Cerro De Monserrate
Monserrate is the most visited sanctuary in Bogota and at 3,172 meters it's conspicuous from almost anywhere in the city. The shrine at the summit is said to perform miracles and has been the focus of religious pilgrimage since 1620. Climb, ride or fly your way up, its a must do whilst in the Capital.
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history
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The Muisca indigenous people called the mountain quijicha caca, or ‘grandmother’s foot’, and considered it important as the sun rises directly behind the mountain during the solstice in June. The later Sanctuary dates back almost 500 years to the founding of Bogota. In 1620 the Fernández de Valenzuela family began the construction of the hermitages on the hill which was known as Las Nieves until the middle of the 18th century. Three years later, a monastery was founded dedicated to Santa María de la Cruz de Monserrate. In the same period, a path was improved that led to the top of the hill with small chapels for pilgrims. The the sanctuary exhibits the carving of the Fallen Lord of Monserrate, made by Pedro de Lugo y Albarracín in the 16th century. For many faithful Catholics, this statue is miraculous. Every weekend many Colombians and foreigners alike make the climb, some pilgrims still make the journey on their knee's.
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getting there
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Monserrate can be seen from almost anywhere in Bogota. It's sits on the Eastern edge of the city within the Santa Fe district. The entrance is easily accessible by foot from the numerous accommodations within La Candelaria, the cities historical district.
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visiting
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The time of day is key, while Bogota is cooler than most of Colombia it may still reach 30ºc and there is little shade on the route up. Early mornings are best, it will give you sufficient time too. That doesn't mean it won't rain with daily showers the being the norm in the city. April and May see the most rainfall, while October and November come close. The driest time to visit Bogota is between December and March. Temperatures remain steady throughout the year.
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Once at the foot of the hill you have three options: walk, ride the train (funicular) or jump on the cable car (Teleferico). You're above 2,500m where Altitude effects can become apparent. Checkout our safety guide for more.
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Footpath | It's free to enter and took us 50 minutes to hike to the top with short breaks. We ascended at 11am on a Friday and while it was busy, the numbers didn't detract from the experience. It's a well maintained wide stone path. The steps are deep and the incline is steady and gradual. There's beautiful views of the city for most of the way. Steep drop offs are mostly fenced off. The path is patrolled by numerous Police Officers and there's plenty of vendors offering fruit (fruta), water (agua) and energy drinks if you want them. There's plenty of dogs, they were friendly and seemed to be cared for by the vendors.
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Funicular | Runs Monday - Saturday 6:30am - 11:45am (5:30am for athletes). Sunday 5:30am - 5:30pm. Bank Holiday Mondays 6:30am - 5:30pm. The Box Office closes at 10:30pm. A return costs 23,500Cop (£4.20) though drops to 14,000Cop (£2.44) on a Sunday. A one way trip is 16,000Cop (£2.80) or 8,000Cop (£1.40) on a Sunday. Be aware that the wait to descend can be as long as 3 hours at busiest periods. Funicular means cable pulled train, it's been serving the mountain since 1923 (though the carriages were last replaced in 2003). The journey takes just 3 minutes. It may be standing room only for a capacity of 80 passengers and the glass roof gives stunning views of your ascent.
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Teleferico | Runs Monday - Saturday 12pm - 11:30pm, and Sunday 10:00am - 4:30pm. It's closed on Bank Holiday Mondays. The Box Office closes at 10:30pm. The fare and wait times match the Funicular. The Teleferico has been in service since 1955, with large windows on all sides it offers panoramic views of the city and mountainside. It may well be a squeeze but you'll be at the top in just 4 minutes.
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at the top
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The Basilica | Eucharist is held Monday at 12pm, Tuesday to Friday 10am and 12pm and on the first Friday of the month
at 8am, 10am, and 12pm. On Saturday's it's at 8am, 10am, 12am, 2pm and 4pm. On Sunday 6am, 7:30am, 9:30am, 10:30am, 12am, 2pm and 3:30pm. On Bank Holiday Monday's it's 8am, 10am, 12pm and 2pm. The doors of the basilica remain open during service, you may enter, take pictures and participate as much or as little, and as publicly or as privately as you wish. There are no restrictions on bare legs as there are within some other religious buildings in South America.
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There's something of a food monopoly at the summit, with all the options being owned and run by the same company.
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Grill Monserrate | The most casual option of the three, Grill Monseratte offers grilled meats paired with traditional Colombian food.
Monday to Friday 9am - 4pm
Saturday, Sunday and Bank Holidays 8am - 4pm
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Santa Clara Home | Come for the views and stay for the sunset at Santa Clara Home. The white colonial style buiding is a beautiful setting. They serve Colombian dishes such as Bandeja Paisa and Ajiaco Santafereño. Prices for a main start at around 40,000Cop (£7) and end much, much higher than that.
Monday to Friday 12pm – 4pm
Saturday 9am – 5pm
Sundays and Bank Holidays 9am – 4pm
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San Isidro | One of the top French Restaurants in Bogota booking is essential. The menu varies, the current one offers a Chateaubriand for 90,000Cop (£15.66).
Monday to Saturday 12pm -11pm
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The Market | A bustling street market complete with street food at the summit on Monserrate? Why not. You can get everything from an Escobar t-shirt to cows hoof bottle here, if a little inflated in price.
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Bird Watching | 200 species of bird call Monserrate home. Hummingbirds dominate the menagere and there are signs up detailing the species.
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something else
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Competitions | Every month around 4,500 athletes visit Monserrate. The current record of ascent is 18 minutes. Red Bull stage cycling events down the steps ,and every year the mountain is lit up in December as part of a firework competition.
NEXT STOP
Colombia's capital is shaking off its bad reputation. Planning on passing through? Forget it, you'll need at least a week, more probably. Gentrified streets, street art, and a thriving cafe culture make Bogota a worthy pin on your travel map.