Bogotá-La Calera-Sopó

Bogotá–La Calera.
The road leaves from Carrera 7th and Calle 84 and the initial portion ascends. From kilometer three to the left sightseeing parking areas and public establishments from where a marvelous panoramic of the city is appreciated. At night restaurants, taverns and discotheques offer varied programs and the night sight of the city, which is extraordinary.

Continuing on the same road you will arrive to La Capilla, the place where descent starts leading to San Rafael dam, important engineering work supplying water to Bogotá. Along the road you will find restaurants offering delightful charcoal-broiled meat, typical food and trout. La Calera is a small centenary town with steep streets and prevailing rural environment. At the major plaza the principal temple housing Gregorio Vázquez colonial painter work. The Mayor township located to the western plaza side is a beautiful colonial building; you should taste delicious delicacies, bakery and “masato” beverage sold at shops located on the main plaza.

La Calera–Sopó.
This section offers mild undulation and small valleys landscape insinuating appearance of Sabana. When you reach the town of Sopó, founded in 1612, you should visit Divine Savior church at the main square, a magnificent baroque work of unknown author, the quality of which reveals the hand of a great master. The church also houses numerous paintings of the time. 300 meters away you will find the Lord of the Stone Sanctuary, keeping the small rock appeared in l 1753, which shows the Divine Face image. People usually stop at Alpina plant, an important diary factory to taste desserts, various cheese types and other delicacies.

For returning to Bogotá we suggest taking the central north road, located five kilometers away from the town. Down the road foreign pines and eucalyptus species forests and also native species such as willows and sabana rubber tree form part of the landscape.

Bogotá-Chía-Cota-Cajicá-Tabio-Tenjo
Initial road section offers green sabana landscape. Between Cajicá and Tenjo the territory shows a series of valleys encircled by high very beautiful hills.

Bogotá–Chía.
Leaving by North Highway or Carrera Seventh to arrive at the place known as La Caro, the entrance door to Bogotá. To the right Marroquín Castle. Taking Cajicá branch you will see to the left Puente del Común, built in 1785, and two kilometers ahead Chia Mall. Several cultural activities take place in Chía, for instance young theatre and musical groups presentation on weekends; intensive poetical activities and anthropologic research also take place based on indigenous community inhabiting La Valvanera hill flanks study. Typical and charcoal broiled food restaurants everywhere; ‘almojábanas’, candy and desserts complement the gastronomic offer. You will probably find excellent artisan work, particularly ceramics and tinted glass objects.

Chía–Cota.
The road crosses beautiful sabana territory, pastures and herds of milk cows; predominant eucalyptus forests. Leaving Chia you will find plant nurseries offering a great variety of ornamental plants. Plenty of establishments offering “fritanga” (charcoal-broiled meats variety) soups and typical foods. Following the same road you arrive to Suba.

Chía–Cajicá–Tabio.
The road stretches north leading to Cajicá, a town famous for woven carpets and rugs; people usually stop to taste ice cream, candy and bakery products. Before entering the town you should take a branch to the left leading to the town of Tabio. On the main square you should watch large colonial style houses, particularly those located on the east side. At the top of the hill dominating the town Santa Bárbara Hermitage, plain Jesuit priests building dating back to 1604.
Tabio thermal waters – a public establishment – offers two therapeutic properties pools. Juaica hill well known in the region embeds marvelous histories. People assert that they see small lights at night, some believe fabulous hidden treasures and other ufo sights.

Tabio–Tenjo.
Sabana Tenjo town preserves cultural and national wealth of great interest. The main park of prevailing colonial style, somehow mixed with French and Republican buildings such as the municipality building located in the southeast corner. The building contrasts two neighboring houses dressed in straw roofs. To the western side of the park a beautiful doctrine chapel and a recently build temple. On Sundays artisan work objects offered in the street market known as “Fúchugo de las Niguas” may be acquired. Juaica hills and Majuy hills range offer natural scenarios of great beauty; in the rural area named Chitasugá Pre-Columbian petrography abunds, particularly those well known on Las Petacas stone. Return to Bogotá taking the road heading east, on the road joining Medellín-Calle 80 highway. Gastronomic offer along the sector between Tenjo and Medellín highway is varied, especially charcoal broiled meats and typical Colombian cooking.

Bogotá-Zipaquira-Park Jaime Duque
The route offers excellent sabana landscape hardly interrupted by small land elevations and bordered by a mountain range. The trip starts at North Highway or Carrera Seventh. Al La Caro you should take the western branch; after crossing Chía and Cajicá you will arrive to Zipaquirá. If you prefer at La Caro you may continue on the road to Tunja and first visit Jaime Duque park. From there the road leads directly to Zipaquirá.

Bogotá–Zipaquirá.
Mandatory activity at Zipaquirá is visiting the new Salt Cathedral inaugurated in 1995, excavated inside the mine and the only of its kind in the entire world. The first visit should be “Museum de la Salmuera”, magnificent work illustrating salt extraction process. Mining activities origin dates back to Pre-Columbian age. Salt Cathedral visit takes one hour, and we recommend wearing adequate warm shoes. Magnificent corridors inside the mine hold niches with religious images carved in the salt rock. The Cathedral is a three body building; volume proportions and interior illumination are overwhelming.
At Zipaquirá, which Chibcha language meaning is ‘Zipas’ joy valley’ the main square deserves a visit. You will see beautiful large colonial style houses embellished by magnificent balconies. You may acquire candy and marcasite (iron pyrites) artisan work.

Zipaquirá–Jaime Duque Park.
Jaime Duque park, eleven kilometers distant from Zipaquirá offers many cultural and recreational attractions.
Retun to Bogotá taking to road to La Caro. To the right Hatogrande hacienda, country residence of Colombia, Presidents and further away to the left Yerbabuena hacienda, currently Caro y Cuervo Institute.

La Caro-Tocancipá-Sopó
Leaving Bogotá on the North Highway to reach the site known as La Caro and continue heading north over the new road infrastructure connecting the sector with different towns. You will pass in front to Yerbabuena and Hatogrande haciendas, and following signals you will reach Jaime Duque Park. Five kilometers away is the town of Tocancipá, known for the car racing strip of Colombia. From the road Leona Brewery plant is seen. Along the road a large number of plant nurseries selling lovely ornamental plants are found. The same road should be taken on the way back taking the branch to Sopó. Calera–Sopó road description includes this town attractions.

La Caro–Guatavita
When arriving to La Caro take the road to Tunja; sabana landscape. At kilometer 35 take the branch to the right leading to Sesquilé. This destination offers two interesting attractions: Guatavita lake and New Guatavita town. Guatavita lake is located a few kilometers distant from Sesquilé, 3,100 meters elevation. You may reach the lake by car over a dirt road. Historical reviews indicate that the place was legendary indigenous rituals devoted to King Sun scenario, known El Dorado legend base; lake water color is beautiful blue-greenish. The tour around the lake should be guided by a specialized tourist guide.

Continuing down the main road you arrive to Guatavita. A town fully projected and built in the colonial style was inaugurated in 1967; it replaced the old town flooded following Tominé dam construction. White façade, rustic masonry and red clay tiles homes with plain wood doors and windows. Best sights are the central square, the bull fighting ring, the hostel and the market place. You may cross the dam in a boat or practice water sports such as sale navigation or water sky.