Head up to Monserrate

Monserrate is the guardian of the Colombian capital. This hill located in the chain of eastern mountains covering the city, rising to a height of 10,335 feet above sea level, is a site of religious pilgrimage to the Basilica of the Lord of Monserrate. It is also a must-see, for it provides a privileged viewpoint with a panoramic view of the city. It’s also a space where you can buy handicrafts and enjoy the city’s iconic restaurants.

Live the Bogotá nightlife

If there’s anything that characterizes Latinos, and Colombians especially, it’s their passion for dancing. In Bogotá you live the party intensely, and although closing time is set at 3 in the morning, nothing stops the locals from enjoying a good spree. The range of bars, pubs and discos is huge: you can choose from big electronic clubs, to theme bars that honor classical rhythms like cumbia and vallenato. Don’t miss the chance to go out dancing to salsa or any of the other tropical rhythms the city has to offer.

Tour La Candelaria

Get your camera ready to take home the memories of everything you’ll discover. La Candelaria is the city’s historical center, where you’ll find a testimony to the history of the city in its colonial and republican buildings. The culture you’ll enjoy in this part of the city includes more than 500 public spaces, between its museums, theaters, universities and libraries. You can also find restaurants of great renown in this part of the city, along with clubs and spaces where the bohemian life is lived intensely.

Party in the Zona Rosa 

Located in the north side of the city, you’ll find everything you might need in the Zona Rosa: the best clothing stores, malls, a gastronomical center, bars and clubs. This part of the city is popular with tourists for its wide range of offers. Blend with locals while you enjoy an authentic Colombian café. Walk through the Zona T, an intersection where you’ll find some of the city’s best restaurants and bars.

A dish

Ajiaco santafereño

This is perhaps Bogotá’s signature dish. You can’t say you’ve visited the Colombian capital if you haven’t tried this potato-based soup. Perfect for cold days, this recipe is beloved by Colombians, and you will undoubtedly turn into a fan of this dish, the result of a mix between the indigenous and Spanish cultures from the colonial era. To give you an idea, it is a thick soup with a base of three potatoes, local spices, chicken, capers and cream. A soul-soothing delicacy that you’ll never forget.

A place

Plaza de Paloquemao

Colombia is one of the most biodiverse countries on the planet, and this makes the local pantry incredibly varied. That’s why it’s essential to visit the market square of Paloquemao, where you can sample and get to know an incredible number of fruits and vegetables, besides eating the typical delicacies in the restaurants you’ll find there. If you’re going to visit the plaza, it’s best to show up early; life starts very early here, so breakfast is the perfect plan.

A cook

Leonor Espinosa

She is one of the country’s most noteworthy chefs. Her gastronomic offering spans through all the country’s flavors, which she’s based on research into the most traditional cuisines. In her restaurant, located in the city’s center, the perfect plan is to sample the seasonal tasting menu, where the flavors on offer from the chef will take you on a trip through the country’s culinary identity. To give you an idea of Leonor’s fame, she has received recognition as being the best chef on the list of Latin America’s 50 Best. Visiting her is a must-do in Bogotá.

A recipe

Santa Fe Hot Chocolate

If you’re not Colombian, you’ll surely be surprised by the way Colombians take their hot chocolate. If you’re a local, you’re undoubtedly hooked. In any case, we’ll give you the recipe so you can enjoy this drinkable delicacy:

    Ingredients

• 4 ½ cups of whole milk
• 2 ½ tablespoons of sugar, or to taste
• ¼ teaspoon of ground cinnamon
• 3 aromatic cloves
• 5 ounces of sweet chocolate, diced

    Directions:

1. Boil the milk with the cinnamon and cloves.
2. When the milk is boiling, add the chocolate and beat until dissolved.
3. Add the sugar and beat until foam forms.
4. Reheat and serve immediately.
5. Pair with fresh cheese (you can dunk the cheese in the hot chocolate).
6. Enjoy!

An event

Alimentarte

Every August, in El Virrey Park, more than one hundred restaurants gather for the city’s most important food festival. Over two weekends, the local establishments offer the best of their menus for the enjoyment of locals and tourists, and during the week, they hold academic sessions with national and foreign guest chefs. Best of all, when you take part in this event, you’re contributing to a social cause, since part of the income is allocated to a non-profit foundation.