Colombia · City Tours

9-Hour Bogotá Sightseeing Tour with Monserrate and El Dorado

9 Hours Round trip from Cra. 5 # 16-01 Hard pace

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The journey

Trip highlights

01 Explore the legend of El Dorado and its influence on Santa Fe de Bogotá
02 Discover colonial architecture and the history of the New Kingdom of Granada
03 Visit Monserrate for breathtaking city views at 3,170 meters above sea level
04 Experience local cuisine, including Ajiaco Santafereño and exotic fruit tastings

On this enriching tour, delve into the legend of El Dorado that shaped Bogotá's history and culture. Stroll through the city's colonial heart and discover its Spanish colonial roots as they transition into modern Colombian identity. Marvel at churches with altars gilded in 24-carat gold, the stunning monstrance "La Lechuga" with 1,400 emeralds, and the vast Gold Museum collection. Savor local delicacies such as coca tea and ajiaco, and visit Monserrate for panoramic views surrounded by stunning natural beauty.

On this enriching tour, delve into the legend of El Dorado that shaped Bogotá's history and culture.

From the itinerary

At a glance

What this trip includes

Duration 9 Hours

Tour type Shared

Activity level Hard

Accommodation Not included

Transport Included

Wheelchair access No

Languages English, Spanish

Day by day

The itinerary

Day 01

Historic Bogotá, Local Flavors, and Monserrate

8:30 a.m.: Meet at Chantonner to enjoy a Santafereño chocolate.
8:45 a.m.: Visit the Church of San Francisco, a true Baroque work of art featuring minor altars and a main altar plated with 24-carat gold foil.
9:00 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.: Visit the Gold Museum to explore its Pre-Columbian art collection.
10:35 a.m. - 10:45 a.m.: Walk to Plaza de Bolívar.
10:45 a.m. - 11:05 a.m.: Explore Plaza de Bolívar, which has been the scene of the city market, meetings, revolutions, the cry for independence, guerrilla takeovers, and the Bogotazo. It is surrounded by majestic buildings from different periods, whose stories will be shared during the visit.
11:05 a.m. - 11:15 a.m.: Visit Calle 10, an emblematic street from the colonial era, where you will see San Bartolomé School, the House of Manuelita Sáenz, Bolívar's house, and the residence of Viceroy Sámano.
11:35 a.m. - 11:45 a.m.: Visit the Museum of the Custody of Lettuce, home to a famous piece containing 1,485 emeralds.
11:50 a.m. - 12:20 p.m.: Visit the Botero Museum and learn about the works donated by the world-renowned artist Fernando Botero.
12:25 p.m. - 12:30 p.m.: Walk to Chorro de Quevedo, the site of Bogotá's foundation, and also visit Calle del Embudo.
See urban art in the form of graffiti that fills the area with color.
12:35 p.m. - 1:45 p.m.: Visit Plaza de la Concordia, one of the first covered market squares in Bogotá, now restored for tourism. Enjoy a fruit tasting, a chicha tasting, and a traditional Bogotá lunch of ajiaco with curuba juice and figs.
1:50 p.m. - 2:15 p.m.: Take a vehicle to the entrance of Monserrate. Along the way, learn about the Vicachá or San Francisco River and an architectural masterpiece by architect Rogelio Salmona.
2:15 p.m. - 4:10 p.m.: Visit Monserrate. Take the cable car up to 3,150 meters above sea level for views over the city of Bogotá. Enjoy coca tea and explore the church, along with the San Isidro and Santa Clara restaurants.
4:15 p.m.: Take a vehicle to the Bogotá Cinematheque, where Colombian coffee and a delicious refreshment will be offered.
6:00 p.m. or later: Return to your hotel.

Where this trip takes you

Monserrate Sanctuary, Plaza de Bolívar, Gold Museum, Church of San Francisco

The route

Where you'll travel

Tour route map — Round trip from Cra. 5 # 16-01 1 city · 9 Hours

The fine print

Trip details

What's Included

Tour guide
Map
Medical assistance insurance
Funicular or cable car to Monserrate
Two car transfers
Lunch: ajiaco, juice, and dessert
Santa Fe chocolate, cheese, and almojábana bread
Two coca teas for altitude
Fruit tasting
Coffee, chocolate, or cappuccino with Colombian pandebono bread

What's Not Included

Everything not listed in the inclusions

What to bring

Jacket
Walking shoes
Scarf
Waterproof jacket

Know before you go

Bogotá is very high: 2,650 m.a.s.l. (8,675 feet). If you have heart problems, please consult your doctor about this trip.
On this tour, the Legend of El Dorado will be explored, which gave rise to the foundation of Santa Fe de Bogotá and the populations of the Andes in Colombia due to the search for gold.
We will discover old Santa Fe de Bogotá, with its colonial architecture and the history of the New Kingdom of Granada, up until the beginning of the 20th century, when it was already established as the Republic of Colombia. You will see churches with altars plated with 24-carat gold foil, the "La Lechuga" monstrance adorned with 1,400 emeralds and precious jewels, which remain as a memory of the golden age of the Colony, as well as the precious collection of the Gold Museum, the largest in the world.
This is a 9-hour tour, during which travellers will experience the gastronomy of this area. We will drink coca tea to help with acclimatization to the height of Monserrate, and the tour includes scheduled breaks and opportunities to use the restroom. You will enjoy a tasting of fruits that may be new to you and an Ajiaco Santafereño, inherited from the Muisca Indigenous people. We will also have coffee and chocolate, typical drinks of Colombian culture.
The cultural theme takes us back to the Spanish Colony, reflecting the history of Colombia in the architecture of Bogotá's Historic Center.
We will visit Monserrate, at an elevation of 3,170 m.a.s.l., from where you will enjoy a wonderful view of the city and explore one of Colombia's ecosystems, surrounded by beautiful nature, flowers, and hummingbirds.

Logistics