Bogota
Bogota is the capital city of Colombia.
With a population of about 8 million people, Bogota sits approximately 8,660 feet (2640 meters) above sea level in the Andean Highlands. Orientation is relatively easy, as the mountains to the east are generally visible from most parts of the city.
Bogota is a city with many layers. From internationally recognized universities to regional offices for multinational companies, Bogota is Colombia's capital for official business dealings. It is a city that caters to a population that has been exposed to European and North American influences, which ensures that anything from traditional dishes (Ajiaco) to sushi or fast food restaurants can be found. It's one of the most modern and metropolitan cities of South, Central America and the world. Bogota is divided by 4 sections: The south which is mainly the poorer section of the city , El Centro where the main financial headquarters are established, El Occidente which is where Bogota's main middle and some upper class lives, and The North which is where most of the affluent live and where you will find many upscale boutiques, cafes, nightclubs, and many new multinational headquarters.
Santa Barbara, La Carolina, El Chico, Contador, El Retiro, El Nogal, Los Rosales, Lisboa Antigua, La Calleja, La Bella Suiza, El Lago, Cedritos, Usaquen country
Chapinero, La Candelaria, El Centro, Barrio Egipto, Teausaquillo
El Salitre, Alamos Norte, Modelia, Normandia, Los Heroes, Centenario,
Restrepo, Ciudad Kennedy, Americas, Galan, Ciudad Bolivar, Claret, Ciudad Tunal,
The city is served by El Dorado International Airport (IATA: BOG) (ICAO: SKBO) (~20 minutes from downtown in a taxi), that receives several flights daily from New York, Atlanta, Toronto, Montreal, Miami, Los Angeles, Houston, Paris, Barcelona, Buenos Aires, Havana, Panama City, Caracas, Curacao, Fort Lauderdale, Alicante, Madrid, Mexico City, Lima, San Jose, Montego Bay, Quito, Sao Paulo, Rio De Janiero, Santiago de Chile, La Paz, Aruba, and other South and Central American cities. Many international airlines such as Delta, COntinental, Air France, Varig, LAN, American Airlines, Aerogal, Iberia, Copa, Mexicana, Taca, Air Canada and others serve El Dorado. Domestic flights are served by many airlines including Avianca (main Colombia airline), AeroRepublica (an Continental-owned domestic airline) and Aires. Domestic flights of Avianca are served from the Puente Aereo terminal, next to El Dorado terminal, and features WiFi access to the Internet from almost every location. Taxis are regulated, reasonably priced and safe from the airport. El Dorado Airport is under a complete makeup, which will end in 2012 and will make it bigger and more comfortable. El Dorado is also the third busiest airport in Latin America and the largest by cargo movement. A taxi ride from the airport to the center takes approximately 15 minutes.
The safety of bus travel in Colombia has greatly improved in recent years. However, foreigners should take precaution of not traveling to areas of unrest and travel only during the day. Do not carry large amounts of cash with you as robberies are known to occur along some routes. Service in the 'upscale' buses is very good and they are very comfortable. Pick the most expensive service (just a couple of dollars extra) as these buses tend to be newer and better mechanical condition.
