Laguna Guatavita: In Search of the Legend of El Dorado

We took a hiking tour – in Spanish – of the Laguna de Cacique Guatavita, which roughly translates to Guatavita Indian Chief Lake.

Located about 40 miles north of Bogotá, Lake Guatavita is a spectacular lake in the heart of the Colombian mountains. It’s also the birthplace of a legend of El Dorado, the mythical city of gold.

The hike was challenging, taking you over 10,000 feet, and the reward was a breathtaking vista. Es vale la pena!

Bring good hiking shoes and lots of water. You’ll need to get an official tour, which includes the bus from Bogota and a tour in Spanish, and often is paired with a tour of the Salt Cathedral. If you’re over 60, the senior discount is significant.  

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MyColombia.com

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Bogota Private Tour: Monserrate, the Gold Museum, and the Botero Museum

We spent a day with a private guide exploring some of Bogota's most iconic destinations, including Monserrate, the Gold Museum, and the Botero Museum.

First, we rode a funicular to the stunning mountain peak of Monserrate, which overlooks the sprawling city of Bogota at more than 9,000 feet.

A major pilgrimage site, Monserrate features an outdoor walk along the Stations of the Cross (Jesus’ journey to his crucifixion) to a neo-Gothic church called the Sanctuary of the Fallen Lord.

We enjoyed the panoramic views of the city, stopped at the tourist kiosks to shop, and tried some coca tea before heading back down the mountain to Bogota and the Gold Museum, which contains the largest collection of pre-Hispanic goldwork in the world.

We then strolled through the Candelaria neighborhood of Bogota, including Simon Bolivar Square, and the Botero Museum, a free museum that features works of art by Fernando Botero, Picasso, Dali, Monet, Renoir, and others.

We took a tour through GetYourGuide to see all these places, and the cost was very reasonable, especially for seniors.

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Monserrate
Gold Museum
Botero Museum

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Monserrate
Gold Museum
Botero Museum