Bogota - Day Trip Ideas

mariacvetanoski says on Jul 7, 2008, 10:18:

CHECK OUT SPIRIT THEY FLY OUT OF MIAMI OR FORT LAUDERDALE, FL VERY CHEAP SPIRIT.COM

Save the street children of Colombia Now!!

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ColombianoGringo says on Jul 7, 2008, 10:20:

Guatavita is nice and a lot closer than Villa de Leyva. It isn't quite the same, but still a nice Colonial era town.

Chinauta Resort is near Fusa and is supposed to have some nice pools and a small waterpark.

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aztec says on Jul 7, 2008, 10:21:

I will bet you can find a wealth of information on this site if you use the search function.

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Portena says on Jul 7, 2008, 10:47:

I vote for Villa de Leyva. An authentic colonial town. There was a hotel there with infinity pools, a gym, massages, restaurants, a bar, horseback riding, and nature hikes. I've never stayed there, but read about it on another traveler's blog. I think it was Du ruelo? But not sure. Maybe someone else here has some more info.

I feel better! I can smile at it now, I feel better. Ohhhh, better! Gnarls Barkley

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beisbollover says on Jul 7, 2008, 11:06:

Guatavita......

Not only a nice town, with a history unlike any other town in Colombia let alone the world. But also, near by lake which is considered El Dorado. If you learn a little about the lake of Guatavita you'll want to go see it.

Also, there is a great salt mine in Nemocon.

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Tolú says on Jul 7, 2008, 11:12:

A true day trip shouldn't require a plane. Maybe try the tourist train to Zipaquirá? That's the quintessential excursion from Bogotá

http://www.independent.co.uk/travel/americas/on-board-colombias-last-p...

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Tinto (Moderator) says on Jul 7, 2008, 11:43:

Please correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't Guatavita the "new" Guatavita? I believe the original town was submerged when a dam was built so the colonial town you may be visiting is a modern replica.

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ColombianoGringo says on Jul 7, 2008, 11:45:

Why is it that these two sentences seem incongruous?

"I vote for Villa de Leyva. An authentic colonial town."

"There was a hotel there with infinity pools..."

Those conquistadors loved their infinity pools. ;)

Villa de Leyva seems great, but it is not exactly close to Bogota for a day trip. I think you would want to spend the night.

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jonotdaavg says on Jul 7, 2008, 13:16:

haha.. thanks for all the comments!

I actually got an incredible deal on the Miami-Bogota tickets.. $254 (including taxes).. non-stop flight on American Airlines.. I never thought tickets to Colombia could be sooo cheap.. so I'm happy on that end..

I will look into Villa de Leyva.. I've been there once before..

Any suggestions about how to get there? take a bus? if so, any bus companies I can find online? or should we rent a car? is it safe to travel by car if you're not familiar with the area?

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ColombianoGringo says on Jul 7, 2008, 13:29:

Don't discount Guatavita, especially if you've already been to Villa de Leyva.

http://flickr.com/search/show/?q=guatavita&ss=2

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jonotdaavg says on Jul 7, 2008, 13:37:

I have not discounted Guatavita.. i'm actually thinking of doing various day trips around Bogota.. instead of one 3-4 night trip..

by the way, those pictures are breath-taking.. but once again I ask.. best way to get there?

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ColombianoGringo says on Jul 7, 2008, 13:55:

I've always just caught a ride with friends or relatives. It is fairly close to Bogota, so I suppose a bus would work as well. However, I am not sure about service timetables.

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jonotdaavg says on Jul 7, 2008, 14:29:

Thanks for the input!! :)

i actually just read another post about renting a car in Bogota.. sounds like a nightmare..

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jonas says on Jul 7, 2008, 15:16:

The shortest travel for a nice day trip should be Choachi. It's under an hour on a little Mercedes Bus or you could take a taxi. Termales (hot swimming pool), much warmer than Bogota since it is located in a "whole" behind Monserrate. For food rabbit is the town's specialty. A very enjoyable daytrip with things to do, your boyfriend gets a look at what rural towns in Colombia look like and it is so close bye.

What I have, I do not want to lose, but Where I am I do not want to stay, but those I love, I do not want to leave, but those I know I no longer want to see, but Where I die, I do not want to go;I want to stay where I have never been

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billyb says on Jul 7, 2008, 15:42:

If i had to pick just one and had not been to any of them, it would be Villa de Leyva. BTW, there used to be(or still is) a hotle there called the Mesopotamia, but the link I have for it is now dead. Does anybody have any recent info on this hotel, maybe a new link? Thanks.

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Portena says on Jul 7, 2008, 17:33:

Yes, ColombianoGringo, those conquistadors did love their infinity pools. ;)

The hotel is on a hill overlooking Villa de Leyva and blends right in. I'm glad I visited Guatavita, but I just didn't find it that interesting. Maybe I missed something?? I was there about an hour.

The view of the lake is beautiful. The bullring is worthy of a photo. I saw one restaurant, and purchased some items at the gift shop there.

I feel better! I can smile at it now, I feel better. Ohhhh, better! Gnarls Barkley

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adrimm says on Jul 7, 2008, 17:47:

Zipaquira & Guatavita are doable day trips, Villa de Leyva is an overnighter (at least), but well worth it - I agree with billyb that it would be most worth it.

There is a very reasonably priced & nice family-run hotel a couple of blocks up from the central plaza called "Don Paulino's"

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ColombianoGringo says on Jul 7, 2008, 17:55:

Portena, I think a trip to Villa de Leyva would be great, but it would need to be an overnighter. If he has the time, he shouldn't miss it.

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Gator says on Jul 7, 2008, 18:39:

I would go with adrimm's post

"Credidi pretio parvo emere et magno vendere tibi in animo fuisse!" .

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jonotdaavg says on Jul 7, 2008, 19:01:

we have time.. we're going to be in Bogota for 7 days.. i figured 4 days in Bogota with the Family and checking out the Bogota "must-sees".. and 3 days to explore the surrounding areas.. i know it rains a lot in November and it can be chilly.. so i wanted to make sure to include stuff in "tierra caliente" as well..

so Guatavita, Villa del Leyva and Zipaquira may be doable..

Thanks so much for the info.. but one more question.. what is the ticketmaster equivalent in colombia? Also,want to see if there are any good concerts or sporting events while we're there that may be worth seeing..

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Gator says on Jul 7, 2008, 19:51:

Google El Tiempo, the principal newspaper. Look the bottom of the page and there is usually a listing. also try this link: http://www.eltiempo.com/culturayocio/home/index.html

"Credidi pretio parvo emere et magno vendere tibi in animo fuisse!" .

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Manolo58 says on Jul 7, 2008, 20:19:

Here is a hotel in Villa de Leyva which is extremely nice and customer service is excellent.
Hotel Duruelo is the placeto stay at to be pampered and inspired by the scenery and surrounding gardens of peace and tranquility....If you want peace and quiet and relaxation this is the place.

http://www.duruelo.com.co/duruelo/index.php....

villa de Leyva is a small quaint town with great people and many restaurants and artist galleries to visit while there....have fun and let us know how it went

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christobeldawg says on Jul 7, 2008, 21:07:

Col.Gringo those are some great photos of Guatavita. I may check that out myself soon. So BillyB, is Villa de Leyva definitely worth a weekend getaway, and what is the best way to get there? I could fly to Cartagena for what one driver quoted me to drive me to and from Villa de Leyva.

admittedly, arriving can feel great too

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jonotdaavg says on Jul 7, 2008, 21:22:

thanks for the links!!

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ColombianoGringo says on Jul 7, 2008, 21:46:

Cdawg, I can't claim credit for those great pics. That is simply a search results slideshow in Flickr. I've always liked Guatavita since I first went there as a kid.

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latingirl says on Jul 7, 2008, 21:53:

How about los Llanos Orientales? Villavicencio in Meta is awesome from what I hear

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christobeldawg says on Jul 7, 2008, 22:01:

never heard of it. how ya been neighbor?

admittedly, arriving can feel great too

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adrimm says on Jul 7, 2008, 22:39:

Hospedería Don Paulino de Villa de Leyva
Calle 14 no 7 46
7321227

It's a traditional large casona run by a retired school teacher & principal. We paid 39,000 COP for a 3 bed room with a bathroom across the hall.. can't beat the prices for what you get in Villa de Leyva (we were quoted 90,000 COP for the three other placed we looked at. One other place was 160,000 COP per room!)

Villa de Leyva has alot of more contemporary artisan products for sale. There is also a small monastary & cloister near Don Paulino's that has bar none one of the most charming chapels I have ever been to. I think it is only open on Sundays.

A nearby side trip from Villa de Leyva- easily done if you are planning 2 nights in Villa de Leyva is to a very small town called Raquira which has the most mind-boggling selection of traditional artisan products for sale at far better prices than Bogota. I bought melon-seed necklaces there and a carved tagua nativity set.

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Portena says on Jul 8, 2008, 19:53:

Manolo58, thanks for that link! That's the hotel I was pointing out, but I couldn't find the website. Also thought it was Du Ruelo. Anyway, there is a great virtual tour on the website.

I feel better! I can smile at it now, I feel better. Ohhhh, better! Gnarls Barkley

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Marielle says on Jul 9, 2008, 09:13:

i don't think anyone has answered the question about transportation yet..
you can get to all three places easily by bus from the portal norte transmilenio station (the end of the line on any of the 'B' buses). i wouldn't know how to contact any of the bus companies in advance, but there are always lots of buses leaving all day long. there are limited direct buses to villa de leyva, but you can always get a bus to tunja, and from there there are plenty leaving for villa. in my experience (travelling to villa and zipaquira) it's perfectly safe going by car too.
i can second that raquira is a nice day trip from villa de leyva. it's very small so you don't need much time there, but you can also visit a nice monastery called la candelaria outside the town, a visit which takes at most a couple of hours.

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jonas says on Jul 9, 2008, 13:47:

Tobia is a great daytrip. Lot's of activities from rafting to canyoning, abseiling etc....
Close to Villeta which is also nice. Warm climate.

What I have, I do not want to lose, but Where I am I do not want to stay, but those I love, I do not want to leave, but those I know I no longer want to see, but Where I die, I do not want to go;I want to stay where I have never been

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adrimm says on Jul 17, 2008, 22:26:

Villa de Leyva Fotos:

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