Tourism in Cundinamarca and Bogotá

Cundinamarca is the department surrounding Bogotá D.C., the capital of Colombia, and offers one of the most complete tourist combinations in the country: the metropolis of 8 million inhabitants with its world-class museums, the historic La Candelaria neighborhood and the vibrant gastronomic scene, surrounded by an Andean savanna with colonial towns, sacred lagoons, hot springs and hiking routes accessible in less than 2 hours from the capital.

The department has 116 municipalities that include treasures such as the Zipaquirá Salt Cathedral (considered the eighth wonder of the world by some rankings), Guatavita Lake (origin of the El Dorado legend), the town of Villa de Leyva (largest cobblestone square in Colombia) and the Choachí and Sibaté hot springs.

Main Tourist Attractions

Attraction	Type	Description
Bogotá — La Candelaria and Museums	City / Culture / History	Colonial historic center, Gold Museum (the world's largest collection of pre-Hispanic goldwork), Botero Museum, Monserrate, Bolívar Square and Luis Ángel Arango Library.
Zipaquirá Salt Cathedral	Architecture / History	Underground cathedral built inside an active salt mine 180 meters deep. Considered one of the most impressive engineering and art works in Colombia.
Guatavita Lake	History / Nature	Sacred Muisca lagoon, origin of the El Dorado legend. 45-minute trail to the edge of the crater with views of the lake. 75 km from Bogotá.
Villa de Leyva	Heritage Town	Largest cobblestone main square in Colombia (14,000 m²). 16th-century colonial architecture, paleontological museums (plesiosaur fossils), vineyards and artisan market.
Suesca — Rock Climbing	Adventure / Sports	Town 75 km from Bogotá with the best rock climbing walls in the highlands. Over 400 sandstone routes for all levels. Also trekking and camping.
Choachí and Sibaté Hot Springs	Wellness	Thermal waters less than 90 minutes from Bogotá. Choachí (65°C) is the closest hot spring to the capital. Sibaté has thermal sulfur pools.
Tequendama Falls	Nature / History	157-meter waterfall of the Bogotá River at the entrance of the Tequendama canyon, with the historic Tequendama hotel restored as an ecomuseum. 30 km from Bogotá.
Boyacá of Cundinamarca — Independence Route	History / Culture	Northern municipalities related to the 1819 Liberation Campaign: Cucunubá, Lenguazaque and Cucunubá Lake with migratory birds.

Typical Cuisine

Bogotá and Cundinamarca cuisine has influences from across the country since Bogotá is the capital. Typical regional dishes: Ajiaco bogotano (soup with three types of potato, chicken and guasca, considered the national dish), cocido boyacense, papas chorreadas (potatoes in tomato and onion sauce), corn husk tamales and corn chicha. In Bogotá, the G Zone (Gastronomic) and Usaquén neighborhood have the highest concentration of fine dining restaurants.

Adventure and Outdoor Activities

Cundinamarca is the center of highland adventure tourism. Climbing in Suesca (400 routes), paragliding in Chicaque and Chicaque Natural Park (cloud forest 45 minutes from Bogotá). Bogotá Ciclovía (Sundays, 120 km of pedestrian roads). Rafting on the Negro River (La Calera) and downhill in La Calera.

How to Get There

El Dorado (BOG) is the busiest airport in Colombia. Flights to all cities in the country and international connections to Europe, the US and Latin America. Getting around Bogotá: TransMilenio (Bus Rapid Transit), taxi or ride-sharing apps. To municipalities: buses from Bogotá's Transport Terminal (north: Zipaquirá, Guatavita, Suesca; south: Fusagasugá; west: La Mesa, Facatativá).

Where to Stay

In Bogotá: Zona Rosa and Usaquén (north, premium tourist area), La Candelaria (historic center, hostels and boutique hotels), Chapinero (mid-range and well-connected). For getaways: boutique hotels in Villa de Leyva, eco-lodges in Suesca and Guatavita.

Festivities and Events

Rock al Parque (September, free, the largest rock festival in Latin America), Ibero-American Theater Festival (even years, March–April), Bogotá Fashion Week (June).

Also check the climate of Cundinamarca, the list of municipalities of Cundinamarca and the complete guide to Colombian festivities.