MapVivid
Green Bogotá
A day in Bogotá · 9:30–15:15 · 3 stops
Open it on your phone:
mapvivid.com/bogota/itineraries/simon-bolivar-park-and-botanical-gardenBogotá's green side. On Sundays join the Ciclovía when the avenues close to cars, then walk through Simón Bolívar Park and spend the late morning in the José Celestino Mutis Botanical Garden.
Every stop on Google Maps: open the list
Morning
9:301Ciclovía Sundays ↗30 minGo early
Car-free avenues for biking and skating
- Rent a bike or rollerblades to join in the fun.
- Explore different routes, as the Ciclovía covers many main avenues.
↓ 30 min walk
10:302Simón Bolívar Park ↗1 hWatch your bag
Huge urban park for concerts and recreation
- Enjoy the large green spaces for picnics, jogging, or simply relaxing.
- Rent a paddle boat on the lake for a fun activity.
↓ 18 min walk
11:453Jardín Botánico José Celestino Mutis ↗1 h
Largest botanical garden in Colombia
- Explore the diverse plant collections, including orchids, palms, and medicinal plants.
- Visit the tropical rainforest and páramo ecosystems under glass domes.
↓ 12 min walk
Lunch
↓ 10 min walk
To end the day
Good to know. Times are a guide for an unhurried pace. Check opening days before you go. Picked from well-rated places nearby. We don't take money for listings.
Bogotá tips
Cultural
- Try chocolate con queso: Locals drop chunks of fresh cheese into hot chocolate and eat it with almojábana or pan de bono, a classic afternoon snack in old cafes of La Candelaria.
- Play a game of tejo: Colombia's national sport involves throwing metal pucks at gunpowder targets that bang on impact; many bars in Chapinero and La Candelaria host games with beer.
- Greet before you ask: Bogotanos are formal and polite, so open with buenos días or buenas tardes before any question, and use usted with strangers and older people.
Security
- Guard against scopolamine: Never accept drinks, flyers or cigarettes from strangers, and watch your glass in bars around Zona T and Chapinero, where druggings of tourists have been reported.
- Avoid the paseo millonario: Robberies sometimes start in taxis hailed on the street at night, so book rides through an app or ask your hotel or restaurant to call a registered taxi.
- Keep phones tucked away: Phone snatching is common on TransMilenio, along Carrera Séptima and in La Candelaria after dark, so avoid texting at doors and street corners.
Saving
- Order the corrientazo: Neighbourhood lunch spots serve a set menu of soup, rice, meat, salad and juice on weekday lunchtimes, far cheaper than ordering dishes a la carte.
- Go free at Museo Botero: The Botero Museum in La Candelaria is free to enter, and the nearby Museo del Oro waives its fee on Sundays, so plan museum days around that.
- Join the Sunday Ciclovía: Over 100 km of avenues close to cars on Sundays and holidays, giving you a free day of cycling, skating or people-watching across the city.
Transportation
- Load a TuLlave card: TransMilenio and the blue SITP buses run on the same rechargeable TuLlave card, sold and topped up at station kiosks, so get one on day one.
- Ride TransMilenio off-peak: The red articulated buses on dedicated lanes like Caracas and Calle 26 are fastest mid-morning and early afternoon; rush hours are packed shoulder to shoulder.
- Take the cable car up Monserrate: The teleférico and funicular climb from the station near Universidad de los Andes to the summit church, saving a steep hike at 3,150 metres.
Weather/Clothing
- Dress for eternal spring: Bogotá sits at 2,640 metres and stays cool all year, with mild afternoons and chilly nights, so pack a sweater and a light jacket even in the dry months.
- Expect two rainy seasons: Roughly April to May and October to November bring frequent afternoon downpours, so carry a compact umbrella and wear shoes that cope with puddles.
- Respect the high-altitude sun: UV is strong even on grey days at this height, so wear sunscreen and a hat on Monserrate or during long walks around La Candelaria.
Local Hacks
- Brave Paloquemao early: Arrive at Plaza de Mercado de Paloquemao in the morning for the flower section and stalls of lulo, guanábana and granadilla you can taste before buying.
- Climb Monserrate on foot: Walking the stone path to the summit is a local weekend ritual and good altitude training; go in the morning when the trail is busy and open.
- Check the propina line: Restaurant bills often add a suggested 10 percent voluntary tip; you can accept it or ask to remove it, so read the bill before paying by card.
Planned with MapVivid. Opening hours change, so check each place before you go. This day, with the map: mapvivid.com/bogota/itineraries/simon-bolivar-park-and-botanical-garden
Day 4 of 49:30–15:153 stops
Green Bogotá
Bogotá's green side. On Sundays join the Ciclovía when the avenues close to cars, then walk through Simón Bolívar Park and spend the late morning in the José Celestino Mutis Botanical Garden.
Opens Google Maps with every stop of the day, ready to save to your own list.
Morning
109:30 · 30 minCar-free avenues for biking and skating
- Tip: Go early
4 tips
- Rent a bike or rollerblades to join in the fun.
- Explore different routes, as the Ciclovía covers many main avenues.
- Enjoy the street performers and food vendors along the way.
- Be aware of pedestrians and other cyclists.
📷 Photos
30 min walk
210:30 · 1 hHuge urban park for concerts and recreation
- Tip: Watch your bag
4 tips
- Enjoy the large green spaces for picnics, jogging, or simply relaxing.
- Rent a paddle boat on the lake for a fun activity.
- Check for events or concerts, as the park often hosts them.
- Visit the nearby Salitre Mágico amusement park for thrills.
📷 Photos
18 min walk
311:45 · 1 hLargest botanical garden in Colombia
6 tips
- Explore the diverse plant collections, including orchids, palms, and medicinal plants.
- Visit the tropical rainforest and páramo ecosystems under glass domes.
- Enjoy a peaceful stroll or find a quiet spot for relaxation.
- Check for special events or temporary exhibitions.
- Consider bringing insect repellent, especially during the rainy season.
- Wear comfortable shoes as you'll be doing a lot of walking.
📷 Photos
12 min walk
Lunch
410 min walk
To end the day
5
Take this day with you
Add the stops to your calendar
Times are local time in Bogotá. Apple Calendar adds every stop at once (Outlook too). Google Calendar adds one event per link.
Times are a guide for an unhurried pace. Check opening days before you go. Picked from well-rated places nearby. We don't take money for listings.
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