To discover Bogotá is to start a cultural journey of unique flavors and incredible landscapes. If there is a place that meets all these qualities, it is La Candelaria; Located in the heart of the capital, it is listed as one of the favorite areas for residents and visitors, thanks to its historical value and captivating colonial style.

 This characteristic sector is the point of origin of the city, witness to historical landmarks of the country and a setting in which the heritage of the Muisca people who lived there thousands of years before, between the departments of Cundinamarca and Boyacá (decades prior to the Spanish conquest).

 The foundation of Bogotá took place in the year 1538, under the leadership of the Spanish Gonzalo Jiménez de Quesada; The place where the capital was founded is still a matter of debate and a series of myths that haunt the place. A good number of theories suggest that the city began its formation in what is now known as the Plaza del Chorro de Quevedo, in ancient times called "Thibsaquillo" which means rest land in the Chibcha language.

La Candelaria is made up of the La Concordia, the Cathedral, the Waters, the Administrative Center, Egypt, Belén, San Francisco Rural, Nueva Santa Fe and Santa Bárbara neighborhoods, and is the smallest town in Bogotá. Much of its heritage value is due to its strategic location and the relevance of the buildings that surround it, such as the enigmatic Plaza de Bolívar, the Cathedral Primada de Colombia, the National Capitol, the Palacio de Liévano, seat of the Mayor's Office of Bogotá, and The justice palace.

 If you have a special taste for places that bring together history and knowledge, a museum circuit awaits you during your visit to La Candelaria. Some of the most prominent are: the Santa Clara Museum, Museums and Collections of the Bank of the Republic (Casa de Moneda, Botero Museum and Museum of Art of the Bank of the Republic), the Museum of the National Police, the Gabriel García Culture Center Márquez, the Casa del Marqués de San Jorge Archaeological Museum, among other places of interest.

 Touring La Candelaria will take you to photograph its cobbled streets, balconies and colonial doors, and of course, to want to taste recognized typical dishes in the restaurants that are located in the surroundings. Some iconic sites are the traditional restaurant ‘La Puerta Falsa’ famous for the Santa Fe ajiaco and the La Concordia market square, which brings together different shops, restaurants with exquisite proposals and the Santa Fe art gallery.

Over time, El Chorro de Quevedo has established itself as one of the best meeting places in the Colombian capital. The bohemian atmosphere of this square captivates its visitors, who find in one place a wide cultural offer that begins with artistic murals, which attract the gaze of those who visit it, handicrafts, cafes and bars with flagship drinks such as the traditional chicha, beer artisanal, cocktails and other preparations, to get together any day of the week.

 This iconic capital scene houses a wide range of hotels and hostels for all tastes and budgets. If you want to participate in the guided tours through the Historic Center and La Candelaria, visit the website of the District Tourism Institute - IDT https://www.idt.gov.co/es/recorridos-gratuitos, register and venture around the city . Explore Bogotá and discover more of the magic that inhabits La Candelaria!

When you visit Bogotá you will find charming parks, green gardens and amazing natural settings. Here you will discover a magical place, of incomparable beauty, in which harmony is a natural condition, it is the José Celestino Mutis Botanical Garden.

 Located in the town of Engativá, to the west of Bogotá, the José Celestino Mutis Botanical Garden is a district research center responsible for the comprehensive management of the city's green coverage; Environmental education programs are developed there, and the conservation and maintenance of the living collection of the city's flora is ensured.

 With an area of ​​approximately 195,000 m², the José Celestino Mutis Botanical Garden has in its inventory about 46,645 individuals, 304 families, 469 genera, corresponding to 903 species of plants, about 78% are native and 14% are endemic. The Botanical Garden also has a network of circuits of living collections that emulate ecosystems present in the country (especially the high Andean and páramo ecosystems).

The José Celestino Mutis Botanical Garden in Bogotá is named after the astronomer and botanist José Celestino Mutis, the first scientist to dedicate himself to the study of natural sciences in the territory of New Granada. His task was the beginning of a deep and long tradition around the flora and fauna of the country. "El sabio Mutis", as he was later known, arrived in the country around 1760 as a physician to Viceroy Pedro Messia de la Cerda. With the support of Viceroy Antonio Caballero y Góngora and the approval of Carlos III, Mutis began in 1783 the Royal Botanical Expedition of the New Kingdom of Granada, a relevant scientific expedition that would last 33 years and in whose work 20 thousand plant species and 7 species were cataloged. thousand animals.

 Birdwatching At the José Celestino Mutis Botanical Garden, birdwatching is an experience; You will be able to contemplate about 50 species such as the endemic rufous picocone (Conirostrum rufum) and other species that live in Bogotá such as the magpie tanager (Cissopis leverianus) and the Baltimore turpial (Icterus galbula). The Garden has 3 platforms suitable for bird watching and has specialized guides who will give you the best guidance on bird watching.

In the José Celestino Mutis Botanical Garden you will have a unique experience when hiking. Enjoy entertaining walks, contemplate the flora and fauna and discover an incomparable natural setting. Hiking along the routes of the Botanical Garden will be an activity that will awaken your spirit as an athlete and your drive as an explorer.

 Adjacent to the José Celestino Mutis Botanical Garden, the Simón Bolívar Metropolitan Park is located, the largest and most important urban park in Bogotá, a setting that you must visit! Without a doubt, a pure nature plan for you to open your senses and enjoy the Bogota environment with all its splendor.

Perhaps one of the most prestigious places, among tourists who come to Bogotá, is Andrés Carne de Res. And it is not for less, because its food, atmosphere and drinks will make you feel in a different and unique place. A place that will fill you with sensations never before perceived and, the best, with the inevitable Colombian touch. 35 kilometers from Bogotá, in the municipality of Chía, you will find one of the most striking places in the country. In addition to its colorful façade, the interior of the restaurant is a tribute to the diversity and multiculturalism of the country. Andrés Carne de Res is characterized by being an exclusive restaurant where you can explore the traditions of each region of Colombia in a single space. In this setting you will delight yourself with a complete gastronomic offer in which the typical flavors of the country stand out. In Andrés, rumba is an experience, so enjoying and falling more in love with the country is part of the plan.

And it is that the idea of ​​falling in love with the rest of the country, happened to Andrés Jaramillo (owner of the place) who would give free rein to a dream that would begin around 1982, after the acquisition of a particular hut located next to the highway in Chia. The hut would serve as a restaurant and in principle it would have few tables and chairs built by Jaramillo himself; this place would open the way and allow Andrés Carne de Res to become, later, a distinguished setting, with good food and an incomparable rumba, ideal for all diners.

A public transport bus served as inspiration for Andrés Jaramillo to strengthen the idea of ​​the Andrés Carne de Res restaurant in the Bogotá savanna. The color, the number of people in one place, the street vendors and other picturesque details representative of the Bogota culture, give life to the place. In the restaurant you will find a space to have fun until your body can endure. In that "bus" called Andrés Carne de Res, you will find fun everywhere, recreation, culture, tradition and gastronomy. An experience!

After several years in operation, Andrés Carne de Res has managed to expand rapidly, enjoying great prestige and opening more stages that bear the same imprint: Andrés DC in the Zona Rosa de Bogotá or Las Plazas de Andrés. Currently the firm has 6 commercial warehouses in cities such as Ibagué, Santa Marta, Medellín and of course Bogotá; Likewise, the restaurant today has 4 Plazas de Andrés that have been installed with all their splendor in shopping centers in the country's capital. This is a destination that will not go unnoticed, as it is almost a flagship of Bogotá and the municipality of Chía. You can identify it by its peculiar façade, positioned on the side of the road. Knowing Andrés Carne de Res is an experience that you must enjoy; the hours to the public go until 3:00 a.m. So you have enough time to get to know the place and get the best impression of Bogotá, Colombia, Chía and all its people.

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