where they are headed.
  3. Once you get off on a bend where there’s the beginning of a dirt road, you’ll have to walk along that dirt road for 3 kilometers (or 1.8 miles).
  4. At the end of the dirt road you’ll get to the Chicaque Natural Park Entrance and just keep walking!

In a Chicaque Van (only available on weekends):

  1. Make your way to the “Terreros/Hospital” Transmilenio station (you can plan your route from your location on Google Maps).
  2. When you exit the bus at that station, go right (which is south) and then go right again to cross the street across the bridge. You’ll see a gigantic home goods store called “Hogar y Construcción: Easy.” Go the OTHER way.
  3. The bridge will leave you at a little plaza. Look for some vans on a corner with small stores that has a sign that reads: “Terreros Droguería.” There will be one or two vans there, which head out to the park once they’re full.
  4. Pick-up times at this spot are Weekends at 7:00 am, 8:00 am, 9:00 am, and 11:00 am. They will get you straight to the Chicaque entrance. These vans will take you back to the “Terreros/Hospital” Transmilenio station on Weekends at 9:00 am, 2:00 pm, 3:00 pm, and 4:30 pm.

In a Car:

You can find the map to get to Chicaque Natural Park in a car at the bottom of this post!

If you have a Google Maps or Waze, just type in “Chicaque Natural Park” and follow the directions. If you don’t, here are the directions (good luck!):

  1. In Bogota, drive to Calle 80. You’ll take this road west (away from the mountains) and take a left at the first roundabout. You should be following signs to Mosquera or La Mesa.
  2. Stay on this road, pass the Mondoñedo toll, and take a left turn soon afterwards, where there’s a sign that points to Soacha.
  3. Shortly after that, to the right, there’ll be the beginning of a dirt road that has a sign pointing towards Chicaque. Get on the dirt road and drive along it, which ends in an incline into the park.
  4. Then, get ready to walk a good bit!

Some things to know:

Make sure you have cash, especially small bills for buses.

The entrance fee for Chicaque Natural Park is $15,000 COP ($5 USD) during low season and $15,500 COP ($5.20 USD) during high season.

The vans to get to or from Chicaque cost $6,000 COP ($2 USD) one way.

If you take buses to get to the park, they cost between $1,800 and $3,000 COP ($0.50 – $1.00 USD)

Chicaque Natural Park opens every day at 8 am. If you are a day-hiker, the latest you may enter the park is at 3 pm. If you are camping, the latest you can enter the park is 5:30 pm. Ask about what time you should be leaving, because it changes depending on the conditions.

The Park offers a bunch of services, from really nice rooms in which to stay, to restaurants, to zip lining. Check out their full list of services here!

The walk through Chicaque is downwards all the way to the end, which means… yep, the entire way back is up, and I mean UP. So be ready to sweat.

What to do at Chicaque Natural Park:

The challenge: try to see every feature and lookout in one day. It’s possible, I promise!

Camp: this place is so wild and so deep in its little part of the world that the nighttime at Chicaque Natural Park is something you need to experience. Stay up to see the stars, but don’t be disappointed if you don’t see them, since it’s a Cloud Forest after all – the best time to see the clouds because of cloud cover is usually 2-4 am.

Get engaged: this place is pretty magical, and we shot an engagement here once. It was a great spot (Eagle’s Peak or Pico del Aguila, if any of you guys are interested).

Take pictures: as usual! There are some amazing lookouts, the hostels blend beautifully with the landscape, and the unique ecosystem make for some awesome shots.

I hope knowing how to get to Chicaque Natural Park makes you go! Another great place to hike, just as amazing as this one is Chingaza. Check out how to get there!

Travel Guide

How to Explore Bogota on a Bicycle

Posted on November 17, 2017
How to explore Bogota on a bike, ciclovia, bicycle

*This blog post isn’t sponsored; we just want to help!

In our previous blog post, which was a local’s edition of what to do in Bogota, one of my tourism tips was to ride a bike around the city to explore it. It soon hit me… people who come to Bogota don’t inherently have a bike to ride around.

So I thought I would do the research and help you guys out so you can just come here, to Just North, and find out where to rent a bike or where to take the best bike tours.

Here we go!

BogoTravel Tours

BogoTravel Tours has the best prices for renting bikes I could find online. They range from a simple setup to use for 4 hours that costs USD $11 to a setup with everything you need up to a baby seat for an entire day that costs USD $25. They even have tandem bikes!

As for bike tours, this company offers one of the most complete tours that operators in the city normally offer, at one of the best prices (USD $20).

BogoTravel Tours also offers an amazing graffiti tour, in which you just ride around to see Bogota’s graffiti. And I say the tour is amazing because Bogota’s graffiti is amazing. I hear during the trip they tell you about how Justin Bieber’s ill attitude started a graffiti revolution in Bogota. I’ll say no more! You’ll have to see it yourself!

Graffiti tours cost the same as a normal bike tour and are offered Monday to Friday because on Weekends and Holidays there’s a City Bike Tour, which covers most of the Graffiti tour’s spots.

Check them out here for more information and how to contact them!

Bogota Bike Tours

I had to include Bogota Bike Tours in this post because I just like them. On top of offering bike tours that are just as complete as BogoTravel Tours and at the same price (USD $20), they will give you a free tour if you donate an old, working computer. They give those computers to children who need them, and I like that.

Check them out here for more information and how to contact them!

Tips:

1. Always be prepared for rain. Bogota’s weather is crazy; you never know when or where it’s going to hit!

2. Make sure you definitely bike or jog or do some exercise on Sunday. The city of Bogota closes a whole lot of city streets for people to exercise, but mostly for bikers to do their thing. It’s called Ciclovia.

3. Don’t stay downtown, go explore the city! Tours have upsides and downsides. The upside is that you get a lot of cool information and do activities you wouldn’t have known existed otherwise. The downside is that tour operators confine you to a section of the city.

On the other hand, when you go out on your own you get to see a lot more stuff because you can go wherever you want. But, you don’t get information along with the sightseeing and you may miss out on activities you don’t know exist. At Just North, Lala and I usually prefer to do our own thing.

In conclusion, take a bike tour AND bike by yourself! There we go.  Here are just some ideas for places you can look up and search for on a bike: Parque Simon Bolivar, El Campin, Parque 93, Parque Virrey, La Calera, and Club Naval Antares (those last two are for serious bikers).

4. Uber it up to get to the bike shop. Taking an Uber is by far the safest, most comfortable way to get around town. You’ll also be surprised at how inexpensive it is if you make money in a currency that’s more valuable than the Colombian Peso. A lot of tour operators will offer to pick you up, but it’ll cost WAY more than an Uber, which you can get yourself.

Of course, you can save even more money if you take a bus or a Transmilenio. These can be more complicated to use, but that just makes them more fun.

Looking for outdoor activities to do while you’re in Bogota? Check out our list of places for outdoor activities near Bogota! We’ve been there, and we recommend them.

Here’s a video of Eric wreaking havoc, or just being weird with a GoPro biking on the streets of Bogota:

Travel Guide

5 Things You Have to do in Bogota, Local’s Edition

Posted on November 9, 2017
colombia, Bogota, Plaza de Bolivar, Bubble Reflection, 5 things you have to do in Bogota locals edition, what to do in

Bogota is an enormous city and its history and diversity make it a place with a lot, may even too many things to do – some more well-known than others. There are a bunch of touristy things that are totally worth it, but I know some of you prefer to get off the beaten path and experience Bogota a little more like us locals do. So here are 5 things you have to do in Bogota, local’s edition, from me to you!

  • Visit the Colpatria Tower
  • Hike the 3 CH’s
  • Bike downtown
  • Check out the Usaquen Flea Market
  • Drink Chicha
  • Bonus

Note: check out the locations of all these places on the map at the end of the blog post!

Look Down on the City from Atop the Colpatria Tower

One of my favorite places to go, right above the crowded streets of downtown Bogota, is the not-so-crowded top deck of Colombia’s second-tallest building. Much like from The Empire State building, you’ll be able to comprehend the vastness of the city from a high vantage point.

My advice is simple: go watch the sunset from above and then wait for the dark of night to see the beautiful, chaotic city illuminated by man-made lights and in ever-constant motion.

The Colpatria Tower is on the southwest corner of the intersection of Calle 26 and Carrera 7. Go inside and tell the guard you want to go up to the top deck, or mirador in Spanish. The entrance fee is $7,000, and then you take an elevator all the way up to the 46th floor.

The top deck is open 6 – 9 p.m. on Fridays, 2 – 8 p.m. on Saturdays, and 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. on Sundays.

*Caution: great disappointment imminent if you expect New York City-like views. It amazes me that the Empire state building’s top deck is almost twice as high as Colpatria’s, and it isn’t even considered to be that tall!

Go Hike

Bogota is a city surrounded by mountains, and it is recommendable, no, it is necessary for you to go experience them! The best three places to go hike really close to Bogota are the three “CHs:”

  • Chingaza National Park: just how vast and wild this place is, I will probably never comprehend. The area of the park you can access from Bogota rises easily to 13,000 ft (4,000 meters), with hikes on ridges to glacial lakes and the possibility to view the last remaining native bear species in South America – the Spectacled Bear. Click here for how to get to Chingaza National Park.
  • Chicaque Natural Park: whereas the area of Chingaza close to Bogota is a páramo, which is an alpine ecosystem of the Andes, Chicaque Park is more jungly and has 7 types of forest, 3 streams, waterfalls, and 20 kilometers of trails. It’s perfect for hiking for one or two days. Click here for how to get to Chicaque Natural Park.
  • Choachi: constantly engulfed in fog, this place is wild, but you can see the big city of Bogota almost at all times. Turn to one side and you’ll see lush green forests and waterfalls. Turn to the other side and you’ll see the city framed by the same lush green forests. There is also some amazing climbing in Choachi!

Bike Downtown

Like I said, downtown Bogota is THE place for doing touristy things. You should definitely go downtown, so why not on a bike? Tens of thousands of people get to work and go about their daily lives on bikes every day, and for a few hours you could be one of them too!

Just some tips: make sure you take a bike lock and a helmet, and befriend whoever is guarding your bike when you leave it; maybe even give them a tip afterwards! The city has ciclorutas, which is a network of bike routes all throughout the city – the longest in South America, actually! If you ride on the road, you need to be aggressive, but also defensive. Also, stay on the right.

If you’re already staying downtown, ride your bike anywhere. Trust me it’ll be an adventure! The best option is to ride down Calle 26, not far from downtown. But don’t stay on Calle 26; explore the city! Check out this post about biking in Bogota to know where to get a bike and some more tips!

Check out the Flea Market in Usaquen

If you like to shop and eat, this is something you need to do. Start at the Usaquen Plaza and follow the tents literally everywhere (Usaquen used to be a town, but is now a neighborhood of Bogota). The tents under which artisans sell hand and homemade crafts and food make the narrow streets of Usaquen even narrower, which just makes it feel more welcoming. All of the food and crafts you’ll find will be inexpensive and extremely creative. On top of that, the area around the plaza is full of amazing restaurants and a mall you can explore. All in all, the Usaquen Flea Market is the perfect place to have a great time, buy souvenirs, eat things you’ve never heard of before and get things to take your friends back home.

Go drink Chicha

Chicha is a drink that Bogota’s native indigenous tribe, used to drink, and you can still find it in downtown Bogota. It’s made with corn. In past times, the natives fermented the drink by chewing on the corn. I promise the method has improved over time though!

I’ve taken a lot of people to drink Chicha, and some have love it; others have not. Either way, it’s something you have to try. It’s not at all strong; it tastes like a citrusy juice (like lulo juice) was mixed with soda water.

The place I like to get Chicha is 5 blocks west (towards the mountain) and 2 blocks north from the Plaza de Bolivar, Bogota’s main plaza (address: Cra. 2 #12b – 90). You get to the Chorro de Quevedo (if you can’t find it, ask someone!) and then follow the Rastafarian flags into an alley beside a restaurant called Rosita. The small restaurant where you can drink Chicha is on the left and is called La Totuma Corrida.

#6 Bonus

I’ll just list a few more things because I just can’t help myself. You can go to the Simon Bolivar Park in Bogota, Maloka, which is a fun, hands-on science museum, Jaime Duque Park right outside of Bogota, you can stay at Alegria’s Hostel, you can eat at La Puerta Falsa and NEED to eat at Crepes and Waffles.

I hope this helped you if you were wondering what to do in Bogota!

If you’re looking for outdoor activities to do near Bogota, check out this list of places to go!

Travel Guide

Outdoor Adventures Close to Bogota

Posted on September 28, 2017
travel guide, hiking, Neusa Dam, fishing, Outdoor Adventures Close to Bogota

Outdoor Adventures Close to Bogota

Bogotá is one of the densest, most chaotic cities in the world. And it’s pretty darn beautiful.

But sometimes a big city can become really tiring. Well, as it turns out, there are a lot of places to go on outdoor adventures close to Bogota! Whether you’re a Bogotano looking for something to do on the weekend or a foreigner looking to take a break from the urban tourism that Bogotá offers, we have got you covered!

The following is a list of places where you can have epic outdoor adventures close to Bogotá. We have been there and recommend them. You can even check out directions for how to get there by clicking on the links that are on each of the places’ names. Get out there, go an an adventure!

Chingaza National Park: directly to the east of Bogotá, this gigantic national park is a treasure of the Andes Mountains.

Chicaque Natural Park: to the south of Bogota lies a magical natural park known as a Cloud Forest. We love this place for its lookouts, starry nights, how wild it is, and, of course, its clouds.

Pionono Park: straight above the town of Sopó is this Ecological Park that offers beautiful hikes and views of the savannah of Bogotá. There is also a place to go paragliding right outside of the park.

Laguna Verde (Green Lagoon): way above the Neusa Dam is the Laguna Verde. This place is pristine and so fresh. You’ll be surrounded by frailejones and every shade of green. If it’s about getting to know the Colombian páramo (alpine), this place is exemplary.

Las Moyas Trail: with a trail-head right on the outskirts of the city, this trail will lead you up the mountains on the east of Bogotá to a height of about 3,100 meters (10,200 feet) above sea level.

The Neusa Dam: known for its cold water, comfortable camping, and closeness to Bogota, let me tell you a little more about this place – starry nights, perfect stillness at dawn, and wooded pine forests. Dam. Here are some tips for car camping!

The Sisga Dam: we love biking, and there’s a route that goes all around the Sisga Dam. On top of being moderately difficult, which we love, you get to enjoy the landscape from all of its angles.

The Tatacoita Desert: this desert that lies hidden outside the town of Nemocón is a wonderful place to hike, bike, picnic, and camp.

Check out videos for most of these places on our YouTube channel!

*We will update the list many times throughout the years! Be on the lookout or subscribe to our mailing list to stay on top of updates!

Travel Guide

How to get to Las Moyas Trail

Posted on September 11, 2017
How to get to Las Moyas Trail, hike in bogota, colombia, nature

The Las Moyas Trail, or Sendero las Moyas, was closed for years. But it’s been open to the public since 2022, and the whole process was re-organized to be efficient, quick and safe. I appreciate Live Happy Colombia and the land owners, who opened this trail for people to enjoy it, while still taking care of the area and all its beauty. This is how to get to Las Moyas Trail!

But first, a comment from the heart. Bogota, with its mountains, could be like Santiago, Chile or Boulder, Colorado. If Colombia’s Eastern Mountains (Cerros Orientales) were full of hiking and mountain biking trails, Bogota would be completely different. However, that culture just doesn’t exist, and trails get damaged due to bad use or over-use when they do open. The only way that culture can change is by organizations taking the initative and taking the risk of opening lots of trails to share the load, teach people to take care of what they have and regulating their use. It looks like that’s already starting to happen, and we’re SO excited for what the future holds!

If you like hiking, click here to read about Quebrada la Vieja, which is 6 blocks from Las Moyas!

How to get to Las Moyas Trail

*Note: You can find the map to get to Las Moyas Trail at the bottom of this post!

Walking:

  1. Get to the Transmilenio station called Calle 76 and then walk to Carrera 7 (towards the mountain).
  2. Cross Carrera 7, and keep walking towards the mountain on Calle 74. You’ll get to the Circunvalar, which is Carrera 1. Cross it and continue on Calle 74, which bends to the left becoming Carrera 1 East.
  3. Turn right on Calle 77 and then take the next left, which is Carrera 2 East.
  4. Walk along this road until you find the entrance to the Horizontes – Las Moyas Trail. It’s on the right after a sign that points you to the Metropolitan Club.
  5. Hike for about 2 hours until you get to a boulder field past the antenna on the summit.

In a car:

With a GPS: Use Waze or Google Maps to look up “Umbral Cultural Horizontes” and follow the instructions. Parking is prohibited on the street, but there’s a parking area for the hike next to the Metropolitan Club (I marked the spot on the map).

Without a GPS:

  1. In Bogota, get to the Carrera 7 and go up towards the mountain on Calle 74 until you get to Carrera 2.
  2. Take a right on Carrera 2 and then take the next right turn and then your next right turn again to be on Diagonal 76. Cross the Circunvalar, which is Carrera 1.
  3. Once you cross the Circunvalar, the road will turn left becoming Carrera 1 East.
  4. Take the first right turn onto Calle 77 and then take a left where the street ends, which is Carrera 2 East.
  5. On this road, go right and park at the Metropolitan Club. The spot is marked on the map below. The Las Moyas Trail begins at the end of the road going up to the right.
  6. Hike for about 2 hours until you get to a boulder field past the antenna on the summit.

Some things to know:

  • The trail opens from Tuesday to Friday from 6-9:00 AM and you have to be starting the hike between 6 and 6:30 AM. Entry on the weekends is subject to group outings, which are organized on their Telegram.
  • The entry fee to Sendero las Moyas is $15,000 pesos, and you can buy a monthly “membership” for 60,000 pesos. This money goes towards the trails conservation and some social inclusion projects.
  • The trail is totally safe during the authorized hours.
  • The hike is 4.2 kilometers or 2.6 miles long.
  • To make a reservation and pay, click on this link to go to Live Happy Colombia’s website and follow the instructions. You’ll also find your QR code at that link, which you have to show to start hiking the trail.
  • Pets are not allowed.

What to do in Las Moyas:

Picnic on top of a rock: have your breakfast at the summit of Las Moyas Trail, with amazing landscapes whichever way you turn.

Take care of your surroundings: people sometimes damage beauty while they try to enjoy it, like when they’re eating on top of a boulder. Don’t graffiti the boulders or even engrave anything on them. Take everything you brought with you back to the city, even organic waste. The beauty of a pristine place is that it’s pristine. Let’s keep it that way.

This hike is my favorite one on Bogota’s eastern mountains, partly because it has some amazingly photogenic views. The only thing missing is the Pine Forest of Quebrada la Vieja but, you know, nothing’s perfect! I hope you get to it now that you know exactly how to get to Las Moyas Trail!

Read some more posts about outdoor adventures close to Bogota to get psyched for more!

Travel Guide

How to get to Pionono Park

Posted on July 13, 2017
How to get to Pionono Park, ecological, nature, outdoor adventures close to bogota, hiking, sopo, alpina, what to do, colombia

We got to Sopó excited, not knowing what to expect.

Getting to know the small town that we used to know only because of Alpina, a famous Colombian dairy and food company located there, Lala and I looked at the mountains that loom over Sopó looking for a tiny cross. There it was… and that was where we were going.

We took the shortest, steepest route and we couldn’t help but laugh at how ridiculously steep the road was. Only a 4×4 could have gone up it, and on a bike, you would surely fall backwards. (There is an easier way to get to Pionono – see below for directions!)

After walking for about 2 hours, we reached the entrance of Pionono Park and we began the hike within the park. Once inside, we were pretty much already on top of the mountain, so the hike seemed easy and short in comparison to what we had already walked. We passed three beautiful lookouts: Cacique Sopó, Alto de las Aguilas and Valle de Sopó.

Sadly, the path to the cross was closed, and still is, because the path is really sketchy. Hopefully someday it will reopen, but at least every lookout has spectacular views.

Pionono was a great destination for a day trip, but I would have preferred to stay a night. Since it’s an ecological park, you feel like you’re in wild nature even though Sopó is about 600 meters below you.

Hiking down was much easier, although our knees wept (yeah, we took the steep way down again) and we laughed at how steep the path was the entire way down.

I’ll leave you with this thought that summarized the hike for me. At one of the lookouts, I gazed out at the grassy tropical plain and thought, “This savannah that raised me and that I take for granted… sure is beautiful!”

How to get to Pionono Park

*Note: You can find the map to get to Pionono Park at the bottom of this post!

Without a car:

Your adventure will begin at the North Portal (sounds like sci-fi, right?), which is the bus terminal in the north of Bogotá right on the main highway, or autopista. Get on a bus that says “Sopó” and tell the bus driver to stop in front of Sopó’s Hospital, which is right after Alpina. Tell him: “Pare en frente del Hospital de Sopó, después de Alpina” (good luck pronouncing that!)

From here you have three options (they’re on the map!):

  1. Take 6th street, which is the first left turn you can take after the round-about, in front of the Hospital. It turns left into 3rd street and, staying on that main road, you will get to Pionono Park. There are signs everywhere, so it’s hard to get lost. If you do get lost, just ask a local, “Como llego a Pionono?”
  2. The other option is even steeper (the one Lala and I took), but shorter. Instead of taking 6th street take 4th street, which is two blocks further from the round-about. Go up 4th street for about four blocks until you see an archway that says, “Santuario del Señor de la Piedra.”
    1. There, take a left. Follow this road, which curves to the right. A few meters later you have to pick between left (steep) and straight (steeper). Keep going straight, taking the steeper route. Be impressed.
    2. Follow this road for a while. It’s hard to get lost and you will eventually link with the main road, having completed the road less taken. There are signs everywhere, so you’ll arrive at Pionono Park without a problem
  3. Take a cab up to Pionono. These cabs drive down 6th street in front of the hospital (the first left turn you can take after the round-about). It costs $14,500 Colombian Pesos or $5 USD per trip, so if you take it with a group of 4 people, it’s nice and inexpensive.

In a car:

With Waze: look for “Parque Ecológico PIONONO Sopó” and follow the directions.

Without Waze:

  1. Leave Bogotá heading north on the main highway (Autopista) and stay on the main road for about 30 minutes. Pass El Corral on your left, and after 500 more meters (1,500 feet) take a right towards Sopó.
  2. Stay on this road until you get to a round-about and take the second exit.
  3. Right after Alpina’s parking lot, in front of a hospital, take a left on 6th street (it’s the first left turn you can take after the roundabout).
  4. Stay on this road until you get to Pionono. There are signs everywhere, so it’s hard to get lost. If you do get lost just ask a local, “Como llego a Pionono?”

Some things to know:

The park is open Wednesday to Sunday and Holidays from 9:00am to 4:30pm.

There is no parking at Pionono Park during the day, but you can park outside on the road. There are always park officials there during the day watching over the entrance and taking payments. If you’re camping, you can take your car inside all the way to the camping area from 5pm to 9am.

Camping per person per night: $24,600 Colombian Pesos or about $9 USD.

Entrance fee: $4,900 Colombian Pesos or about $2 USD.

Taxi up to Pionono Park: $14,500 Colombian Pesos or about $5 USD

What to do in Pionono Park:

  • Go Paragliding: one kilometer before the Pionono Park entrance is a detour left through which you can get to Parapente Paraiso, one of the most well-known paragliding centers in Colombia. It’s easy to get to, they have comfortable facilities (restaurant, parking, etc.), and the view of the Tominé dam is spectacular.
  • Go Camping: to really feel in the middle of nowhere, you have to camp. The climate is near-alpine, so it’s cold at night, but with a good jacket, I can just imagine the sunrises and sunsets. If you’re lucky, you might even get a beautiful starry night. Plus, Pionono Park’s camping infrastructure is prepared with bathrooms, water, and grill to make food… or a barbeque.
  • Take a lot of Pictures: from every vantage point. The landscape is beautiful all around. If it’s cloudy, there are plants, insect, birds, and flowers that would love to pose for you. If you camp, you should have a camera ready to capture the sunset, sunrise, and stars. Yeah, you’re not gonna sleep much.
  • Reward Yourself at Alpina: especially if you walked all the way to Pionono Park! Sopó is known for being Alpina’s center of operation. At the cabaña de Alpina (Alpina Cabin), which is right next to the Hospital I mentioned in the directions above, you can eat. A LOT. My recommendations are fresas con crema (strawberries and cream), the repollas (cream puffs), and, of course, some chocolate milk. There’s nothing like a yummy prize at the end of an adventure.

We hope this guide is helpful!

To learn about another beautiful place near Bogotá, read our post about the Tatacoita Desert!

Here’s a video to motivate you to go to Pionono Park!

Travel Guide

How to get to the Tatacoita Desert

Posted on June 13, 2017
How to get to the Tatacoita Desert, Desierto de la Tatacoita, hiking, outdoor adventures close to bogota, bike

How my feet hurt. That’s what happens when you’re not sure how to get somewhere new on foot. It happened to me getting to the Tatacoita Desert (not to be confused with the well-known Tatacoa Desert).

In fact, my trip to this desert is what motivated me to create this website. I got frustrated looking for how to get there because when I searched for it on Google, I only found company’s websites offering tours. But I don’t like tours. I prefer enjoying nature with a group of friends.

I finally found a page with directions to the Tatacoita Desert, so we followed them. And how my feet hurt! We walked twice as much as it said. So I, being the extremely detailed person I am, thought it would be great to have detailed guides about how to get to relatively unknown places like the Tatacoita Desert.

Still, despite the pain in my feet, I always enjoy an adventure like this one. We had a great time visiting the desert – that’s how awesome it is. It’s a unique landscape.

I hope this and all the guides to come will help you plan your adventures!

How to get to the Tatacoita Desert

*Note: You can find the map to get to the Tatacoita Desert at the bottom of this post!

Without a car:

  1. The adventure begins at the Portal Norte (Northern Bus Terminal) in Bogota. Take a bus to Zipaquira. Once in Zipaquira, take a bus to Nemocon.
  2. Get off the bus in Nemocon before the bus takes a right, ‘cause you’re going left. From here, you have two options: walk to the park (about three hours) or ask a motorcycle-taxi to take you as far as it will.
    1. Walking: keep going until you get to a fork in the road. In the middle of the fork there are signs that say “Finca la Macarena,” “Sumicol,” and “Las Nubes.” When I went in December there was also a manger-scene. Go left. One kilometer (about .7 miles) later, take a right. Walk along that road until you pass a small bridge. A little after the bridge you’ll see a steep road going upwards to the right. Go that way and when the road forks again, take a right. You’ll arrive at a red door that is the entrance to a farm. There may not be anyone there, so you can call 3102279771 and ask for Juan Jose. Tell him you want to enter the Desierto de la Tatacoita. The entrance fee is $5,000 COP or about $2 dollars.
    2.  In a motorcycle-taxi: ask a moto-taxi (a motorcycle with a compartment behind it that makes it a taxi) to take you to the Desierto de la Tatacoita or as close as it can. If it can’t drive through the last bit of road, which is an unpaved road in bad conditions, it will at least save you 2.5 hours of walking. This service costs $15,000 COP or $5 USD. You’ll arrive at a red door that is the entrance to a farm. There may not be anyone there, so you can call 3102279771 and ask for Juan Jose. Tell him you want to enter the Desierto de la Tatacoita. The entrance fee is $5,000 COP or about $2 dollars.

 In a car:

With GPS: look up “Desierto de la Tatacoita” on Waze or Google Maps and follow the instructions.

*Note: a GPS will take you a way that I am not sure actually exists, so you may want to follow the directions without a GPS below.

Without a GPS:

  1. Exit Bogota north. Follow directions to Chia (to the right and under the first car bridge) but don’t enter Chia. Keep going until you get to another bridge and stay to your right on the bridge. This is the road to Zipaquira.
  2. When the road divides in two again, get on the bridge, which will take you right towards Zipaquira and Ubate (following the signs). Stay on this road until you reach a round-about and take the second exit.
  3. A few minutes later you will run into a stoplight and a sign that indicates Zipaquira is to the left, Ubate is going straight, and Nemocon is to the right. Go right. You’ll get right to Nemocon that way.
  4. Again, and not for the last time, you will come to a fork in the road once to get to Nemocon. Go left and stay on that road until you once again get to a fork in the road. In the middle of the fork there are signs that say “Finca la Macarena,” “Sumicol,” and “Las Nubes.” When I went in December there was also a manger-scene. Go left. One kilometer (about .7 miles) later, take a right.
  5. Drive along this road until you see a sign that reads “Tienda Santana” and go in. This is where you will park your car if you’re not in a 4×4. You’ll have to walk the rest of the way.
  6. If you’re going in a 4×4, ignore step 5 and continue along the road until you reach a small bridge. A little after the bridge you’ll see a steep road going upwards to the right. Go that way and when the road forks again, take a right. That’s where the unpaved road gets really bad.
  7. You’ll arrive at a red door that is the entrance to a farm. There may not be anyone there, so you can call 3102279771 and ask for Juan Jose. Tell him you want to enter the Desierto de la Tatacoita. The entrance fee is $5,000 COP or about $2 dollars.

Some things to keep in mind:

Entrance fee: $5,000 COP or about $2 dollars.

Moto-taxi fee: $15,000 COP or about $5 dollars.

There is no parking at the Desierto de la Tatacoita, but ask the man that lets you in where you can leave your car or talk to the folks at “Tienda Santana” and, if they let you, leave your car there.

Bus to Zipaquira: $6,000 COP or about $2 dollars.

Bus to Nemocon: $3,000 COP or about $1 dollars.

What to do in the Desierto de la Tatacoita:

  • Camp: I sadly didn’t go camping here, but I have heard that it’s amazing because you feel so far from civilization. It’s also a great place if you love gazing at the stars.
  • Ride your bike: there are trails inside the desert that are awesome. If you can’t take your bike in a car, you can get to the Desierto de la Tatacoita on your bike or ask the bus driver if he’ll let you take your bike in the bus’s baggage compartment. The fee for that is usually half to all of your fee.
  • Take pictures: the way the earth has eroded in the Desierto de la Tatacoita is beautiful! Take pictures of the huge dunes, the green and orange landscape, and, if you camp, the stars! And post those pictures on your social media so that more people can get to know this desert even if it’s just in photos.

To learn about another beautiful place near Bogotá, read our post about Chingaza National Park!

Here’s a video about our adventure in the Tatacoita Desert:

 

Travel Guide

How to get to Chingaza National Park

Posted on May 15, 2017
outdoor adventures close to bogota, how to get to Chingaza National Park, lagunas de buitrago, lagoon, national park, colombia, hiking

How to get to Chingaza National Park

*note: You can find the map to get to Chingaza National Park at the bottom of this post!

*Carrera means roads that go north-south and Calle means roads that go east-west. Both translate to “street,” so I used the words in Spanish in the directions.

Without a car:

There is no public transportation available to take you all the way to the Visitor’s Center, so…

  1. In Bogota, take a bus (TransGuasca or Flota Valle de Tenza), which you can find on Carrera 13 with Calle 72, about two blocks towards the mountain from the Calle 72 Transmilenio station. The bus’s final destination is Guasca.
  2. Tell the bus driver to leave you at the entrance to Chingaza.
  3. Go up and to the right on the unpaved road where the bus driver drops you off. From here on out you’ll have to walk or hitch a ride.
  4. Stay on the main road for 20.5 kilometers, making sure you pass an enormous abandoned cement factory. There are signs along the road that’ll help you get to Chingaza National Park. If you get lost, ask a local!
  5. Good luck walking!

In a car:

With GPS: use Waze or Google Maps to look up “Centro Administrativo Piedras Gordas PNN Chingaza” and follow the instructions.

Without GPS:

  1. In Bogota, get on the Carrera 7 and head up the mountain on Calle 84. Go north, which is left, on the Circunvalar, or Carrera 1.
  2. A few hundred meters along this road there’s a fork in the road. To the right is a tunnel. Go left instead towards La Calera and stay on this road 18.2 kilometers.
  3. Once you’ve passed La Calera you’ll see a Terpel gas station and the Asader el Rancho de la Gallina restaurant. Close by, there’s a big entrance going up to the right. Go that way.
  4. This entire road is unpaved, but any car can make it through. Stay on the main road 20.5 kilometers, making sure you pass an enormous abandoned cement factory.
  5. There are signs along the road that’ll help you get to Chingaza National Park.

You can access these trails from the Piedras Gordas Visitor Center:

  • Cuchillas de Siecha Trail
  • Lagunas de Buitrago Trail
  • Laguna Seca Trail
  • Suasie Trail
  • Laguna de Chingaza Trail

*a guide is necessary on some of these trails. Visit Corpochingaza’s Facebook page to book a local guide!

Some things to keep in mind:

Entrance fee:

  • Colombian Adults : $14,500 COP or about $5 dollars.
  • Children 5 – 12 years old: $9,000 COP or about $3 dollars.
  • Non-Colombian Adults: $42,000 COP or about $15 dollars.

Parking: $13,000 COP or about $4.5 dollars.

Take some water-proof clothes or a change of clothes in the car in case it rains. And more importantly, don’t decide not to go to Chingaza because it’s cloudy or rainy. Chingaza National Park is even more magical and mysterious when it’s not sunny.

The trail to the Lagunas de Buitrago (lagoons), which is practically an unpaved road, keeps going a while after getting to the lagoons. If you’re feeling adventurous, you can keep going to the end and then follow a smaller trail towards the mountains where the Cuchillas de Siecha are. This less-well known trail meets with the trail that starts at the Visitor’s Center and end in the Cuchillas de Siecha. Judge for yourself – if you’re not very good with directions or for knowing where you are, don’t get off the big path.

What to do in Chingaza:

  • Go up: if you go to the Lagunas de Buitrago you can hike up to the peak that looms over the lagoons. The view from the top is spectacular!
  • Run: a lot of people go to Chingaza to go for a run. Like I’ve said, the trail to the Lagunas de Buitrago is practically an unpaved road and is perfect for trail running. There are sometimes races there too!
  • Get to know the place: as you may have read, there are a lot of trails in Chingaza because it is a huge park. My advice is to stay a few days to get to know all the hikes you can or go back a few times. Since it’s so big, the park has a lot of features that you need to see.
  • Look for animals: there are lots of animals in PNN Chingaza such as the spectacled bear, which can grow up to 2 meters standing on 2 legs, two deer species, and condors. So be on the watch!
  • Take pictures: as always, you gotta take pictures. There’s a different natural beauty around every corner and behind every mountain.

Hope this blog post is helpful, it was our first blog post ever! Check out our About Us page to learn more about our mission!

To learn about another beautiful place near Bogotá, read our post about Pionono Park!

Here’s a video to motivate you to head out to Chingaza!

 

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