Monserrate Mountain in Colombia 2024-2025
From every corner of Bogota you can see Monserrate mountain which dominates the city
Best time: December–March (all year round)
The greatest landmark of the capital of Colombia is the glorious and majestic Montserrat mountain. It rises 3,152 metres above sea level and you can find an ancient church with a sanctuary devoted to El Señor Caído ("The Fallen Lord"). The church was built in honor of Montserrat's Virgin Morena. This is the most sacred place in Bogota.
There are a few options for how to get to the top. You can use stairs which consist of 1,200 steps—for Christian people it's a symbol of Jesus Christ on Mount Calvary. It's not easy but it's free, so you can save some money. During the walk you can enjoy nature, exotic trees, and picturesque views. If you choose this way, it's better to use comfortable shoes and carry a bottle of water.
Another option is the cable car which can hold approximately 40 people. It's a very fast way which takes about 4 minutes. There is also a funicular which takes about 5 minutes. The funicular operates before noon and the cable car after the noon. The ticket costs from $3 to $6.
Whichever way you choose, on the top you'll be stunned by the spectacular beauty of Bogota. On the top you can also find a lot of different restaurants, a cafeteria, souvenir shops, and many smaller tourist facilities where you can try local food, traditional desserts of cheese and fruit, unique drinks, and buy some local stuff.
The best time to visit Montserrat is during the dry season, from December till March. The weather at that time is quite pleasant with a fresh and cool breeze. In July-August it can be a little crowded because of the famous Bogota Carnival.