Some kids get annoyed when their parents track their location, but as a 27-year-old frequent solo traveler, I consider it a blessing.
26.09.2023 - 15:25 / lonelyplanet.com
With its cobbled historic downtown, fascinating museums and lively dining and bar scene, Bogotá can keep you busy for days. After you’ve made the most of the city’s cultural and historical experiences, consider a day trip to Bogotá’s lush and evergreen hinterland, where you’ll find misty cloud forests, quaint towns, striking mountains and lots of outdoor activities. Most of these places can be reached on a bus, but if you rent a car, you might be able to combine a few of them into a one – or two – day trip.
Here are the best short escapes from Bogotá.
Travel time: 1 hour 30 mins
Zipaquira is home to one of Colombia’s architectural wonders: a cathedral built in one of the chambers of its massive salt mine, 90m (295 ft) underground.
It is an imposing site, which will also give you a chance to learn about the history of salt mining – and why a church was built here in the first place – as you follow a guided tour that snakes down the mine’s corridors. At the bottom, there are coffee shops, a spa and additional activities, such as a tour where you can swing a pickaxe at the walls to “mine” your own salt.
Also, make sure not to miss Zipaquira’s picturesque historical center, which is packed with restaurants and coffee shops in its colonial-era streets. Try local craft beers at the Pie de Cumbre Pub, or stop by Labriego for a modern take on Colombian food.
How to get to Zipaquira from Bogotá: Hop on the city’s rapid bus system, the Transmilenio, and get off at the Portal del Norte Station. From there, you can take an intermunicipal bus to Zipaquira and then a taxi to the salt mine, which is on a hill above the town. On weekends, a tourist train is also available, leaving from the Usaquen station on Avenida 9 with Calle 110. Check out the turistren website for schedules and ticket prices.
Travel time: 1 hour 30 mins
One of Colombia’s best hikes is in La Chorrera Park, a community-run nature reserve that houses a spectacular waterfall with a 590m (1900 ft) drop. Getting to the base of the waterfall is half of the fun and involves trekking through bright green farmland and a misty cloud forest with a detour that will take you past a smaller waterfall.
The entire circuit takes about three hours to complete and is best done on weekdays when there are fewer visitors from Bogotá. You can also combine the La Chorrera trek with a visit to nearby Choachi, which has two hot springs and a 50-year-old Swiss restaurant that serves hearty fare. For further relaxation, spend the night at one of the glamping sites in the mountains around Choachi.
How to get to La Chorrera from Bogotá: Take a bus to Choachi from Transoriente, located con Calle 6 with Carrera 15, or from Transfomeque, which is on the same block. Tell the bus
Some kids get annoyed when their parents track their location, but as a 27-year-old frequent solo traveler, I consider it a blessing.
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