3 Tours, 3 Different Ways of Seeing Bogota

by  Karen Gardiner | Sep 18, 2014
Bogota
Bogota / Pablo Yendes/iStock

We already covered how you can explore the Colombian capital with a $20 bicycle tour, but that is just one way to see Bogotá. Here are three more tours to sign up for, including one that's completely free.

Free: Walking Tour
Bogota's Tourism Information Point offers free walking tours around the city's historic center, La Candelaria, which retains the narrow streets and colorful architecture of the colonial era. There are two tours per day, departing from the tourist information point on Bolivar Square at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. that last up to two hours. If your Spanish is not up to scratch, you can join an English-language tour on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 2 p.m.. There is a maximum of 20 people allowed on each tour, and to book your spot, you need to contact the Tourism Information Point.

(Almost) Free: Graffiti Tour
The streets of Bogotá are filled with an incredible amount of street art. You'll have no trouble finding pieces to admire while you're wandering through the city, but to really get a sense of their context, you should consider joining a tour with Bogotá Graffiti, led by actual street artists with deep connections to the scene.  The tour (in English) lasts around two hours and meets every morning in Parque de los Periodistas in La Candelaria at 10 a.m.. It runs purely on tips: as a guide, operators recommend giving between 20-30,000 pesos (about $10-15) per person.

Splurge: Food Tour
Bogota Food Tours, led by a local food blogger, offer a choice of two tours. The Chapinero Walking Tour lasts three hours and has five stops including a visit to one of Bogota's oldest restaurants known for its empanadas; a dessert shop that serves oblea (two thin wafers filled with arequipe, a carmel-like spread); and a produce market. The five-hour Paloquemao market and Chapinero tour begins with transportation to the Paloquemao market and a one-hour tour before moving on to the first stop of the Chapinero walking tour. For the three-hour tour the price is $95 if you are traveling alone; $85 each for groups of two to four. For five hours, you'll pay $127 alone; $117 each for two to four people. If that seems a little steep, you can also visit Paloquemao market with Bogota Bike Tours, which only costs 35,000 pesos ($18) for a four-five hour tour.

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