ABOUT BOGOTA
Hi folks, I´d like to give you some useful tips while being in Bogota. Bogota, like any other huge metropolis is full of busy people and it will have various things that will appeal to some and not to others, the main complaint that I’ve heard from people is that it may feel unwelcoming and a bit confusing to some travelers who don’t have any insider tips. You will find the Awesome, the Good, the Bad and the Ugly in Bogota. It’s a city that warms up to you once you have a clearer idea on how to spend your time there. I will offer some useful resources and tips below so that you make most of time during your visit. .
I’m a born and raised American citizen with a Colombian parent who moved to Colombia. I decided to take the time to write this out of sympathy after seeing a lot of tourists aimlessly wondering around unsure of what to do or where to go once they’ve seen the obvious must-see landmarks or museums or who stick to Couch Surfing events which don’t always flow very well in Bogota; at times it’s easier to get a pack of wild monkeys to pose for a picture than to get people to agree on a place or to make up their minds on a place, if there’s more than one local involved in the hang out, you’ll see them often trying to sway people to go to the place that’s closest to them so they save on the bus trip, which complicates things more. Below factors about the place to keep in mind:
Factor #1: As previously said, just like any big city, Bogota warms up to you once you discover the spots and activities that you find appealing; before that, it may feel too big to wander and cold to some people. A major plus about Bogota is that life is in the air! Everything feels alive here. Also, to keep in mind, April and May is rainy season.
Factor #2: The Colombian economy, in Colombia unemployment rates are high and salaries for lower and middle-class people aren’t at all competitive and low when compared to the cost of living which results in people inevitably trying to make a buck out of you despite the genuine friendliness that characterizes Colombians. We all do respect people trying to survive and getting paid for providing guidance and information that we wouldn’t otherwise have but you want to make sure that what you pay for is engaging, interesting to you and worth the money you paid. I’ve seen people looking bored following some dude on a guided tour, or people advertising events to try to get gringos to go to their friend’s lonely bar and spend money there. I respect that, I’m not trying to be a jerk and ruin their gig but at the same time as a part-Colombian and a once upon a time tourist who felt a little lost, I rather have you walk away with a nice memory of the place so I thought I’d share a great and free resource that should make your visit/stay in Bogota more memorable,
RECOMMENDED TO DO:
I was once invited to a Free event that I now highly recommend because it was so good for us. It’s a private group of people who mingle with English speakers, “not to be confused with a language exchange group”, it’s completely different and better, this group instead, gets together to go on hikes outside of the city, they accompany you to museums, landmarks, etc. FOR FREE So, it’s like going to the activities that you’d still want to do but with a group of friendly locals who show you around in order to keep up with their English; everyone involved benefits! I believe any foreigner who speaks English and who is patient with people who are struggling with the language is welcomed but they hand-pick locals and keep a low profile so that it doesn’t become a for-profit group. I think this group is more than ideal to experience Bogota because of all the reasons that I mentioned above.
WHAT WE DID
My ex and I joined them on a hike, a BBQ that they hosted and we also went with them to a museum and the botanical garden, it was a great experience because after having been travelling by ourselves, it was very nice change to interact and mingle with locals, learn about the culture. It made the experience way more memorable. I’m still friends with a couple of people that I met during those outings and ever since, I’ve gone to a nearby town and a hike with a friend that I met there.
IS IT ALL FREE?
They never charged myself or any of the foreigners that were there for showing us around and going to the museums or the botanical garden with us and I know they still don’t. It’s actually a pretty good arrangement, it made a world of a difference to us, they benefit and we benefit!
The only time we paid for anything was when they had a BBQ but it was a we all pitch-in for the food-type of deal and really fun to go to. We met really cool people, played local games and had a good time.
Most of their events are 100% free (we like that word) but a Canadian friend of mine went with them on a guided tour and even though they charged (they tell you upfront), she said that it was totally worth the price and much more affordable than what conventional guided tours charge keeping in mind that the group’s main purpose is to offer their Colombian members an opportunity to keep up with their English, so it’s cool with me if they sporadically make a buck for their time while offering a service at a competitive price where you get to hang out with locals and learn the culture.
This is the link to the group:
https://minglewithnatives.wixsite.com/events
That’s my two cents, in a nut shell, I feel that this tip should make your visit more memorable and productive. You’re welcome : ) .
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