Cundinamarca is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful regions of Colombia, mainly because of its landscapes, biodiversity, climate and the friendliness of its inhabitants. The territory represents some 2% of Colombia's total surface area with almost 8.5 million inhabitants, or nearly 25% of the population. There are 115 municipalities scattered over a mountainous territory criss-crossed by the eastern cordillera, some of which peaks reach more than 4000m high, including El Nevado with a height of 4560m. Sabana, for its part, is on average about 2600m above sea level.
Sabana is considered to be the garden of Santafé de Bogotá, if not all of Colombia. In addition to flowers, coffee, maize, plantain bananas, sugar cane, potatoes, barley, wheat, cassava, cotton, beans, tomatoes, beans, etc. are grown there. There are coal, iron, sulphur, emerald, lead, zinc and salt mines. Santafe de Bogota Colombia's capital, Bogotá, has a population of nearly 7 million. Perched at about 2680m above sea level in the middle of a huge fertile plateau - the savannah (sabana) of the Eastern Cordillera - Santafé de Bogotá is surrounded by high mountains, the Monserrate (3200m above sea level) and the Guadalupe (3320m).
Bogotá is also the seat of the executive, legislative and judicial government of Colombia. Located at high altitude, Santafé de Bogotá has an average climate of 12°C to 14°C, with peaks of 22°C to 24°C during the day in the sun, and radical falls at 6°C or 4°C in the evening, which is relatively cold. For a better comfort, it is therefore necessary to choose hotels that offer central heating. The geographical position and altitude of the city gives it a climate rarely very hot (24°C maximum), the nights can be quite cool. Temperatures are equal almost all year round, rainfall is less between June and September and between December and March, which are the best periods to book a flight from Paris to Bogota. A stay in Bogota is a unique opportunity to discover the wealth and many assets of the city, but also of the Cundinamarca region, considered one of the most beautiful in the country.
To visit in Bogota:
The city centre and the Candelaria are the most interesting areas for tourist attractions. As these two neighbourhoods are adjacent to each other, it is easy to walk from one site to another.
The Candelaria is an important tourist attraction. It is a historic district located in the heart of the city that was preserved from destruction during La Violencia. Today it is the most beautiful district of Bogotá with its balcony houses often renovated by artists and its colonial buildings converted into museums.
Planted in the heart of the Monserrate mountains, the Candelaria is an oasis of tranquillity with its narrow streets.
Bolívar Plaza is one of the most famous plazas in the city and even in the country because of its historical past. From the earliest times of conquest, masses were celebrated there as well as sumptuous festivals, bullfights and markets. It was a lawsuit. They hanged and whipped criminals.
The Avenida Jiménez is an attraction in itself, the esmeralderos. Emerald merchants discuss with potential buyers and even with passers-by from 8am until 5pm or 6pm to sell their merchandise, rough stones of all sizes not yet cut and a green to dream of... All this merchant in the middle of the street is completely legal, the police are omnipresent.
Santafé de Bogotá is a city turned towards tourism and, in addition to the Candelaria, which presents itself as an open-air museum, you can visit about fifty museums. Including, among others, the Museo del Oro, which gathers more than 36,000 remains, thousands of gold objects of all kinds: jewellery, masks, statuettes, crockery and other pieces, as well as pottery and textiles presented and classified according to the different indigenous cultures.
Transportation and travel in Bogota
Public transport in the city is quite efficient; the bus network makes it possible to get to the main tourist places quickly. The most modern are those of the TransMileno. On Sundays, the main roads of the centre are closed for pedestrians and cyclists to enjoy.
Outings in Bogota
You will have the opportunity to meet a large number of overnight establishments in the district of the park Noventa y Tres, however the city is not considered as very festive, bars and discotheques close relatively early. On the other hand, Bogota has good infrastructure such as cinemas, theatres and concert halls. An unusual evening? Take a Chiva bus, a mobile bar that runs through the bustling streets of the city.
