Best of Bogotá: Culture, Cuisine & Countryside - 8 Days

Day 1: Arrive in Bogotá, Dinner at Crepes & Waffles Artesano Rosales

Welcome to Colombia! Your trip starts in the capital of Bogotá, nestled in the Andes mountains at an impressive 8,660 feet (2,640 m). Colombia's largest city has culture to spare, and its regional gastronomy has made it a global foodie destination.

You'll have ample free time to explore this Andean capital on foot. Start with the cobblestone streets of La Candelaria neighborhood, where trendy restaurants and colonial-era landmarks are located. You'll also find excellent museums, shopping, and street food ranging from empanadas to exotic fruit salads. Later, get ready for dinner at Crepes & Waffles Artesano Rosales, a casual local favorite known for its crêpes, salads, and pitas.

Day 2: Highlights of Bogotá City Tour with Cerro Monserrate, Dinner at Tierra

Bogotá is fast becoming a prime destination for foodies, and ground zero for all the fresh produce and culinary staples here is Mercado Paloquemao. Taking up an entire city block, this massive municipal market supplies the produce and ingredients for many of the top restaurants in the city. Along with a guide, you'll browse the labyrinthine maze of food stalls and produce vendors, meet local purveyors, and sample an array of exotic fruits like guayaba (guava), lulo (little orange), carambola (star fruit), and maracuyá (passion fruit).

After lunch, return to the historic La Candelaria neighborhood. First up is the Museo d'Oro (Gold Museum). One of the finest museums in South America, it holds over 34,000 pre-Columbian gold artifacts. Continue to the Museo de Botero, which features over 200 works donated by sculptor/painter Fernando Botero. Wind up at nearby Plaza Bolívar, the expansive central square where the city was founded in 1538. It's home to the Parliament, Supreme Court, and the 19th-century Catedral Primada de Colombia. 

Next, take a scenic cable car ride up Cerro Monserrate, an iconic mountain that rises 10,170 feet (3,100 m) above sea level. At the top, enjoy panoramic views of the city sprawling beneath you and the surrounding Andes. You'll also find a charming plaza with restaurants and souvenir shops, as well as the Monserrate Sanctuary. Spend some time absorbing the views, then, in the evening, you have a table reserved for dinner at Tierra, an excellent Peruvian and Latin American restaurant with a great ambience and fabulous food.

Day 3: Coffee Finca Day Trip, Dinner at Elcielo

Wake up early and head out on a day trip to explore the coffee culture of Colombia. You'll be visiting a typical Colombian coffee finca (farm), where a local farmer and his family produce their own brand of coffee. On a tour of the farm, you'll have the opportunity to learn about the process of this delicious drink, from the bean to the cup.

Before lunch, stroll through the fields, observing how coffee beans are grown and collected. Once you've worked up an appetite, you'll have a traditional local lunch representative of what farmers usually eat during long days of labor. Afterward, you'll get an insight into the best ways to prepare coffee and a scenic ride through the beautiful landscapes. However, the most rewarding part of the experience is getting an inside look into the daily life of Colombian coffee farmers and producers.

You'll return to Bogotá in the evening for dinner at Elcielo. This famous restaurant made its mark with a molecular gastronomy approach to transforming local ingredients into artistic dishes.

Day 4: Day Trip to Zipaquirá & Guatavita, Dinner at Andrés Carne de Res

Head out of Bogotá with your driver today to visit the pretty colonial town of Zipaquirá. The road there takes you through the Andes, presenting views of green mountains and deep valleys at every twist and turn. Once you arrive, you'll see Zipaquirá's blue and white houses congregating around the central plaza, dominated by a beautiful church: a perfect representation of the typical structure of colonial towns in Colombia.

Besides its distinctive historic charm, Zipaquirá is famous for its underground Salt Cathedral. Miners carried out this feat of engineering to demonstrate their devotion to God. The cathedral has lit sculptures representing the twelve stations of the cross and an impressive cavelike altar. Your local tour guide will take you through the tunnels of this place of worship and explain the history that lies deep within the ground.

After touring Zipaquirá, you'll stop at Guatavita, a sacred lake once used by the Indigenous Muisca people to initiate their new caciques (chiefs). Their tradition of dumping gold in the lake during this ritual is what convinced the Spanish that Guatavita might be the legendary El Dorado. Then, stop at Andrés Carne de Res in Chía on your way back to Bogotá. One of Colombia's most famous restaurants, Andrés offers excellent Colombian food with a particular emphasis on steak, as well as a lively atmosphere and music.

Day 5: Bogotá Street Art Tour, Local Tejo Game, Dinner at El Chato

This morning, you'll meet up with a guide for a walking tour of the city's colorful street art. Focusing primarily on the bohemian La Candelaria neighborhood, you'll witness some of the finest street art on the continent—seemingly around every corner. The scene here is distinct in that, besides local artists, people come from around the world to paint beautiful murals and images on La Candelaria's historic buildings.

Later, you'll learn the art of tejo (air bowling), Colombia's national sport. This traditional Colombian game is also about meeting friends and enjoying music, food, and beers. You'll learn to play, make new friends, and enjoy empanadas. Then, get ready for a swanky culinary experience at El Chato, one of the best restaurants in South America. Located in the trendy Chapinero neighborhood, chef Alvaro Clavijo serves a gourmet menu celebrating locally sourced produce.

Day 7: Market, Coffee Tasting & Chocolate Workshop in Usaquén, Lunch at Abasto

In the morning, transfer to the northern outskirts of the city to the historic Usaquén. This old neighborhood was once a township (later incorporated into Bogotá) with many well-preserved colonial churches and plazas. After a walking tour, browse the famous flea market for trinkets before heading to a chocolate workshop where a local artisan will teach you how to make tasty confections. An added treat is a 45-minute coffee tasting to sample some of Colombia's finest brews. Then, head to the nearby restaurant of Abasto, one of Usaquén's best eateries, for a late lunch.