Here there is no mention of the paragliding available in the area, nor of horseback riding, nor of the best places to dance. There are hints about making your visit to Colombia one of your better doings.
Here are some hints for sparking interesting tour ideas. You may also find suggests for helping you to smooth your adventures. Remember that Colombians speak Spanish. You can find opportunities to test the quality of your Castellano. Your tour could turn out to me a number of smaller tours. I might be a good move to make some of them guided. A knowledgeable guide is a valuable asset. She could either make or break much of the pleasure of the excursion. There are many tours and guides available in Bogota and some elsewhere. Enjoy some planning and enjoy your exploration a lot.
Cundinamarca is the "departamento" (state) of Colombia in which the Colombian capital city of Bogota is located. It has been said that the name Cundinamarca comes from Chibcha word "kutur marga," which means "nest of the condor." Chibcha is the language of the Muisca, a principle pre-columbian people of what is now the Republic of Colombia.
Cundinamarca has a great deal of interesting cultural attractions to offer beyond its marvelous landscape and natural attractions. Cultural attractions include, food, architecture, music, and dance available to you. As your Spanish grows much more culture is available.To begin with, just the geographical attractions could become near overwhelming. Still you may find it easy to forget that you are exploring a bit of the Andes, the longest range of mountains with many of the worlds highests peaks.
You might choose to begin getting acquainted with Cundinamarca by joining a tour group or two at least one an overnighter.Then again you might find and interesting guide in Bogota and by surprise him by saying you would like to get to know the towns of Fomeque, Guasca (Guasca may be the name of a bearlike animal. You could ask someone who knows more Chibcha than I do), Junin, Gacheta, Gama, Gachala, Uhala, and Medina. Most of these town names are hispanizations of Muisca names. Your guide may carry some Muisca DNA. He may be able to speak more English than Chibcha and his language will be Colombian Spanish.
Colombia is rich in water resources and Cundinamarca is certainly one of the richest states in that resource. Colombians have begun to develop and protect this resource, But you may come to feel that beauty of the streams, rivers, is the greater richness. On the Cundinamarca rout of my example this beauty abounds. Much of it comes from the sky in the form of rain, but you may find the water at hot water spas were the water comes from the earth has a great beauty of its own. I have heard that 1/4 of the hydroelectric energy of the country is produced in this department.
A major attraction in the area for some is a nature park called the Natural Chingaza. The origin of the name is a mystery to me. Speaking of mystery, This 150,000 acre park with peaks of over 10,000 feet above sea level is likely to hold secretes that only perhaps a few Muisca and Guayupes know of. Several of the towns I have mentioned here are within this park. There are pure water streams and lakes in the area. With legs better than mine there are many natural beauties to be seen within short walking distance of a good road. There is a great deal of beautiful and dramatic scenery to be seen without leaving the car.
One might easily spend a month exploring the area. Do try to give yourself a week or ten days to enjoy a real chance to take in the curiosities, beauties, and more of the people, places, and doings in what may be called the heart of Colombia. You may delight in treks or hikes, but you do not have to.Very much can be enjoyed frequent road-side stops. Great hours or days can be enjoyed bathing at hot water and checking out the interesting eating opportunities. There is a taste treat or two you may never find elsewhere. To get up your appetite some good bird watching is often available. Perhaps available right from your hotel, cabin, chalet, or hostile. A guide may help you to find lodging very well suited to you.
Or you may be one to check out some of the local alcoholic beverages unknown to you. But you could enjoy the comfort of class of a beverage you know well. You may find simple breathing here a great joy. It is possible to discover some of the purest air you have ever experienced. You may find it best not to run as much as you are accustomed to. A these altitudes the air is often very pure, but may feel somewhat thin to a newcomer.
There are quick an easy ways to change altitudes. A trip doward can quickly get you into warmer more abundant air. You can easily change altitudes to find a warmer climate or air more congenial to you. When you feel a bit too warm, you can easily go up again to the refreshing cool air there.
In much of this area the land does seem more vertical than horizontal. But than again one can feel that one is in some beautiful lowland with lovely green meadows marvelous groves of trees. The fact is that the very lowest spot you may visit will be about 3000 feet above sea level. You may also find that the top of the little hill near you has an altitude of over 9000 feet. You could get up a good bit higher if you wish. Not good running country for a low-lander. Not at first.
No need to tell anyone, but you may find yourself close to El Dorado, he Gilded One, or at least to the lake where he was washed of the gold dust covering his body. Remember that at a good hostel there may be some one ready to relate very interesting and useful information. This may be so even if there are youth their to exuberant for your taste and you do not intend to stay you may still find people there persons there pleased to give you very good valuable information with a smile. Before I forget, don't you forget to bring a light jacket and sweater or the like. Even though you are not so very far from the equator, the nights are chilly and some days can be pretty cool. There is some good shopping in Bogota and the prices makes it tempting. You could buy a sweater or jacket there.
You can vis the area we have been considering from a variety of directions. This is best done one at a time. Many have found that a good start may be don from Bogota to the cement town of La Calera. Calera has many restaurants, and a few are quite good and probably much cheaper than the ones you may have eaten in the Capital. Still for one new to the country it may be best to drink bottled water or a gin fizz and stick to cooked food. You might have to leave some of your first beautiful salads.
If you find that you have time to spend in La Calera and feel like decent walk, you find it easy and worthwhile to visit La Pena Tunjuaque while you are here. Take your time and take it easy, You may begin to feel like your are getting up close and personal with the country in a comfy way. If not it is a nice walk and could lead to a good night's sleep.
Thank you for reading.
Enjoy!