Groups visiting the vibrant capital of Colombia will find no shortage of items for their itinerary. Here are a few must-do's.
DAY 1
LAY OF THE LAND
10:00 AM
Get your bearings and a sense of history with a walking tour of the city's center, home of many of Bogotá's government buildings and cultural attractions, including museums, churches, and monuments. Start at Bolívar Square before strolling the narrow streets of the historic La Candelaria district. Highlights abound, such as the Casa de Nariño (president's offices), Palace of Justice, and Museo del Banco de la República, which displays the personal collection of Colombian artist Fernando Botero. bit.ly/smBogotaCenter
1:00 PM
During your walking tour, be sure to visit El Museo del Oro, the Gold Museum, which showcases the largest collection of pre-Hispanic gold work in the world, along with pottery, textile, and stone objects. Exhibits explore topics like myths and symbols, the culture of pre-Hispanic Colombia, and the mining and manufacturing techniques used by ancient metallurgists.
DAY 2
SHOP AND DINE
10:00 AM
Pay a visit to the Usaquén, a vibrant, bohemian district of restaurants and shopping areas in northern Bogotá. The Centro Comercial Santa Fé mall boasts designer stores while the Hacienda Santa Barbara, built in an historic hacienda offers local wares. On Sundays, visit the popular flea market.
1:00 PM
Grab a lunch of local favorites at Abasto. The restaurant offers dishes such as the achiote shrimp in sweet pepper and coconut milk, and baked chicken drumsticks with sage and hibiscus.
DAY 3
GREAT OUTDOORS
11:00 AM
Towering above the city, more than 3,000 meters above sea level, is Monserrate Mountain. Easily accessed via aerial tramway and funicular (or the more ambitious can take the two-and-a-half-hour hike up to the top), its hilltop has served as a place of worship and sanctuary at least since a small religious retreat was built there in the mid-1600s. Now, it's an ideal spot to get a peek into the past while enjoying panoramic views and a peaceful atmosphere -- and a great place for lunch.
2:00 PM
Follow up this natural and spiritual visit with a tour of the José Celestino Mutis Botanical Garden. Organized into different sections that correspond with the various climates in Colombia (Andean woodland, medicinal plants, aquatic plants), the garden preserves and celebrates the diverse plants and flowers of the region, housing some 19,000 live plants in total.
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This article appears in the February 2015 issue of Successful Meetings.