Traveling on a Budget: 5 Free Things to do in Bogotá

It’s no secret that I was a ball of nerves thinking about how expensive traveling in Colombia would be.  When I arrived in Bogotá, I’d been on the road for a whopping 10 months.  And seeing as my bank account was dipping to an uncomfortably low level, I was determined to live as frugally as possible.  I’m a budget traveler at heart, and I love nothing more than sniffing out great deals so I can travel inexpensively and comfortably.  So I was fairly confident in my ability to make it work.  However, as my flight date got closer every traveler I talked to and each blog post I read kept reiterating how expensive it is to backpack around Colombia – and that’s when the panic set in.

But during my blissful seven days in the city, Bogotá managed to defy my expectations over and over again.  And one of the biggest surprises of all was how affordable it was.  Since traveling on a budget is of utmost importance to me, I thought I’d share a few awesome, budget-friendly things to do in the city.  Not only are these must-do activities when traveling to Bogotá but they’re free to boot!

Botero Museum:  If anything, Bogotá is a city of art.  Art is deeply rooted in the city’s history and it’s evident in every facet of contemporary Bogotá.  It’s everywhere, from displays of pre-Columbian gold work to dozens of modern art museums to edgy street graffiti.  It’s impossible to visit Colombia’s capital and not get seduced by the city’s artistic vibe.  And a visit to the capital would definitely not be complete without a visit to Museo Botero.  Fernando Botero, a Colombian native, is one of Latin America’s most well-known living artists and is famed for his unique depictions of absurdly large figures.

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The museum houses some of his most famous paintings and sculptures, featuring everything from exaggeratedly plump women to comically enormous oranges to portraits of chubby families.  Not only is this museum fantastic but it’s free thanks to the generosity of Botero, who donated 85 of his personal works to the museum in addition to a selection of pieces from his personal collection.  Inside the museum you’ll also find world-class pieces from the likes of Dalí, Monet and Picasso.  Not too shabby for a free museum!

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Monserrate:  Part of what makes Bogotá such an alluring city is the fact that it sprawls along the base of a series of lush green mountains.  One of the most popular activities among tourists and locals alike is to head to the top of the mountain of Monserrate in order to glimpse panoramic views of the city.  It is possible to take a cable car up to the top (14,400 pesos roundtrip).  But there’s also a paved trail up the mountainside.

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The steps are fashioned out of cobblestones, making the walkway pretty uneven in places. So watch your step!

In my opinion, the hike is a much more rewarding option.  It’s a great workout, plus it’ll save you a few pesos!  From the base of Monserrate, it’s a steep 1500 steps up to the lookout point.  And if you’re not used to the altitude your lungs might protest the climb – mine sure did!  While the walk was a little bit challenging, I was really proud of myself for making it to the top and it was so worth it for the view alone.

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I stumbled across this beautiful creature during the hike. With the cityscape in the background, he looked so out of place!
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I conquered Monserrate!

Ciclovía:  Every Sunday one of Bogotá’s main drags is blocked off to traffic.  The city’s residents dust off their bicycles, rollerblades, skateboards and walking shoes and hit the pavement.  Ciclovía – which translates to “bike path” – is a source of great pride for Colombians and it’s a day where thousands of residents flood the streets.  It offers a prime opportunity to people watch, which just happens to be one of my favorite pastimes.  Sadly, the Sunday I was in town was the day of the presidential election.  Alas, Ciclovía was canceled and I wasn’t able to partake in this quintessential Bogotá experience.  But I am assured that it’s a must-do if you happen to find yourself laid-over in the capital on a Sunday morning.

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There was tension in the air during election day. President Santos was the victor and will stay in office for another term.

Tour the Presidential Palace:  It’s not every day that I get to say I stood in the same room as all of Colombia’s political bigwigs, past and present.  But during a tour of the Presidential Palace (also known as Casa de Nariño) that’s exactly what I did.  The Presidential Palace can be found in the heart of La Candelaria, the historic center of Bogotá.  Constructed in the early 1900s, the mansion is located on the site of Antonio Nariño’s birthplace.  Nariño was a key figure in Colombia’s fight for independence against Spain, hence the name Casa de Nariño.  A stroll through the palace during this guided tour gives you a glimpse of centuries-old furnishings, famous paintings (including Botero and Vasquez) and offers a great lesson about the political history of Colombia.  There are supposedly guided tours in English, but they only offered Spanish tours during my visit.  Luckily I speak some (very poor) Spanish and it was a great opportunity to brush up on my language skills!  (You can sign up for a free tour here.)

Catch a soccer football match:  I am a lucky, lucky girl because I just so happen to be visiting Colombia during the World Cup.  I am a huge sports fan (Go A’s!), but as an American I have to admit I know very little about soccer, I mean football!  That being said, some of the best memories I have of my trip so far have been made during football games – getting covered with spray foam along with other jubilated fans, chanting “COL-OM-BIA!  COL-OM-BIA!”  at the top of my lungs, watching hundreds of fans go absolutely crazy every time Colombia scores a goal.

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Colombians celebrate their World Cup victory with spray foam. I was completely covered in white bubbles after I took this photo! This photo was actually taken in Medellin but it gives a good idea of the public festivities.

These memories are priceless.  In Bogotá games are often screened in public places.  They are not only free to watch, but being in the middle of a hyped-up crowd during a big game is so much fun!  The energy is infectious.  So even if you’re not a football fan, I guarantee you’ll have the time of your life.

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Throughout Colombia important soccer games are broadcast in public squares. Clad in gold jerseys, hundreds of fans gather in Medellin and watch with bated breath as their team takes on Japan in the World Cup.

What’s your favorite free activity to do when you’re traveling in another country?

 

About Justine

Justine Lopez is a California native who always seems to take the unconventional route in life. She also suffers from a serious case of wanderlust. In 2013, she set out on a yearlong round-the-world journey and never looked back. Since then she's lived the expat life in Jakarta, Phnom Penh, Beijing, and Ho Chi Minh City. She's now living and working as a freelance writer in Dubai. As she meanders her way through Asia she's always seeking out great vegetarian food, pretty beaches, and amazing new travel destinations.

20 thoughts on “Traveling on a Budget: 5 Free Things to do in Bogotá

  1. Free activities are always high on my list of priorities! 🙂 I did the same thing but in Argentina…I panicked about having so little money left, and Argentina’s even more expensive than Colombia. But I managed to find a lot of the free stuff and enjoyed just walking around and people watching, which was perfect. Sometimes it’s nice to take a break from the super-touristy activities anyway and just wander like a local!

  2. I love to prove my friends wrong when they tell me that that place is expensive. It just makes me more determined to enjoy it on a budget! Haha…but being in Columbia during World Cup is such an awesome coincidence..or did you plan it to be that way? I remember our own regional games and the atmosphere was superb…even if you are not a fan, you will tend to join in…haha….happy travelling! 🙂

    1. Ha, I like that mentality! It is pure coincidence that I happen to be here during the World Cup. But it couldn’t be a better time to be here. The excitement is completely infectious 🙂 So much fun!

  3. I love your main picture and the energy it captures! Monserrate seems perfect – I love hiking (even the slightly paved hikes), and the views are fantastic! I couldn’t agree more about people watching – free and fun! I bet it’s a blast to be there during the World Cup. Great tips!

    1. Thanks. I love that picture too. It was such a fun moment! I’m so lucky to be here during the World Cup. It’s too much fun! Plus, the impromptu parades in the street after each victory offer prime people watching opportunities 🙂

  4. Can’t beat a bit of budget travel, I love seeing all of the awesome things you’ve managed to do on a budget.

    My favourite free thing to do on the road is walk, walking around a new town or area is always top of my list. 🙂

    1. Totally! Whenever I get to a new place I immediately start roaming around. I also rarely take taxis. It saves on money but really I just love the experience of walking everywhere. Plus, sometimes getting lost can lead to the greatest finds!

  5. It would have been great if the Colombians had beaten Brazil but they had a very good tournament and I enjoyed watching them. Did you attend the parade that was organized for them upon their return to Colombia? I think it was in Bogota.
    My favourite free thing to do while traveling abroad is to go to the beach 🙂

    1. It was such a heartbreaking loss. But the Colombian fans were so gracious in defeat. They definitely had a good run. And it was so much fun being here during all the festivities. The parade was in Bogotá and I’m in Cartagena. I wish I could have been there! The beach is a great free thing to do in Cartagena 😉

  6. I loved Monserrate, although I heard that a lot of muggings take place on the footpath and that they advise you to take the teleferico. The views from up there are amazing, and the architecture too!

    1. Hi Arianwen! I’m glad you loved Monserrate as much as I did. I heard the same thing about muggings, mainly from the Lonely Planet. But the host at the guesthouse we were staying at assured us that the walk was perfectly safe. We went on a weekday (also discouraged by the LP) and felt completely safe. There were quite a few police officers scattered along the path and there were plenty of other tourists around so I never felt in danger. I really do feel like the safety situation has improved a lot in Bogota in the last couple years. Whether you walk up or take the cable car, Monserrate is a must-do because that view is definitely amazing!!

  7. Another upside of free activities is there is no pressure or stress of the experience to live up to the price when you are strapped for cash! Thanks for sharing:) If I think back to my free travel experiences I would really rate the chapels and church services in Italy. I’m not particularly religious, but sitting at the back of an ancient, beautifully built church or chapel while the sermon is going on is quite meditative.

    1. There are some amazing churches in Colombia. It was pretty cool to just walk inside and check out these awesome structures. There is something very peaceful about it!

  8. Thanks much for your posting! I’m headed to Bogota tomorrow and looking forward to experiencing some of these places firsthand! Hope Asia is treating you well (such a generic term–since it is one BIG place)! I spent 12 years in Taiwan and 1 in Japan, but have traveled all over! Again, thanks for the info, Justine!

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