I just had the most amazing week in Bogotá! As a solo female traveler I felt so safe. Guess what: because I done my research what areas to avoid and what to look out for. I don’t even speak Spanish and was absolutely fine. I met amazing people and the hospitality is great. Like in literally ANY OTHER CITY IN THIS WORLD you have to be aware of your surroundings. If you go and want to find trouble you will. So please don’t let scary RU-vid Videos hold you back from visiting this city. ❤️
LOVE THIS! - Yeah... We kind of scare people in the beginning of this video... But no large city is without crime. I saw a recent statistic that had Dallas TX in the US as one of the cities with the highest homicide rates... Higher than Bogota... And that's where Widny and I met, married, and lived for 6 years before going to Colombia... But, Dallas is pretty great too... It all depends on neighborhoods, activities, groups of people, time of day, etc... We are very happy to hear you have had a positive experience in Bogota. :-)
I´m so happy to read your comment. I love that you had an amazing time in our city, and hope that you come many more times to Bogota and other of our amazing cities. For your next trip: most touristic things are not that far away one from another, and you can use the shared bike system (it's my main mode of transport).
Bogotá is horrible 🤢 is a complete mess of a city: the traffic jams are terrible, the public transportation is really bad, people drive like sh*t, most of the city is pretty ugly and looks dirty, it can be a really dangerous city (just read about what used to be the Bronx or the barrio San Bernardo and you'll see hell in earth) it is polluted as f*ck and has some serious infraestructural issues. It's a really frustrating city cause it has lots of potential, but it has been wasted due to the incompetence of the majors and the social problems that has Colombia due to the conflict. The best advise I can give to anyone who wants to travel to Colombia is: don't waste your time in Bogotá, this country has much more to offer.
Nice! Yes, I think the real charm of Colombia is all these small towns that are just outside all the major towns. More peaceful and so unique as you really start to stretch across the country.
I really fell deep in love with Latin America, especially Colombia. I've been planning my move from Germany to Bogotá for over a year. Furthermore, I was single, tired of my old life and then everything turned out differently than expected. Now not only in the most beautiful relationship of my life so far, but with her, I have gained a family in which I was really, very warmly welcomed. I'm really looking forward to being able to call Bogotá my new home soon. Gracias por la cantidad de este video. Mucho saludos actualmente todavía de Alemania.
These are such kinds words! - One of things we tend to reflect on often is how Westerns countries may be more developed but they're more "cold" and so are the people... Colombia and many parts of Latin America may lack development but the people are often more friendly and appear to be exceptionally content with their lives although they have less things materialistically. It's rather a paradox. --- We hope you find your home in Bogota soon!
Are you really a native of Germany? In that case you should try writing to DOMINIC, he is also from Germany, he currently has a prosperous t-shirt business - look for his channel here on RU-vid
@@oscardiaz7033 Yes, I am really a German native. I was born and raised in Germany and now in my 30s, I am immigrating to Colombia (Bogotá). Thanks for your RU-vid recommendation. Do you mean Dominic with about ~7 million followers? Muchos saludos!
@@lifetheorycouple I see it the same way, and after I let go of this materialism (although I was never particularly materialistic) and asked myself what I really wanted in life, I suddenly became interested in Latin America. Actually, it started quite harmlessly with Cuba, from there it went via Brazil, and finally I fell deep in love with Colombia and later with my girlfriend. It is precisely this "coldness" in the Western world that I find increasingly difficult to cope with. My girlfriend and I sometimes joke that not even Hollywood could come up with a love story as crazy as ours. We were very cautious and reserved at the beginning because we simply found it difficult to classify. The cultural differences, the good and bad things that you hear or experience. And now I'm at a point where I can more and more imagine asking her the question of all questions. But only once I have settled into my new home. It's a strange feeling when you feel more and more like a stranger in your own (old) home. And at the same time, there is a continent, a country far away, that is becoming more and more dear to one's heart. Of course, not everything is perfect there either, and it will be a big change for me. And yet I am very impressed by how cheerful the people are despite the difficult conditions. And what is really addictive is the traditional food and music. I've already asked my girlfriend if she'll keep me when I get old and thicker. ;)
I’m planning a trip to Colombia in March. It will be my first time there in almost 10 years! I think I will be going to Bogotá for two or three days followed by the coffee region for a few days, and then Barranquilla. There are so many other places I would love to go to, but this is going to be a short trip, so there’s only so much I can do.
Just did the same (minus Barranquilla) for the first time and fell in love with the region. Asking myself if I really had to leave as I shiver all week in my current subzero winter hellscape. Enjoy your visit!
Additionally... Bogota is awesome if you like to be walking... that zone around Parque de la 93 is incredible, all that green everywhere! I love it too!
Thank you very much for the good Video, that´s exactly my experience with Bogotá. I am from Hamburg, Germany and my Girlfriend live in Bogotá. The first time I visit her in Bogotá everybody told me it is very dangerous in that City and of course, like any other big cities in the world, Bogotá have very dangerous parts, but I love Bogotá very much, because there are so many friendly people and beautiful things in the city. I walked around a lot in Bogotá, also at night and I had never a dangerous situation altough I look very european. For women it is more dangerous at night, but that´s not only the case of Bogotá, unfortunarely that´s a problem in all cities in the world. Bogotá ist a great place to live or visit.
This is sooo great to hear! It doesn’t matter what major city you go to, you always have to be careful about something. It’s not the beer excuse to not go.
Man, I understand your point, every big city is dangerous but not in the level this pseudo city is, here's a snip from the "concejo de bogota" website: "hacen presencia el tren de Aragua, los satanás, los paisas, los pereiranos, los lucky, los maras, los camilos, los bury, los zetas, los boyacos y los maracuchos, sin contar a los grupos de delincuencia común organizada." those are some of the criminal narco-gangs that operate in town. Every city has its dangers, but when it comes to the capital of the country that's the epitome of narco trafficking and cocaine, it's on another level. Also, I bet in your night walks you didn't adventure to the city's downtown like the "Santa Fe" area, "La 22", "Ciudad Bolivar", and so on which are far to the south. Just want to open people's eyes to the crude reality of a country that live on appareances. (And yes, I'm a columbian, from bogota)
To me, Bogota has the best climate in the world. Never too call never too hot. Just fresh and sunny. Very, very comfortable. Those who say it is cold is because they never been to countries with truly freezing weather. And yes, I live in Houston, a city with crazy weather.
I agree with you, after living in NY for decades and now in FL, and knowing both extremes of cold and hot, definetely Bogotas weather is amazing, its never too hot and never too cold.
If you have a local such as you had your partner you can move ANYWHERE and feel safer and make less mistakes and need less knowledge of the language … on the other hand a random white traveler from US traveling to Columbia should be VERY careful and think about safer destinations unless you can financially live in all best areas and I mean THE BEST
Been a few times to Bogota. Always felt safe. Just avoid some places and dont be an easy target. You will be fine. Once saw a phone being snatched in front of me, so yes it happens. Sadly.
Nice! Yes, we have noticed compared to 10 years ago... That the clean up of all the independent busses in the city has made a big difference. I think more aggressive metro development will help the city certainly be more functional.
@@lifetheorycouple The only market that beats Bogota with the most electric buses in the world is China. "In 2021, Colombia became the second market with the most electric buses in the world and by September 2022 it exceeded 1589 electric buses. Colombia is a leader in goals and actions towards the decarbonization of public transportation. The city of Bogota D.C. is the focal point of these advances.Dec 22, 2023" source google
We would say in the nicer neighborhood (which are all the ones mentioned in the video) and the touristy areas yes. However, we also well acquainted with other parts of Bogota no so highlighted in this video such as the south and east... It's a different story... So in short, it depends on where you go. But for the neighborhoods that attract foreigners, they're quite friendly.
Fair point! I think it also depends on the quality of apartments you want. You can find some as low as $300.00 USD and has high as $3,000.00 USD. We like to keep it under $800.00 if possible, but fully furnished.
OF COURSE!!! But yes and no... Bogota can be cold at times, rainy, very polluted, and dangerous... But comparing those things to what is going on inside and outside of this city... It's silly to just spend 2 or 3 days here. THERE'S JUST SO MUCH TO EXPLORE AND DISCOVER!
Expat living in Bogota for 22 years. You don't know the difference between truth and fiction. In a city of 12 million, you have big city problems. But you also find big city joys (didn't see that you visited free symphony, free horse riding, or art galleries). You don't report "truth" just click bait. Grow up
I grew up in Bogota, lived all over the city for over 24 years,I have family and friends everywhere, north, south, west, etc I have had the privileged to get to know Bogotá VERY well. THIS is the Bogotá we have come to enjoy and love, we’ve not had the time to explore ALL OF IT, so we shared what we have liked the most. This is OUR truth and it doesn’t have to speak to yours. There’s a reason why you can choose to follow or not.
Lately the weather is hotter than I would prefer. Due to the altitude of 2600 meters, the sun's rays are intense, but I love the dry climate, different from the mostly humid areas of Colombia.
Yes! The water restrictions have been a bit annoying... But, we believe this is due to the El Nino effect. Next year the weather should predictively be back to normal.
I get Bogotá has kinda a bipolar weather, you can literally see the sun while being bathed by some rain at the same time, but people who complain about Bogotá being cold seem to have never experienced a true winter weather. Snow is fun for a couple days but when you get closed roads, snow blizzards, black ice storms etc etc etc you quickly realize how fortunate and how nice and mild the weather is here. Great vid guys!!!
TRUE! - And that is the point we make in this video. It's not winter weather whatsoever. It's mild fall weather... But I think it is true, people who grew up in warmer climates then come visit Bogota experience the coldest weather they've ever encountered. But most people coming from areas outside of the tropics find it pleasant because it's not too cold and nor does it actually get hot.
I live in Bogota. I don't know why they are promoting Bogota, maybe for RU-vid views? There are tons of better places to go in the world. If you do come here, Monserrate is the must see if it is not raining. Most people have layovers here. Travelers don't really hang out. They filmed those shots on one of the few nice weather days. Normally it's cloudy, rainy, not necessarily gloomy, but it's like that all year. Bring a rain jacket if you come here, to stay dry and stay WARM. We're in the tropics, but here it's 2600m/8700' and mountain weather. I usually go out with a rain jacket over a t-shirt during the day, and I rarely take it off, and definitely have a jacket at night. I've seen beautiful sunny days in December and May, so trying to define a rainy season is difficult. It's more like wet, and less wet. Christmas to March is usually less wet. I think they should be careful with the places they recommend. If you go too far afield, you start getting to places Colombians are afraid to go. Lots of crime. Don't wander off strolling without asking someone if it's safe. Zipaquira and the salt mines are safe. Small town, nice restaurants, and a big underground salt mine. I recommend staying farther north in the city of Bogota for safety and visiting La Candelaria and surrounding neighborhoods during the day. In general, the southern part of Bogota has more crime, and the north is "rich" apartments and security guards. Usaquen is a nice area for tourists to visit and stay and fairly safe. I used to stay by Parque de la 93, but I always had my head on a swivel there, even though it's a pretty good neighborhood, relatively. Zona T and El Virrey are similar to Parque de la 93. Uber exists here and is slightly more expensive than taxis, but it's no hassle and you prepay, so no BS when you get out of the car. That's the way to get around, especially at night or if you are south of Calle 100. Colombians are typically very polite, friendly, and helpful on the street. I see a lot of gringos on RU-vid walking around filming with cellphones and cameras in the city center. NOT a good idea to advertise expensive equipment on the street. Keep your brand new phones in your pocket. People and tourists have been killed many times in this country for cellphones. It ain't Switzerland.
We really appreciate this detailed comment and view. - We made this video straight from our hearts because so many people say Bogota is not worth your time... We just find people are wrong about that because they focus too much on the cooler Autumn weather and the traffic is has.... But, if you look past those two, sort of inconveniences, you'll see how much beauty there is to experience within and around Bogota.
3:32 To be honest, the US doesnt have the infrastructure to sustain the car culture either... Bogotá in fact follows the car-centric model of the US and that is why it collapses, just as traffic collapses in New York, Boston or Chicago.
Good info...I visited for 8 days in January this year.....great city!! Point to note: Exercise before you visit...walk run etc...the high altitude does affect you...
Absolutely! If you're active, like we are, doing just one or two work outs in Bogota will get you acclimated very quickly. But if you're not active whatsoever... I could see how it would be difficult to breathe if coming from lower elevation.
Bogotá has a lot of pros, but I can’t pass up the fact that crime and drugs are out of control. I’m also American and an experienced traveler in Latin America - Bogotá is the sketchiest place I’ve been to. It’s so annoying to have to consider that every time you leave your hotel that you could get robbed.. sorry, this isn’t happening in many places in the world.
Very fair assessment! - This is indeed our biggest annoyance regarding Bogota and most of the cities in Colombia. Theft and gun-point robbery is a real thing, and you just never know when it's going to happen... However, in the US, as we all know, mass-shootings are a real thing, and you never know when that's going to happen either...
as a bogotano, foreigners need to go to important festivals like rock al parque (music festival in june or november) or SOFA (comic con in October, it happens in Corferias)
I stayed in the business district North of Bogota, met alot of beautiful women, stayed at a great hotel NH Collection of Bogota, I speak no Spanish and I was treated very well. I have no plans to visit Medillin or Cartegena.
This is sooo great to hear! Bogota, although it has a lot of crime and you'll find yourself scrambling to put on a jacket... It's got culture, vibrance, and sooo much going on. If, as it sounds like you are, a large-city lover, then Bogota Colombia is a one stop shop.
@@lifetheorycouple I actually stayed in the hotel connected to the stock exchange building, it seems North Bogota is the major business district, I'm not trying to stay in areas and put myself in situations to be drugged robbed and possibly killed, just wanna chill enjoy the vibe and scenery, and head back home safe.
Hi guys! Loved your video.... That is just a sample of many wonderful things to do and to see here. Not only Bogotá, Colombia is an amazing country to visit. Bienvenidos cuando quieran, welcome anytime ❤
Gracias! Ojalá puedas ver nuestros videos sobre Bucaragamanga, Villavicencio, Ibague, Cali entre otros lugares que hemos visitado en Colombia. La verdad nos hemos divertido mucho ☺️
THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT WE LOVE TO HEAR! - All cities comes with crime and their sets of inconveniences... But, if you really choose to LIVE in any given city, there so many beautiful experiences to have. I hope you enjoy Bogota once you visit.
5 days in Bogota. Stayed in Zona Rosa. No problems whatsoever! Never felt threatened or nervous about anything. I saw a lot of people with their cellphones out everywhere to be honest, but I wouldn’t walk around distracted because the sidewalks are uneven with holes that can cause you to fall down easily! My biggest problem was altitude sickness and the horrible traffic! Overall it’s very underrated place to visit!
It does take some time to get used to the altitude, additionally I don’t think the air quality helps. However, I love my Bogotá. There’s so much to see and do.
At Bogotá and Colombia locals respect foreigners and help them anytime. Colombia people have human values inside the heart always more important others than simple things or material belongings 😊
Yes! Colombians can be very welcoming and inviting into their groups/circles of people. This is something Jonny has really enjoyed about Colombian culture.
«Guatavita is a town that is so beautifully preserved», er..., Guatavita was founded in 1593 and nothing of the original town was preserved. In the 1960s it was rebuilt and the original town was submerged under the Tomine reservoir, do what you see is the 1960s interpretation of a colonial town. Beautiful and nice, but not “preserved.”
Thank you for the fact check! - Neither of us knew this... But still a very neat town to go check out. Some part of me wishes Colombia would do this to the majority of its towns.
This a great video. Enjoyed it so much. I do wonder though why, when you were talking about the temperatures, you went to the trouble of converting Celsius (used in Colombia and everywhere else in the world) into Fahrenheit so that your American audience (and only your American audience) could understand? Couldn't you at least have given both? It didn't spoil the film. Just made it very USA centric. Great quality high definition film too.
LOL! - This might be a struggle for the rest of my life. Let's call 30+ years of conditioning to where it's still difficult for me know what 20 degrees Celsius feels like versus 75 degrees Fahrenheit... Half of our audience is in the US, so it might still be relevant. On top of learning Spanish, I've had to adapt to using the metric system and celsius... People ask how tall I am and I say six foot one... They look at me like, what does that mean?... I now know that is 185 cm... I think the trouble will continue for me with all these conversations. And then on top of that you have different currencies. --- Thanks for the compliment on the film quality! 95% of this is shot with a an iPhone 13 Pro believe it or not. --- AND THANK YOU FOR THE VIEW AND COMMENT!
Oh common man, don't say that about my born city. Bogota the capital is an amazing city to live or simply to come here as a trip visitor. I cannot say this city is 100% save because I will be lying to you but as any other city in this country you need to know exactly where you are going to stay or walk. The food here are so good, the fruits and vegetables are the best. The people are so respectful and polite. I used to live in United States more exactly south Florida and I have some american friends from there. They know they can come here whenever they want. They are welcome! I can consider myself a good tourism guide for them 😊❤
Nope, I respectfully disagree; after living here 409 days and counting more days until I can leave this place, I can tell you that, yes, the weather is amazing, it is green and luscious, and the fruits are the best. Bogota as a city is beautiful. But the place is in absolute chaos, the traffic is horrible, the public transportation sucks, and you eat smog 24/7. This is not even healthy. Society here is a mystery to me; living among them is like living in anarchy; there are no social norms, Regetton until 2-3 AM, they are totally unaware of personal space, and they run into you walking on the street, unbelievable. Nope, no, no. I understand being proud of your city, but don't try to fool people. Also, you can see all the tourist attractions in one day, and there are only 4 places worth seeing.
Thank you for the view and a through comment! - We can totally understand this point of view. It is a quite chaotic and the way Colombians are about personal space is really a Colombian thing. I cannot say that's isolated to Bogota. --- Regardless, we think you did it right, you decided to spend over a year in the city to see if it matches your vibe. This is really a push and pull in our relationship as Bogota is a bit chaotic for Jonny... But it's Widny's home and she loves it. But that's just more fuel to the fire as to why we're traveling the world in search of a place that matches our vibe. We hope you and anyone else watching our channel ultimately finds their vibe.
I think i just found my new favorite channel. Ive been thinking about moving to colombia for many reasons. Was looking at medillin but now ive found you guys, i might change to bogota. Im going to go back to your first videos and watch my way up
We have a layover in Bogota from 5am to 2pm (flight from US) - so realistically we got 3-4 hours to play with before we need to book it back to El Dorado. Any tips to get to the city center quickly and if any place is walkable? Just sightseeing and eating. No museums. Thanks for the video!
Uber or Taxi might be best. But depending on time of day it could take an hour to get to the city center. And then another hour to get back to the airport. The neighborhood of La Candelaria is walkable. I’d try to get as close to Plaza de Bolivar or go straight to Monserrate for the cable cart. - Your time line is a bit tight for a large dense city like Bogota.
I know I'm late to the party, and you might not even read this, but other people could potentially benefit from my two cents. The paradignatic city center is often not feasible in such a time frame in any city. There are alternatives, and in Bogota I would recommend Parque Simón Bolívar or El Salitre, which are wonderful spots much closer to the airport.
Reading all comments just make me sad I left my city 20 years ago right when changes started hopelly i will be back soon in the mind time enjoy for me. 😢
Very true! - This is why we suggest finding an apartment that gets direct sun, either facing east or west. That way the apartment warms up when the sun does come out.
That’s right. It’s a matter of preferences and what you’re willing to sacrifice. Bogota is not perfect but we have discovered parts of the city that we love.
You left? Due to my Mother in Law’s aging and health I may be moving to Mazuren! I was hoping you would do a video of that area? My wife’s family will not let me go anywhere alone,, which is very frustrating! And you are such a cool couple I was hoping to meet you! Good luck in all your travels! Love your videos!
We will be back for sure! Bogotá is our second home 💕 I must say that my family was terrified of Jonny walking alone in the streets of Bogotá, but with him learning survival Spanish and all of the “safety tips,” we started to feel more and more comfortable. To the point that he would sometimes watch my little brother and they would go on small adventures around the neighborhood. Jonny has always expressed his need for his independence and how much he enjoys walking, so it is something that we had to respect and trust that everything will be fine. I would suggest communicating with your wife and her family to make sure they understand and they help you feel safe and confident navigating Bogotá, instead of being fearful.
We totally get that his can be people's experience. However, you really cannot discredit how many awesome things there are within Bogota and around it, even in the midst of the chaos.
You mention pollution but never discuss it in the video. How bad is the pollution in Bogota? Is it worse certain times of the year? Can you suggest a peaceful neighborhood in Bogota where you can walk to the hiking trails/mountains? Thanks!
The air quality is worse in the southern and western parts of the city. So if you're near the mountains (Eastern Hills/Cerros) or north, you'll find the air quality to be better. If your next to a busy road, you'll definitely smell the fumes. December is the worst time of year because families are traveling in, out, and through Bogota to see each other. So traffic is worse and so is the pollution during the holiday season. --- Hiking Trails... It's best to always book the Cerros Orientales hikings (caminos.eaab.gov.co/) because its organized and they have police on the trails so that you're safe... Zona G, Zona T, Chico, Parque 93, most of Usaquen, these are safer and more peaceful areas of Bogota.
Hahah! I said, “…some very dense traffic, yes…” It’s a shame that people often disregard Bogota as a destination in Colombia or give it only a day or two visit. There are a lot of great things to explore and do I believe many would find more than interesting.
Laissez ce pays en paix mêlez vous de vos oignons . Que Jésus christ et la sainte vierge Marie protègent ce très beau tropical pays et ses habitants de tous leurs ennemis 🙏🙏🙏
Thank you for the view and comment! - Peace is a difficult subject. More than often, countries that experience a lack of peace is a result of their own doing.
After 30+ years of conditioning. I am unable to to understand what 15 Celsius means. I always have to convert to Fahrenheit. American traveler problems…. 😅🇺🇸
@lifetheorycouple Indeed! I so loved that drive through the mountains! Retired & and living in NJ but making plans to head back and pick up where we left off! BTW, hot as heck here and summer is brutal this year. BG weather is so envious! Enjoy 😉
The temperatures stay the same year round. March, April, May, September, October, and November are the months with more rainy days. Therefore it’s usual overcast and cooler vs. the dry seasons meaning the months of December, January, February, June, July, and August. - Each year there are two dry seasons and wet seasons. But you can expect average high of 68-70 F and average low of 50 F year round.
Thank you for you view and comment! - Bogota is a very uneven city. There are save spot and really dangerous ones. I think it really matters what areas you're in.
I've ONLY been to Bogota in Colombia, and that's twice, each time one week each on vacation. I've highly enjoyed Bogota as a city. Part of the reason I think I did is because I did my research on what I was getting my self into when I arrived. I knew it was a huge urban landscape with cooler non-tropical temperatures. I wasn't expecting a party city like Cartagena/Medellin with warm weather, I was expecting something like NYC in the fall. Bogota still knows how to party though! Love the nightlife there too. Part of me enjoys the fact that I haven't been to Medellin/Cartagena yet because EVERYONE tells me to go to those places lol
You are missing out so badly, Cartagena and Medellin are SO much better in so many ways, much more developed, beautiful and fun, and the best thing around there aren't the parties
@@isabel4998 I'm not knocking Medellin/Cartagena truly, I honestly do want to visit those cities. I just get the vibe that Bogota gets a bad rap from the rest of the country exactly because it IS a big crowded city and the climate is so different from the rest of the country. For the record, I don't think Bogota is the only representation of Colombia, I know the country is known for its tropical climate and beautiful scenery. I'm just saying, I had a good time in Bogota because I did my research and, quite frankly, I've come to enjoy big bustling cities like NYC over time and now those are my vacations, city vacations. I used to ONLY go to tropical cities by beaches.
I’ve been living in Bogota for 2.5 years and all of the above is true. Weather stinks and safety is bad. But the city is super underrated and there’s always something to do
It's a beautiful city big city it got lots of danger parts, but it's very safe other parts especially in the northern areas. The traffic is bad and the bus are very congested. I have friend here and since I been staying here off and on my experience been great. This city has alot of room for growth.
Thank you for the view and comment! - We are well aware of the dangerous parts... There really are two sides to Bogota. We of course have showcased the better parts of the city. But this is true of nearly every major city on this planet.
Always welcome to Bogota, I am from Bogota and don't believe what you say, we are kind, loving, hospitable and we want our city to grow and be a good place to live and to visit us, it's just that many Colombians from other cities come to look for an opportunity in Bogota But they don't want Bogota, they just want to work, so many of those people who are not from Bogota do not take ownership of the city and they are the cold ones, but not the Bogota residents, because Bogota wants it to be more united and people take ownership, take care of their space, no. Vote rubbish, unlike Medellin, where the majority are from the same city, they are more nationalistic, in Bogota we are more open to receiving whoever arrives, but those who arrive do not always contribute to that union, regardless of that, we accept them and we want greetings, come to Bogota, no. they will regret it...
That is a lot of rubbish.Have no idea why you are promoting such a dangerous place . Thiefs in every corner of the city, north to south.The wether is worm but damp, traffic is horrible,rain,rain and more rein..very high altitude that burns the hell out of you..
I live in Bogotá, but I just visited La Candelaria and Monserrate! There are so many places I haven't explored yet! 🇨🇴 #Bogotá #LaCandelaria #Monserrate #Colombia #travel #explore #wanderlust
Hi you two, i had already visited Bogota 4 times before I watched your videos and right now i'm in my cozy loft apartment above the Candileria. Tomorrow i will attempt to get out of town a little and go up the mountain. I am so serious about living here next year, but so far I have been a little lazy finding the right information. How do i get around the ex pat tax? Should i start a business? Or buy an apartment, i really love it here. And Ive never lived in a big city before but something just resonates with my heart here. Maybe someday i'll see you at Cafe del Mercado ? ❤ Gavin
Great questions in this comment. They are too big to answer in a comment however... If you're interested in staying in Colombia for the long run, I highly suggest working on getting your m-visa (Migrant Visa) and work with a law firm like Langon Law. Those m-visas last 2 years... Taxes, depending on your source of income, if it's outside of Colombia, you may no need to pay tax. I suggest reaching out to a tax professional to understand this.... Start a business? We are not the best source of info on how to do this as we have not ran our own profitable businesses, we are remote corporate employees.... Buying is way more complicated and locks you down. If you're like us, it was just more economical to go the Airbnb route and jump around Colombia for a while.... Cafe del Mercado? Unfortunately at the time of typing this comment we have decided to leave Colombia to explore some other countries. ---- BEST OF LUCK
I lived in Bogota until I was 16 years old. I remember being cold and seeing the ground covered with hail sometimes in the morning. Traffic was horrible and transportation was difficult with buses filled to capacity and people hanging from the doors. Of course I’m taking about the 60s and early 70s. I guess the country has come along way.
This still happens especially during the rainy seasons. Some parts of the city get more flooded than others and hail covers the streets when it rains at times. --- Traffic is still bad... But as stated in the video, there are still wonderful things about Bogota and I think there is more to enjoy even given the traffic and weather inconveniences.
I’m in Bogota now and travel here at least two times a year. Since our trip, in April of 2023, it appears they are getting a handle on litter and are starting to use a “level”for their sidewalks? Are 18 inch curbs necessary folks. Otherwise, the climate is perfect and as an old guy, I walk three to seven miles a day. The health care system is terrific if you have private insurance . Great place overall👨✈️🇺🇸
HA! 18 inch curbs... This probably contributes to health/physical movement. We are impressed by the people who are in their 60s, 70s, and some in their 80s who still run up Monserrate.
I (Widny) have visited a couple of the humedales in the city but this is a great suggestion! I had not thought about taking Jonny to see one of those. Thank you!
I lived for 3 years in Bogota and returned to Australia 5 years ago. I’ve been to all these places and everything on this video is true. Bogota is a great place to visit but if you don’t speak any Spanish I’d suggest going with someone who does. You’ll enjoy it much more that way. Living in Bogota is another thing.if you’ve got money and live in a decent neighbourhood you’ll enjoy it but if you aren’t cashed up I’d say don’t do it. Best wishes.
Fair! - I believe if you have money period... Life is a lot easier. You can afford to be in the nicer areas of a city/town and afford more luxuries. Thankfully, we are a good position.
No other Colombian city come close to having what Bogotá has. That's no knock on other cities--Bogotá is the capital and it's much bigger, so it's not like it tried harder or anything like that. If you value what Bogotá has vs. other cities, you will have to put up with the bad stuff (basically the insecurity...traffic and weather are silly things to complain about in my opinion). If you don't, then those other cities (and non-cities of course) start looking a lot more attractive. And it's not like you have to feel the same way all the time--sometimes I want to go to Bogotá, while other times I want to treat it like an airport and bus station and get elsewhere ASAP.
I like Bogota although the first time I went I didn't like it alot. There's lots of forests but the hiking trails are always closed for "security" reasons, that sucks because I like hiking.
This is our exact issue too, unfortunately... You cannot go for a hike by yourself and expect to be safe. Not like the US or even Chile. Instead, you can expect to go for a hike and get robbed... This is why we highly suggest hiking the Bogota Cerrors Orientales as organized by Acueducto (caminos.eaab.gov.co/).
I love Bogóta ❤ yet I hate cities. Bogotá is so different, however. It is a mix of modern hip, and beautiful, lush green parts. The food is phenomenal. Even just the produce is incredible. I am going to buy a condo there and base myself there! My only problem ? High altitude makes my rice cook mushy! 🥰
1. Cold Weather? I only heard from Colombians that it was cold lol. I loved the weather and I live in Dallas. It was perfect sin lluvia. I even got hot in my apartment and wanted some AC but realized I needed change my sleepwear habits. 2. Traffic? Uber is super easy and cheap... just get an Uber and let them deal with the traffic while you rest. 3. Pollution is way better than Medellin imo and so is the traffic although I felt like we were restricted in movement more in Bogota the traffic in Medellin was way crazier. I already miss it and want to go back.
Nice! We lived in Dallas, TX ourselves. November - March can be quite cold at times... Nothing compared to Bogota's "cold'. And yes, it's true, that the only people who describe Bogota as cold are often Colombians themselves. Since the whole country is located in the tropics, they don't have 4 seasons, therefore, they perceive temperature differences more severely, I believe. --- People who grew up in say Santa Marta... That then get used to wearing blue jeans mid-day and don't break a sweat, then one day go to visit Bogota... Experience it as if it's extreme cold. Often times you can find me walking around Bogota in shorts, especially the sunny days. ~ Jonny
I was just in Bogota in July and the weather was amazing. It was warm during the day and at night it got cooler but not bad. The food is amazing, and when you do the conversion from pesos to dollars, you realize how inexpensive restaurants are in Bogota compared to the states. I had a great time, and I look forward to my next visit; this time is going to be longer.
