Suggestions for layover in Bogota

Cynthia of Brazil says on Jan 13, 2006, 15:39:

IS IT WORTH IT?? Our layover is from 10:25 a.m to 9:40 p.m. (11 HOURS! :)

Will it be a huge hassel to get in and out of the airport and would they let us??

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litost says on Jan 13, 2006, 15:56:

I'm sure with such a long layover you'll be able to exit the airport, but for details just ask your airline. It's completely sane and safe to venture out for a few hours in Bogota, my recommendation would be to take one of the official cabs from the airport to the Candelaria (colonial neighborhood) and have a good lunch, stroll around, visit the Botero Museum, have coffee at Juan Valdez shop, etc. All very doable in one afternoon.

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Gator says on Jan 14, 2006, 07:53:

Don't Forget... you will NOT be considered "in transit" because you left the airport and will have to pay the departure tax about $30 USD. I second Sr. Liost's suggestion. Plenty of cabs and only about 15 minutes to La Candelaria district which is well worth the visit.

I called Avianca in Bogotá and was told when a passenger leaves the airport at which they have arrived it is considered a stopover. Yow will have to complete arrival formalities like immigration and customs and when you return to the airport must check in again. In this way, a stopover is different from a stop where the passenger stays 'in transit' and doesn't leave the 'air-side' of the airport.

Of course Avianca does give out the wrong information depending to whom you ask.. The chica said check before you depart to determine what your status is. If DAS says pay the tax before you can leave that's it-you pay.

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

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Gomezman5 says on Jan 14, 2006, 12:39:

And another opinion.....from a voice not heard from too often Stay put!! Just find something to read, and forget about leaving the airport.

Coming from a person who knows Bogota well, I can tell you that all the place mentioned above are nice places to go and visit. Monserate is another one you can add to the list. It is a terrific place to get a higher than birds eye view of the Central area of Bogota. It is breath taking, especially if you are from the US and you are not used to seeing a city in a valley surrounded by a beautiful mountain range. Of course to get a really nice view, you have to go up there on a day when the climate permits you to have such a view. That however does not happen to often.

The above being said, none of these places are truely phenomenal to the extent they will leave you in awe.

My point is, and this is important, how long are you going to remain in Brazil. Bogota is a stop over. If you have a week schedueld for Rio, then you should just stay put and not leave the airport. Bogota, is by mine and most people standards, relatively safe. Yet THINGS HAPPEN. Your taxi can have an accident on the way back to the airport. As someone mentioned earlier, if your Spanish is not so good, and you are touring the central area, you are MUCH more vulnerable to being a victim of a crime, than if were one of the locals. Even if you do speak Spanish, tourists are tourists. And the local bad guys in Bogota know tourists in a milisecond. They stand out. You on the other hand, have no idea what the bad guys look like. Not a clue. The most inocent looking children are some of the worst ones. The central area of
Bogota is loaded with people that are so proficient at ripping you off. They are so good at it, when it happens, you will never even know its happening, and only later (like when you get back to the airport) do you find out that you have been vicitmized.

So, while all the great lovers of Colombia here (of which I am one, but I'm a bit more hones) will do all they can to promote the country, I'll tell you to make a special trip back to Colombia and enjoy her for what she has. But don't leave the airport, and run the risk of possible ruining the main reason you got on a plane to begin with....and that is to go to your final destination....Brazil

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dwmte says on Jan 15, 2006, 04:45:

good advise, marcos... i'll just stay at the airport...

how's the windy city?

douglas

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dspard says on Jan 15, 2006, 05:17:

Exit Tax I had to pay the exit tax in Bogota just recently. If you get to the airport early enough to stand in the separate line for paying the tax, it is $24 per person. But if you are short on time to catch your flight and need expedited service, the tax is $54 per person.

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juanalejo says on Jan 15, 2006, 05:44:

tax Ok dspard, so you know are an expert in Colombia. Wow. So for taxes it works this way: if you enter as a tourist and spend less than 60 days you get an exemption which if you do not claim the exemption receipt as you enter the country you can claim in front of the Iberia counter when you are about to check out. If not you pay the full ammount. People who spend less than 24 hours do not pay this tax. If you are on a late night flight there will be not many people in line, the long line are at the morning rush (6-9) and the afternoon rush (2-5).

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dspard says on Jan 15, 2006, 06:21:

Jeez, Juanalejo, get the chip off your shoulder! Maybe that's how it's supposed to work but I asked about the exemption when we were leaving and we still were required to pay the exit tax. I can't tell you why because I wasn't interested in arguing with Avianca about it. Plus, my post was directed more to the AMOUNT of the tax than to whether any particular person would have to pay it. You don't need to be so hostile over just trying to give the woman some information in response to her question.

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Gator says on Jan 15, 2006, 08:58:

You Are Not Exempt From The Tax,,, if you enter as a tourist and stay less than 60 days. You DO NOT get an exemption but a reduction of the amount of tax due on departure. If I am not mistaken they have done away with the separate exemption and the DAS stamp in your passport takes its place. There is a baggage check on the first floor on the right as you go out exit 7 internation terminal.

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

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litost says on Jan 15, 2006, 13:39:

GIB, what kind of "security reasons" during the week in Monserrate are you talking about? Assuming nobody's talking about going up the mountain by foot, I don't see where the danger would be between going to the station, taking the cable car up to Monserrate, and enjoying the view. Have you heard of something happening up there?

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caslug says on Jan 15, 2006, 14:02:

some airlines incl the exit tax in the ticket price.. some dont, check your airline AND since you're only connecting i doubt your airline paid the COL exit tax. so that means you'll paying $24 per person for a couple hrs excursion. My advice is to stay at the airport unless and schedule a trip to BOG for another time.

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Gator says on Jan 15, 2006, 14:27:

I Doubt It Was.... included in the ticket because they did not plan on stopping in Colombia other than "in transit."

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

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juanalejo says on Jan 15, 2006, 19:07:

litost Ignore GIB he lives in a different country. I go for dinner at least once a month with foreigners there. And those foreigners go on their own to Monserrate during the week, because everybody suggests they should not go during the weekend as it is too crowded. But you know how it goes, GIB probably knows somebody high up in government that told him FARC is going to kidnap tourists during the week up there.

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Canadian says on Jan 15, 2006, 19:47:

Layover I now live in BOG but I have been coming here for a number of years. One time my Brother in Law and I had a Eight Hour layover on a flight from Sao Paulo to Caracas and wanted to go to Salitre Plaza to kill some time, stretch our legs, and get some food.

We simply asked immigration if we could leave, they stamped our boarding cards (Note: get your transit boarding cards before aproaching immigration) and NOT OUR PASSPORTS.

When we came back to the airport we simply went to the immigration queue and presented the boarding pass with the stamp and informed the official what we had done. By getting your boarding card before leaving the transit zone you avoid paying the airport taxes.

Colombians are very accomodating people and I remember well that we paid for Taxis, Food and a few things we bought all in US Dollars as we forgot to change any $$ before leaving the airport.

Also left luggage facilities are near the domestic area of the airport so you can leave your luggage. Taxis are on a coupon basis so you inform the ticket window of your destination, she hands you the coupon with the price. You pay only that price (tips however are appreciated) and you would have to be real wet behind the ears to pay any more.

I now live in Colombia, I brought my wife and daughter and can tell you that Colombia is one of the safest countries in the world. YES THE WORLD!

DETROIT, RIO, CARACAS, NAIROBI, SAO PAULO, LIMA, MEXICO, MIAMI, NEW YORK, PORT OF SPAIN, KINGSTON, MANILA, PAUPA NEW GUINIA, GEORGETOWN,
I could go on and on, BOGOTA is Far Safer than any of the above cities!

Do not let media and government prejudice against this lovely country ever stop you from coming here and seeing for yourself how great a country this is.

One last thing, I use a simple rule ANYWHERE I travel.
Take out on the street with you only what you can afford to loose!

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Gator says on Jan 16, 2006, 06:42:

Thanks, Canadian,... for a breath of fresh air-BUT I think you are fighting a losing battle.

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

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Lucia Rojas says on Jan 17, 2006, 12:09:

Wow Juanalejo? Never been robbed in Monserrate??? Do you fly up there, directly to San Isidro and then fly down?

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