There is a sheer endless amount of amazing day trips you can undertake from Bogotá, including unique nature adventures and romantic escapes. Depending on whether you ascend or descend in altitude, you will encounter a dramatic shift in vegetation and climate. Outdoor lovers will be amazed by the amount of great hikes that are possible near Bogota!
The following points of interest are located in the surroundings of Bogota, within a 2-hour reach and most of them are easily accessible by bus.
To get a real jungle feeling, hike down the Camino Real de Tena, a royal trail originally built by the indigenous people of the region and used as the starting point for Mutis’ Royal Botanical Expedition. This is a fantastic day trip to “tierra caliente” for forest lovers and urbexers! Read more about the Camino Real de Tena Hike.
Photo by Travelhapp, Camino Real de Tena
You will enjoy a totally different climate from Tena when hiking along the Camino del Indio (also known as Camino del Meta), which is not even an hour away from Bogotá. This beautiful indigenous trail rewards you with amazing views of the San Rafael lake and a serene atmosphere to connect with nature. Read more about the Camino del Indio Hike.
Photo by Travelhapp, Camino del Indio
The Salt Cathedral of Zipaquira is an otherworldly underground church carved into a salt mine – pretty unique, and quite spooky. The bus from Bogota (Terminal Salitre or Terminal del Norte) takes about and hour to reach Zipaquirá.
Photo by Jimmy Baikovicius, CC BY-SA 2.0, Salt Cathedral
Guatavita is a very romantic colonial-style white town by the Tomine Lake, about 1,5 hours from Bogota. Stroll through the little streets admiring the local art galleries and handicraft shops, have a coffee and enjoy the artsy atmosphere. Guatavita is a great place to buy high-quality handmade Ponchos (“Ruanas” in Colombia) at affordable prices. There is a little path by the lake from which you can enjoy beautiful views of the surrounding landscape.
The mystic “Laguna de Guatavita” (Lake Guatavita) is located just outside of town. A gold ritual held by the indigenous Muisca people in the laguna is widely considered the origin of the famous El Dorado legend.
Photo by Travelhapp, Guatavita Old Town
Cascada La Chorrera (Choachí) is one of the highest waterfalls in Colombia and just about 1,5 hours away from Bogota, taking a local bus from Portal del Oriente (view La Chorrera on Google Maps). This scenic hiking adventure is one of the best day trips from Bogotá.
Photo by Travelhapp, La Chorrera Waterfall near Bogotá
The unique Chingaza National Park close to Bogotá is worth visiting for many reasons. It features varied landscapes including a beautiful Paramo, a very rare high-altitude ecosystem that can only be found in 5 countries in the whole world. Chingaza is home to different species of deers, the spectacled bear (oso andino), and the condor, Colombia’s national symbol.
To enter Chingaza National Park you need to be accompanied by an authorized tour guide. Knowledgeable and friendly Camilo from Ecohills (website) is a Chingaza expert, totally passionate about conserving Bogotá’s unique natural surroundings. Take warm and waterproof clothes and shoes since Paramos tend to be chilly and rainy (thus creating amazing cloudy landscapes).
Photo by Travelhapp, Chingaza National Natural Park: Páramo
Suesca is located North-East of Bogota and boasts a breathtaking natural scenery with impressive rugged cliffs nestled amidst lush vegetation close to the Bogotá River. Outdoor enthusiasts can indulge in a range of activities, including hiking, mountain biking, horseback riding, – and most famously rock climbing. The impressive rock formations of Suesca invite rock climbers of all skill levels. You can find several great local tour operators in Suesca, including Suesca Colombia Extrema (Google Maps), Club Trango Aventura (Google Maps) and Aventura Travel Colombia (Google Maps).
The bus from Bogotá (Portal del Norte) to Suesca takes approximately 2 hours (see Rome2Rio).
Photo by jkraft5, Suesca Rock Formations
The Sueva Nemosten waterfalls are set in stunning natural surroundings, about 2 hours from Bogota, on the way to Junin. You can find several hot springs and thermal baths (“termales”) close to Sueva, Gacheta and Junin; some of them are open until about 8 or 9 PM in the evening. Check out Balneario Las Palmas and nearby thermal baths on Google Maps.
It makes a great day trip from Bogota to visit the Sueva Nemosten waterfalls first, and relax in a nearby thermal bath afterwards.
To get to the waterfalls, you can take a bus towards Junin (via Guasca) in Cl. 72 # Cra. 13 in Bogotá and tell the driver to drop you off at “Hidroeléctrica Sueva de Cemex” (Google Maps). Make sure to ask the driver when the last bus back to Bogotá passes. If you want to include the thermal baths it may be more convenient to go with a local tour operator in Bogotá.
Photo by Travelhapp, Sueva Nemosten Waterfalls
If you feel like summer, just hop on a bus to Villeta (Cundinamarca) at Portal 80 in Bogota. It takes about 2 hours to reach the village in “tierra caliente” (warm land) and from there you can easily walk up to the first waterfall of the “Saltos de los Micos”. The further you walk, the more pristine waterfalls you will find. However, it’s recommendable to go with a local guide if you plan to venture further into the forest as the trail is not marked.
Also check the weather conditions beforehand, since the path can get very muddy when it has rained a lot.
Photo by Travelhapp, Villeta waterfall trail near Bogotá
Not even a lot of people from Bogota have heard about Parque Natural Chicaque (Google Maps). This unique cloud forest is truly a hidden gem and a great place for hiking and bird watching. It features a variety of ecological trails of different difficulty levels, leading you through unique flora and fauna. If you want to fully immerse yourself in nature, consider spending the night in a tree house inside the park.
During the weekend, the Park offers transport from the Transmilenio bus stop Terreros in Soacha (Google Maps) in the morning. Scroll to “Servicio transporte” at the bottom of Parque Chicaque’s Home page for details (in Spanish).
Photo by Travelhapp, Chicaque Park, Pico de Loro Viewpoint
Culture destinations like Guatavita and Zipaquira are perfectly fine to visit alone as a solo traveler.
While many nature spots near Bogotá are easy to reach by public transport, it’s normally better to explore them with a group for safety reasons. Join our Colombia Solo Travelers Facebook Group to find other solo travelers near you.
Also have a look at our Safety Tips for Colombia and Colombia Solo Travel Guide.
Read more:
Colombia Travel Inspirations: Top Attractions and Hidden Gems
Colombia Travel Tips: General Information and Travel Advice for Solo Travelers
Colombia Slow Travel Itineraries: Discover Colombia by bus and overland
Best Places to Visit in Colombia: Ideal Bases for Solo Travelers