Going to Bogota, where to stay?

May 21, 2019 6:46 AM

In November I will be spending 2-3 weeks in Bogota, Colombia. I'm looking for suggestions for neighborhoods and specific places to stay.

I will be traveling by myself and want to stay in a Bed and Breakfast/inn/small hotel that is in a lively, safe neighborhood with street level shops, cafes, restuarants and that is nearby public transportation. In-room wifi is important. Private bathroom a plus but not absolutely necessary. Funky/bohemian/artsy would be welcome. A party atmosphere is not at all what I'm after. I'm also not interested in renting an apartment. I'm looking to spend $50-75US/night. Do you know of such a place in Bogota? Specific B&B/inn recommendations would be great, but I'm also looking for even more general neighborhood recommendations. I speak low-intermediate Spanish and have spent time in various cities in Latin America.

posted by Pineapplicious to Travel & Transportation around Bogotá, Colombia (5 answers total)

Best answer: I can't claim to know Bogotá very well, but I visited for a few days last year. I loved staying in the Quinta Camacho neighborhood, at the north end of Chapinero. The immediate area is quiet and cute, mostly residential with some good quirky restaurants and bars, and it's very walkable to denser/more lively retail and nightlife areas. I didn't take transit (had a bicycle) but I believe it's convenient as well.

I stayed here, which wasn't super bohemian/artsy but had character and a lovely courtyard garden and nice rooms. The staff spoke no English but that's common in Colombia in my experience, and I was able to get by with my low-intermediate Spanish.
posted by introcosm at 8:39 AM on May 21, 2019 [2 favorites]

Seconding Camacho. I stayed in an entirely different neighborhood but really enjoyed my time in Chapinero and think it has most of what you're looking for.
posted by seemoorglass at 1:40 PM on May 21, 2019

I don't have a hotel suggestion, but make sure you visit the Gold Museum. Totally worth it.
posted by SyraCarol at 6:48 PM on May 21, 2019

Chapinero is one of the safest parts of town. I've been to Bogotá several times — when there I always stay in formal hotels or with a friend, so, I don't have B&B experience — and have generally stayed in Rosales (the financial district, NE of Camacho) or El Nogal (a neighborhood just adjacent to Rosales, N of Camacho). I've also stayed a couple times a little bit further north (still walking distance), near Parque de la 93. The whole area can be pretty bougie, with upscale malls not far away, but it's generally quite safe as long as you're not walking around alone at 2am and exercise general street smarts. Lots of street-level restaurants, cafes, shops, etc. I don't know what your expectations are around B&Bs — like, if you want a "cozy" experience — but there aren't a lot of freestanding houses in this part of Bogotá. It's mostly apartment high-rises, offices, and restaurants.

I can't speak much to public transportation because I've never taken it, but Bogotá traffic (and the subsequent pollution) is legendarily bad, so, regardless of mode, it might take you a little while to get anywhere. I think it's the largest city in the Western Hemisphere without a metro system, and it shows. (Uber is widely available, safe, and inexpensive.) TransMilenio is the name of the bus-rapid-transit system. It has a dedicated right-of-way and elevated stations that somewhat resemble a metro station. While you're there, you'll see some red buses emblazoned with TransMilenio on the side, but these are usually feeder buses ("alimentadores") that take you to the TransMilenio station, and not the TransMilenio vehicles themselves. If you want to take it, there's a line that runs along Avenida Caracas to the west of Camacho. It goes to La Candelaria (the old colonial center; def. worth seeing, but go during the day) and at least some of the tourist-visitor points of interest, but I would plan out what you want to do and see how close the stations are.
posted by Kosh at 3:37 AM on May 22, 2019 [1 favorite]

I was just visiting Bogota last week, staying in the Santa Fe area near the Torre Colpatria. The area had its own character and was good for getting to La Candelaria on foot, but ultimately it was a congested and smoggy walk to an area we only wanted to spend time in during the day. We ended up going out for dinner/drinks/wandering around Quinta Camacho multiple times and found it to be a much more enjoyable hang.

I believe the recommendation to stay around Quinta Camacho is a good one.
posted by memento maury at 2:02 PM on May 24, 2019