Travel Hacks

Take altitude seriously on the first day. Bogotá sits at about two thousand six hundred metres, and many visitors feel tired or short of breath. Drink water, avoid heavy exercise and go easy on alcohol the first evening.

Book the airport shuttle the evening before an early flight. Confirm the time at reception, and ask for an early breakfast or a packed version if leaving before breakfast service.

Order tamal with hot chocolate and cheese, a Bogotá breakfast tradition, in a local bakery on a Sunday morning. Ajiaco, the chicken and potato soup of the capital, is the dish to try at lunch.

Carry a light jacket and an umbrella at all times. Weather in Bogotá changes several times a day, and afternoon rain is common all year.

Keep your phone out of sight in crowded places and on TransMilenio. Bogotá is generally manageable for visitors, but phone snatching is the most common problem.

For the embassy appointment, leave early and bring only what is allowed. Mobile phones, bags and electronics are restricted at the entrance, and many applicants leave them with nearby storage services or at the hotel.