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Bogotá · Centro Internacional
Mitika
An apartment in Bogotá's Centro Internacional, for the night before or after your flight.
Apartment1–2 guestsCity view
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The unavoidable stopover
Bogotá
At 2,600 metres, the city almost every trip to Colombia passes through. Worth one good night rather than an airport hotel.
- Region:
- Cundinamarca
Bogotá sits at 2,600 metres above sea level, on a high plateau ringed by hills. The weather is cool and changeable: it can dawn clear, rain at three in the afternoon and clear again at dusk. After the heat of the Caribbean, the contrast hits immediately.
Almost every itinerary in Colombia passes through here, because it is the country's air hub. Many travellers treat it as a necessary evil and book an airport hotel. That is a waste: one well-located night is enough to see the essentials.
The Gold Museum is, without exaggeration, one of the most important collections of pre-Hispanic goldwork in the world, and it connects directly to what you see in the Sierra Nevada: understanding Tayrona and Muisca metalwork changes how you read the Caribbean leg of the trip.
Our Mitika apartment is in the Centro Internacional, steps from the National Museum and the museum and theatre district, designed for exactly this: the first or last night of the journey, in a place of your own and well located.
What to see and do
The Gold Museum
One of the most important collections of pre-Hispanic goldwork in the world, with Tayrona, Muisca, Quimbaya and Zenú pieces. If the trip includes the Sierra Nevada or the Lost City, this museum is the best possible prologue.
Monserrate
The hill that presides over the city, at 3,152 metres, with a sanctuary at the top and a full view of the plateau. You go up by funicular, cable car or on foot. Sunset from up there is the moment.
La Candelaria
The historic centre: colonial streets, the Plaza de Bolívar, painted houses, the Botero Museum and a concentration of museums and universities. Walkable in a morning.
The Centro Internacional
The neighbourhood where Mitika is: between the historic centre and the north, with the National Museum, theatres and good transport links. It is the most practical area for a short stopover.
How to get there
- El Dorado airport is Colombia's main hub and receives international flights and services from across the country.
- From the airport to the Centro Internacional is about 15 km, between 30 minutes and an hour depending on traffic.
- Flights to Santa Marta take a little over an hour, with several daily frequencies.
- To Villa de Leyva it is about 165 km by road, between three and four hours.
When to go
- December to March and July to August are the driest periods.
- It rains at any time of year, almost always in the afternoon. A light waterproof jacket solves it.
- Temperature varies little through the year: between 8 and 20 degrees, with cold nights always.
- Many museums close on Mondays. If your stopover falls on a Monday, plan accordingly.
What to know before you go
- The altitude is noticeable. Take the first day slowly, drink water and go easy on the alcohol.
- If you are coming from the Caribbean, the temperature change is around 20 degrees. Keep warm clothes in your cabin bag, not in checked luggage.
- Traffic is heavy and hard to predict. Allow plenty of time to get back to the airport.
- At Mitika, key handover is arranged over WhatsApp: there is no 24-hour reception.
- As in any large city, keep an eye on your phone in the street and on public transport.
Frequently asked questions
Is it worth staying in Bogotá or heading straight to the Caribbean?
It depends on your total time. If you have a week or less, go straight on and leave Bogotá for the last night before your departure flight. If you have more room, one full night covers the Gold Museum, La Candelaria and Monserrate, and gives context to everything you will see later in the Sierra.
How does Bogotá fit with the rest of the portfolio?
Almost every itinerary works like this: arrive in Bogotá, fly to Santa Marta, spend the days in the Sierra Nevada and the Caribbean, and return to Bogotá for the last night. Villa de Leyva is added by road from Bogotá if there are two or three extra days.
Where to stay
See all places to stayNearby destinations
Photo pending
Colonial town, national monument
Villa de Leyva
Stone, wide highland sky and the largest cobbled square in Colombia, four hours from Bogotá and a world away from the Caribbean.
Boyacá