Happy Monday traveler!

This week, we’re taking you to the colorful city of Bogotá, Colombia.

Get ready to see some graffiti and find out why it’s actually fun being here when it is raining.

🌍️ What’s Going on In the Travel World?

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• Peru Declares State of Emergency in Lima: Key Travel Safety Tips for Visitors - were just in this beautiful place a few months ago

• Early vs. Last Minute: How Timing Affects the Price of Air Travel - We’d almost always recommend planning in advance, especially for international trips

• US drops out of world’s most powerful passport top 10 list for the first time - pretty interesting, where’s your passport from? respond to this email

• Giant pumpkin races draw throngs to annual event in Oregon - We can think of plenty of better reasons to visit Oregon.🎃 

A message from Passport Inspiration

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Planning an international trip can be overwhelming but it doesn’t have to be.

How?

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It’s important to prepare with enough time for things like:

• Visas

• Dining

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• Passports

• Excursions

• Travel Arrangements

  If you want a head start planning, we can help you prepare for an amazing trip.

🙌🏼This Week’s Inspiration

Bogotá, Colombia is the perfect place to soak in some vibrant culture if you ever find yourself with a long layover or a few days to spare.

Once you step into Bogotá, the color of the city hits you right away.

The walls are alive with graffiti art, telling stories of Colombian history, music, and hope.

You can even take a Bogotá Graffiti Tour through the La Candelaria district to learn more about the artists behind these massive murals. It’s part art walk, part history lesson and absolutely fascinating.

We took a tour through here and it was beautiful. It started to rain at the beginning of the tour but we didn’t mind one bit, because the light rain made all of the bright colors really pop.

The heart of Bogotá is La Candelaria, the city’s historic center. There are picturesque cobblestone streets (shown above), colorful colonial buildings, and cozy cafés on every corner.

This is where you’ll find museums, street performers, and plenty of local life.

Stop by the Gold Museum (Museo del Oro) to see thousands of shimmering artifacts from Colombia’s indigenous cultures, or step into the Botero Museum to admire whimsical paintings and sculptures by Colombia’s most famous artist.

Take the funicular or cable car up to Monserrate, the mountain that watches over the city, if you’re up for a little adventure.

From the top, the views of Bogotá stretch endlessly, and there’s even a small church and a few restaurants where you can grab a bite while taking it all in.

We recommend the Salt Cathedral of Zipaquirá, which is one of Colombia’s most unique places to visit, if you have the time. It’s an underground church built inside an old salt mine, with glowing lights that make the walls sparkle and salt-carved crosses lining the tunnels. This is located about an hour from Bogotá.

Bogotá is such an inspiring place because it’s full of color, creativity, and heart. Everywhere you look, there’s art, music, and energy that show how a city can come alive when people take pride in where they live.

How to Get to Bogotá:

Skyscanner is a great site to use for searching for flights.

You can fly directly into El Dorado International Airport, which is one of the busiest in South America and super traveler-friendly.

Take advantage of the 24 hour luggage storage. It was easy for us to leave our luggage there while we explored the city hands-free on our long layover.

Getting around the city is pretty easy. Bogotá has taxis or ride-share apps like Uber that are affordable and safe if you’re cautious. Wear comfy shoes because many of the best parts of the city are best seen on foot.

Where to Stay:

Grand Hyatt Bogotá - rooms with city views or of the Andes

Avani Royal Zona T Bogotá Hotel - airport shuttle, breakfast included

Sofitel Bogotá Victoria Regia - luxury hotel with an incredible breakfast

What to Eat:

Bogotá has plenty to offer when it comes to food.

Try ajiaco, a hearty chicken and potato soup that’s a local favorite, especially in the cool mountain air. You’ll also want to sample empanadas, arepas, and fresh fruit juices. Colombia has an endless variety of fruits.

For coffee lovers, you’re in luck because this is Colombia, after all! You can sip world-class brews at small cafés all around La Candelaria.

What to Pack:

When packing, keep in mind that Bogotá sits high in the Andes Mountains (it’s one of the highest major cities in the world), so the weather can be cool even though you’re near the equator.

Bring layers, a light jacket, and comfortable walking shoes.

👋🏼 Have an Inspiring Week

Here are a few more of our affiliate links to help you when in Bogotá or in general. It’s no extra cost to you and helps us keep this email free for everyone. 😀

• Need some holiday gift ideas for a women who loves traveling? We got you. 

• These packing cubes to help you stay organized.

• Samsonite is having a sale on luggage now. 😉 

• Bogotá Guided La Candelaria Walking Tour (this is what we did and loved it!)

• Bogotá Monserrate, La Candelaria, and City Walking Tour

• Zipaquirá Salt Cathedral and Lake Guatavita Day Tour

See you next week,

Trisha & Bob