Explore Bogotá’s charming historic centre, vibrant streets and intriguing museums. Check out our blog on the best thing’s to see in Bogotá!
Once you’ve immersed yourself in the city’s rich culture, venture into Bogotá’s picturesque cloud forests, explore the majestic mountains and quaint villages. You can easily get to these places by bus, however if you could rent a car it would allow you to tick off a few of these places in one day.
Lets discover Bogotás top day excursions!
1. Zipaquirá Salt Cathedral
Zipaquirá’s salt mine is so vast it is home to an underground salt Cathedral, this unique architecture is a true wonder. You will get the chance to learn about the history which dates back to pre-Columbian times when the indigenous Muisca people extracted salt from the area.
The guided tour will lead you through the dark, winding mines, Illuminating crosses will light up the tunnels, these crosses symbolise the prayers of miners who worked in the depths of the mines.
The mine site offers a coffee shop, an auditorium and an outdoor rock climbing wall. Zipaquirá’s town is also worth a visit, it has a quaint historical centre and is packed with restaurants and coffee shops.
2. Cascada La Chorrera
Visit Colombia’s tallest waterfall, only 45 minutes from Bogotá. There is a network of hiking trails to reach the waterfall, with breathtaking views of the Andean landscape it’s a must see for nature lovers.
You can find many adventures in La Chorrera park, such as the La Chorrera waterfall and El Chiflon waterfall, ziplining, cave of the monkeys, guided rappeling and canyoning. So take a stroll admist the beautiful mountains or get your heart racing with one of the many adventures.
The park has their own tourism agency, on their website you can see the different options and prices for these activities, check out their website here.
3. Chicaque Natural Park
With over 300 hectares of magical cloud forest Chicaque Natural Park has endless activities to keep you busy, you can zip-line across the forest canopy 100 meters high, or climb a 32m high Ficus tree and be alongside all kinds of birds.
If you would rather stay on ground level, there are many hikes some that take you through oak forests, or you can book a bird watching tour.
4. Discover the Legend of El Dorado at Lake Guatavita
Just an hour away from Bogotá you can discover the famous legend that attracted the Spanish explorers. When the Spanish arrived in South America in the 16th century, they had heard stories about a tribe of natives high in the Andes mountains in what is now Colombia.
They heard tales of ceremonies where a Muisca chief would arrive at the lake on a wooden raft with 4 priests, he would cover himself in gold and he would then immerse himself in the water with handmade golden treasures offered to appease the goddess of water, this is where the legend of El Dorado began.
The Spaniards attempted to drain the lake several times, but they could never find the abundance of gold. You can visit Lake Guatavita to not only feel the enchanting history of the legend of El Dorado, but to be surrounded by beautiful scenery in this nature reserve.
The walk to the lake takes around 30 minutes and you will take in the charming views of the Cundinamarca’s countryside. You can also book a guide to find out more about the history, traditions, ceremonies and the legend of El Dorado!
5. Walk on the edge of Piedra Colgada
This captivating geological formation known as ” hanging stone” is for the thrill seekers who want to get their heart racing. You will be hooked up to a safety harness and you will walk up to the rock’s edge and look down the 600m (1968ft) drop, the endless fields of multiple shades of green may help soothe you.
Take a moment to breath deeply and enjoy the views. The rock is located within a small nature reserve near the town of Susa, the town has an old stone church and small charming streets.
6. Hike the Páramos mountains
The Páramos mountains are responsible for 70% of Colombia’s drinking water, the Páramos are natural sanctuaries and ecosystems, they are protected by the National Natural Parks of Colombia.
There are numerous parks to explore, one of them is Chingaza National Natural Park, the magic of the mountains holds the rich history of the Muiscas and Guayupes, the indigenous peoples who protected this territory.
Today it is home for many species of plants, including the unique Frailejón, these plants have thick leaves covered with soft white hairs, you’ll find an abundance of wildlife, including the Andean bear. So don’t miss out on exploring these enchanting cloud forests and high altitude grasslands!
7. Discover the rocks of Suesca
Suesca is a small quaint town, it’s known for its pre- Colombian history, the rock shelters formed the perfect shelter for semi nomadic hunter gatherers. Before the Spanish conquest, Suesca was a part of the Muisca confederation.
The village stands close to the sacred Lake Guatavita and many rituals were held at it’s own Lake Suesca. In 1602, in a cave in Suesca 150 Muisca mummies were discovered, and rock art had also been found.
Suesca is rich in history but that’s not what draws in tourists, it’s the 3km stretch of cliffs just south of the town, Rocas de Suesca. It attracts rock climbers from all over the world, although rock climbing is not the only activity available, you can abseil, bungee jump, mountain bike and hike.
8. Adventures in Tobia
A little less known town in Colombia, Tobia is known for its outdoor adventure activities. Usually San Gil is the go to place, but with an 8 hour drive it’s not always doable, only a 2 hour drive from Bogotá, Tobia is an excellent option for those adventure seekers.
Leaving Bogota’s 2,625 meter altitude and arriving at 650 meters means for a much warmer climate, you’ll be met with average temperatures of 25ºC.
Tobia is renowned for its thrilling rafting experience, the river Rio Negro offers different levels suitable for beginners and experienced rafters. The lush landscape around Tobia is perfect for Canopy tours, Zip-lining through the forest canopy allows you to enjoy the scenic views whilst getting your adrenaline fix!
The fun doesn’t stop there, you can go rock climbing or even caving, there’s natural pools and waterfalls to explore, the list is endless for adventures in Tobia! You can book either pre book or grab a tour when you arrive in Tobia, if you do decide to spend the night there’s plenty of options.