Bogotá
Basic information
During the last decade, Colombia has undergone a major transformation as a result of the Government’s efforts to make Colombia a safer place to visit and to build a stronger economy, and the tourism has boomed and foreign investment in Colombia has risen substantially. This explains why the motto of the country’s image campaign is, “Colombia: the only risk is that you’ll want to stay”.
The country’s capital, Bogotá, is its geographic, political, economic and cultural center. It is also hosts hundreds of multinational companies that have led Colombia on its economic growth path.
Bogotá is a bustling and cosmopolitan city, always open and kind to visitors. It offers a great variety of tourist sites that cater to many different interests from historic and cultural museums, churches, and monuments, to the arts with its theaters, concert halls, and galleries, to a wide variety of excellent restaurants and shopping malls.
General Information
- Bogotá: Capital of the Republic
- Founded: Bogotá was founded on the 6th of August 1538 by Gonzalo Jiménez de Quesada
- Language: Spanish
- Currency: Colombian peso (average: 1 dollar = $3.800 pesos)
- Altitude: 2,640 m.a.s.l. (8,692 feet)
- Temperature: 10º C - (50º F) to 18º C - (64º F)
- Population: 7,000,000
Location
Bogotá is the geographic center of Colombia, in the northern tip of South America. Set in the highest plateau of the Andean ranges, the city is 2,600 meters above sea level. This altitude, combined with the richness of the soil and the bright sun of the tropics, make the Bogotá area an ideal place to grow a large variety of flowers.
Climate
There are no seasons in Bogotá; its climate is fall-like all year-round with temperatures between 10º C – (50º F) to 18º C – (64º F). The city only has a rainy and a dry season.
Dress code
There are no seasons in Bogotá; its climate is fall-like all year-round with temperatures between 10º C – (50º F) to 18º C – (64º F). The city only has a rainy and a dry season.
Electricity
AC power sockets in Colombia are the same as in North America, for plugs with two flat parallel blades. Voltage is 110.
Visas
Find out with your travel agent whether you will need a visa to enter Colombia. Visit the attached web site for more information. www.cancilleria.gov.co
Communications
It is easy to access domestic and international phone lines and the Internet. Most hotels and cafes offer wireless access, and payphones take local currency or phone cards that can be purchased in many locations. Most Blackberry’s work on in Colombia, but it is recommended that you contact your cellular carrier before you arrive to validate your plan.
- For domestic calls: Dial 05; 07; or 09 + city code followed by number
- For international calls: Dial 005; 007; or 009 + country code, followed by area code and number
Transport
Bogotá has a good public transportation system. The city offers yellow taxi cab service, which has thousands of cars available throughout the city. Though any cab can take you to any part of the city, as in any large city, it is advisable to have the cab service ordered by phone or by your hotel, rather than to flag them down in the street.
Taxi cabs display an ID number for the vehicle and a list of fees in Colombian pesos that corresponds to the number of units the meter displays. Units represent the distance driven, not the money owed to the driver. The total fee is displayed in the list, depending on the number of units shown in the meter.
Taxis must be paid for in local currency, so it is advisable to exchange foreign currency for pesos in your hotel, a bank or in an authorized currency exchange office before you go out. During Proflora there will be a free scheduled bus service between the host hotels and the Corferias exhibition center.
Apps: Uber – Cabify
How to get there
Bogotá has a modern airport with flights arriving directly from the following cities: New York, Washington, Los Angeles, Miami, Houston, Mexico City, Panama City, San José, Madrid, Paris, Barcelona, Quito, Buenos Aires, Sao Paulo and Santiago de Chile, which makes it easy for the city to receive visitors from the five continents.
History
Bogotá was founded on the 6th of August 1538 by Spanish conqueror Gonzalo Jiménez de Quesada. With a rich history and deep traditions, Bogotá has been referred to as the Athens of South America. The city is the microcosm of the Colombia and hosts an impressive number of international companies.
Bars and restaurants
Bogotá Bogotá has several entertainment areas and offers a wide range of international bars and restaurants. The main sites to visit are the so-called Zona T, located in the northern part of the city, near the Andino, El Retiro and Atlantis shopping malls. It is one of the most exclusive areas, with several notable bars and restaurants.
The Parque de la 93 also has some of the best bars and restaurants in the city, offering seafood and international cuisine. Lovers of Japanese food will find wonderful restaurants in the area. Finally, the Parque de Usaquén and the Zona G also offer elite restaurants and bars.
Check: www.eventsite.com.co
Tourist attractions
To appreciate the origins and history of the capital of Colombia, you must start in La Candelaria, Bogotá’s historical center. La Candelaria offers a place to relax and stroll peacefully amid the hustle and bustle of our cosmopolitan city.. This colonial area, the original center around which Bogotá expanded, has witnessed many historical events and changes, as the variety of its architecture demonstrates.
Bogotá also has many places of tourist interest, such as the The Gold Museum, the most important of its kind in the world, containing more than 33,000 gold objects. The artifacts on display reflect the genius and artistry of the pre-Colombian societies that created them many centuries ago, before the arrival of the Spaniards. The Gold Museum is located in the historic area known as La Candelaria, in the city center, and it is a must for visitors.
The Monserrate Sanctuary is located on one of the hills that surround the city. It has spectacular views and may be reached by cable car or funicular.
In The Cathedral of Salt of Zipaquira (Cathedral de Sal Zipaquira) you can follow the stages of Christ on an underground walkway on your journey to Zipaquira. This cathedral honors the path Christ traveled on his way to His final crucifixion. This truly wondrous construction was developed with precise ingenuity and unconditional spirituality. Enjoy the artistic impression, and experience one of Colombia’s most famous man-made wonders. In a country as beautiful as it, Colombia honors its heritage and faith with this divinely inspiring and brilliant tribute to sacrifice and worship.
