Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
GETTING AROUND
Most of Bogotá's attractions are in or near La Candelaria
and can be reached on foot (unless you're staying uptown).
Buses Besides the chaotic minibuses, Bogotá is covered
by an extensive, e cient and ever-spreading bus system
called TransMilenio (Mon-Sat 5am-11pm, Sun 10am-
6pm), with a flat fare of COP$1400 (COP$1700 during rush
hour) per journey; buy a card to be loaded up with credit
at any of the stations and pick up a bus route map
from the tourist o ce. Bus lines are a little confusing, as
some express buses miss out a number of stops. The most
useful routes include the J buses, which run to Candelaria
(otherwise change at Jiménez), and the B lines running
north-south along Av Carcas to Portal del Norte via the
Zona Rosa. Best avoided during rush hour.
Taxis Taxis in Bogotá are yellow, small and relatively
inexpensive. Fares correspond to the number of units on
the taxi meter, with a small surcharge levied between 7pm
and 7am, on Sun and holidays; ask the driver to turn the
taxi meter on and check the fare table as some drivers
overcharge. It's safer to call a taxi company rather than
grab one off the street; you'll need to give the driver the
passcode - the last two digits of the phone number you
call from. Try Radio Taxi ( T 1 288 8888), Taxi Real ( T 1 333
3333) or Taxi Express ( T 1 411 1111).
5
with lockers, and shared bathrooms have spacious stone
showers. At night, guests gather around the woodfire
stove in the commun al kitchen. Dorms COP$30,000 ,
doubles COP$140,000
Aragon Cra 3 No. 14-13, La Candelaria T 1 342 5239;
map p.498. While this bare-bones hotel has zero
atmosphere, the warm rooms with shared bathrooms are
clean, most have wi-fi access and cost far less t han their
youth hostel equivalent. Singles COP$25,000 , doubles
COP$40,000
Cranky Croc C 12D No. 3-46 T 1 342 2438, W crankycroc
.com; map p.498. A friendly, Australian-owned place with
sparklingly clean dorms, basic rooms around a courtyard,
a well-equipped shared kitchen, Fri-night barbecue and
daily g roup outings . Free wi-fi fi plus compu ter terminals.
Dorms COP$23,000 , doubles COP$66,000
Destino Nomada C 11 No. 00-38 T 1 352 0932,
W destinonomada.com; map p.498. This hostel is
guaranteed to leave you breathless (thanks to the uphill
walk). A compact place with guest kitchen and plenty to
occupy you on those rainy Bogotá nights: small bar/pizza
place, table football, TV lounge, an d the on-site tour desk
helps you pla n your time. Dorms COP$21,000 , doubles
COP$57,000
Ì Explora Hostels Bogotá C 12C No. 3-19 T 1 282
9320, W explorahostels.com; map p.498. An unassuming
exterior hides this appealing hostel with an indoor
hammock-festooned common space, café that cooks up
breakfast and bar with nightly happy hour. The colourful,
spacious rooms face the covered courtyard and dorms
feature nice touches such as large lockers and individual l
reading lights. Dorms COP$19,000 , rooms COP$65,000
La Pinta C 65 No. 5-67 T 1 211 9526, W www.lapinta
.com.co; map p.496. If you want to be closer to the night-
life, then this wonderfully friendly hostel (complete with
two labradors) on the outskirts of the Zona Rosa is a great
bet. Bunks and rooms are comfortable (though don't
expect to get much sleep on weekends), a good breakfast
is thrown in, and while the hostel's a 15min walk from the
ACCOMMODATION
Most budget accommodation is concentrated in La
Candelaria; all accommodation reviewed apart from one
hostel is in La Candelaria. All offer free internet and/or
wi-fi. Most have private rooms with either shared or
private bathrooms; prices below are for doubles with
shared bathroom in high season (single rooms are often
around two-thirds the price of a double).
Anandamayi Hostel & Hotel C 9 No. 2-81 T 1 341
7208, W anandamayihostel.com; map p.498. This hostel is
pure Zen, set in a restored colonial house around three
flower-filled, hammock-strung courtyards frequented by
hummingbirds. Rustic dorms and private rooms come
BOGOTÁ TOURS
The cheapest way to tour the city is to devise a self-guided bus tour. For the price of a single
Transmilenio ticket, you can ride the buses for as long as you like as long as you don't leave the
stations. The contrast between the likes of wealthy Zona Rosa in the north of the city and the
poverty-stricken slums in the south are very much indicative of the great disparity between
Colombia's wealthiest and poorest citizens.
Bogotá Gra ti Tour T 321 297 4075, W bogota
gra ti.com. This excellent three-hour walking tour
takes in Bogotá's not inconsiderable collection of street
art on Tues, Thurs and Sat (COP$4000); reserve ahead.
Cycling Every Sun morning (until 2pm), there is
much good-natured fun to be had as many of Bogotá's
main roads close to tra c in a civic attempt to get
people cycling, known as Ciclovía . Bogotá Bike Tours
rents bikes (Cra 3 No. 12-72; COP$18,000/30,000 per
half/full day; T 1 281 9924, W www.bogotabiketours
.com), and runs informative guided tours of the city
(COP$30,000, 4hr approx).
 
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