Bogota
Colombia Holidays & Tailor-made Tour Itineraries

The picturesque neighbourhood of La Candelaria forms the historic old town of Bogotá, where the Colonial architecture and cobbled streets have survived the rapid expansion of the city. It is home to many government buildings, historic churches and the fascinating Museo del Oro; one of the finest collections of pre-Columbian gold artefacts anywhere in Latin America. Around half a million visitors a year come through the doors here each year, rewarded with a wonderful insight into life in the region before the Spanish arrived.

There are three ways to reach the summit of Cerro Monserrate; most prefer the cable cars or the funicular, but for the more active there is an energy sapping climb up a winding path, one you might just share with pilgrims making the last leg of their journey in defiance of the increasing altitude (which reaches 3,152 metres above sea level). However you get to the top, you'll be rewarded with a breathtaking vista of the city sprawled out below you and surrounded by verdant vegetation, plus the chance to explore the church itself and the shrine to The Fallen Lord and eat at one of two restaurants. One of the defining experiences of your time in Bogotá.

30 miles from Bogotá and easily reached by coach or train is the surreal underground Roman Catholic cathedral of Zipaquirá. Visitors descend some 180 metres below ground to visit the sanctuary, carved into the disused salt mine and featuring a 16 foot high cross behind the altar. The cathedral remains a place of pilgrimage for many Colombians and continues to serve as a functioning place of worship on Sundays.