Bogota & Salento (Columbia) La candelaria, Montserrat , staying safe and the colourful coffee town

Our first week in Columbia

We landed in Bogota at 3.40 am and took a taxi to our hostel - Granada hostel in La Candelaria the old town .A very safe comfortable hostel with cafe . We should have booked an additional night so had to wait until 3PM to get our room https://www.granada-hostels.com/booking/
La Canderlia is the home of the main square - plaza Bolivar , the cathedral , a statue of Simon Bolivar, Palacio Llevano , Palacio de justicia ( most covered in black drapes to stop graffiti ) .

Bogota was edgy and we had to stay in certain areas and not walk . Ubers were very easy and cheap and arrived within minutes.

Bogota is 2600 M above sea level so any fast walking you may feel out of breath .

Bogota history and coffee tour was a brilliant 3 hour tour hosted by @gio_tourguide . We ended up in the Cafe mercado def one to visit for a lovely coffee and experience great service and lovely surroundings .   / elcafedelmercado  

A trip to Monserrat via the cable car cost us 60,000 COP ( £12) for 2 . 400M above Bogota amazing views of the city and the jungle behind . Have a coffee or hot chocolate at the Casa Clara a beautiful colonial style French building

A visit to the Botero museum is a must . Free entrance


Bogota - Some good restaurants - 1) Huitzilin restaurants in the plaza del Chorro de quevedo in the historical centre .There is a red building with 12 empty windows which portrays the 12 disciples . 2) Quinua y Amaranto a vegan restaurant 3 course lunch for 50,000 3) Selina hostel restaurant and bar great vibes .

The bus to Armenia ( no direct route to Salento ) was from terminal de Salitre £30 for 2 . 6 hours through the foothills of the Andes . From Armenia to Salenta another much smacker bus ( 45 mins) £4 per person.

Accomodation - We stayed in the Coffee tree boutique hostel absolutely amazing place.http://coffeetreebh.com. Great service, location and vibes .

Salento is a beautiful town, colourful and vibrant if you have seen the film Encanto then thats what it looks like . Go to the viewing platform up the steps at the end of Calle real and the views are breath taking.

The Ocaso 3 hour tour of a coffee plantation was excellent . The jeep ride to the plantation was an experience .Jeeps are outside the main square and cost approx £3 a trip per person https://www.ocasocoffee.com/web/

The Cocora valley hike 12 K def worth a visit. Jeeps take you 30 mins into the countryside . The Bosque de las Palmas is breath taking . Entrance to the Cocora valley is 20,000 per person ( £10 for 2 ) Plenty of opportunities to get into the river for a swim . The 20,000 COP ( £10 for 2 ) entrance fee to the Acaima reserve allows you to see humming birds and a hot chocolate or coffee is included.

The Santa Rita waterfalls - Take a bus from Salento bus station to Boquia a small village 10 mins down the road ( you will have to ask to get off at the yellow bridge ) a 1 hour easy walk to the waterfalls ( you can swim) . We then did an hour hard hike to the second natural pool . Not everyone does this .

The Makao restaurant in Salento we recommend. We went twice . Fab service , good prices and good food . https://www.google.com/maps/place/Mak...