Cerro de Monserrate: Hiking to the Most Beautiful View of Bogota
One of the most recognizable attractions in Colombia's capital Bogota, Cerro de Monserrate, is a hill towering above the city with a church perched on its top. Read our guide to Cerro de Monserrate hike, including practical information on how to get there (walk, cable car, funicular), how's the safety situation, how much things cost, and when is the best time to visit it.
Bogota's skyline would not be complete without Cerro de Monserrate, a hill dramatically towering above the city.
In many guide books, you will find a note that Cerro de Monserrate is one of the top attractions of Colombia's capital and the must-visit place but without many necessary details. Well, here we are to change that.
From the very beginning, we had Cerro de Monserrate on our list of things we wanted to see in Bogota, so the question did not sound if but when.
The truth is that the weather in the city can often be moody, rainy, and cloudy, so after our arrival, we only waited for the most pleasant conditions, and then we set off.
Why should you put climb to Cerro de Monserrate on your Colombia itinerary?
The views from the top of the hill are genuinely spectacular.
The church is very picturesque as well, but even the journey to the highest point overlooking the city is worthwhile, and it does not matter if you decide to hike, take a cable car, or the funicular.
We must admit that we were a bit afraid to hike to the hill at first because of the bad safety reputation, but in the end, everything was ok, and we enjoyed an active half-day in nature while still being close to the center.
Thanks to the accessibility, you can quickly put Cerro de Monserrate on your list of things to do in Bogota.
In case you plan on visiting Cerro de Monserrate, keep on reading as we will share with you practical information on how to get to the top of the hill, safety advice, what to pack, and much more.
HOW TO GET TO CERRO DE MONSERRATE
At the moment, you have three options on how to get to the top of Cerro de Monserrate.
As we most of the time consider ourselves budget travelers, you may already know what option did we choose - yes, we walked.
Still, in case you are on a tight schedule, out of shape, or you simply want to enjoy a ride on a funicular or cable car, it is good to know there are more possibilities.
No matter which option you will choose, you must get to the gate where you will either start hiking or buy tickets for one of the transport options.
From our accommodation, we were able to walk to the starting point, but in case you stay a bit further, take Uber.
You will find the beginning of the trail, ticket office, and parking lot on the corner of Carrera 1 and Carrera 3 Este.
HIKING
If you can spare at least three hours, we recommend you walk the trail leading to Cerro de Monserrate.
First of all, you will get great views of the city. Second of all, you will have a chance to adjust your body to a higher elevation.
Acclimatization in Colombia is very important, especially if you plan on visiting Los Nevados National Park or other high-elevated places.
If you opt for hiking, the entrance fee is free, only note that the trail is opened between 5 AM and 1 PM. You cannot start the hike later for safety reasons (it’s dark, robberies, etc.).
Although the hike is not for the faint of heart as it is pretty steep (you will gain more than 500 meters), when you keep a steady pace, you should reach the top of the hill in an hour, an hour and a half maximum.
You can also watch your progress on the wooden boards along the way, where you can see how many meters you've already climbed.
Bring a snack and water, but you can buy refreshments in one of several stalls that line the trail close to the top.
We hiked to Cerro de Monserrate on the weekend, and the trail was quite crowded with locals, but at least we felt pretty safe.
In case you are not sure if you can climb to the top but still want to enjoy the experience, you can always buy a one-way ticket for either funicular or cable car and then walk back to Bogota downhill on foot.
FUNICULAR
The funicular is basically a slow train which will take you to the top in a couple of minutes.
For us, this option seemed the least appealing; hadn't we been hiking, we would have probably opted for cable car over funicular, but the choice is yours.
The cost of a return ticket is 21 000 COP or 12 000 COP for one way; on Sunday, the ticket is almost 50% less expensive; that's why you will meet here considerably more people.
CABLE CAR
If you want to get extensive views and be at the top in only a couple of minutes, take a cable car ride. The cost is the same as when you take the funicular, and according to us, this is a better deal.
At some times, like on Mondays or holidays either cable car or funicular do not work, but you can be sure that at least one of them will be operating all year round.
IS CERRO DE MONSERRATE HIKE SAFE?
We were indeed a bit worried about our safety before climbing the hill above Bogota because of its reputation.
Firstly, it was caused by what we could read online; secondly, it was our first short hike in South America.
It is true that several years ago, mugging on this particular trail was no exception, but since then, the safety situation, fortunately, has improved.
To stay safe, we recommend you to visit the hill on weekends when many locals take the trip to Cerro de Monserrate, so you should not be anywhere alone and vulnerable.
Also, your chances of being surrounded by people are higher on a sunny day than on a cloudy one, when there will undoubtedly be significantly fewer visitors.
In case you are a solo traveler, it is always better to join someone or book a tour just in case.
The safest way to get to the top of the hill is by funicular or cable car, but we think the hike is worth it if there exists at least a small chance to do so.
Well, remember we told you that at first, we were worried about our safety?
Funny story.
In the end, the visit to Cerro de Monserrate was completely ok. We were robbed only a couple of hours after in the historic center of Bogota.
Ok, maybe it is not that funny, but as you can see, you should keep an eye on your valuables all the time here.
And don’t forget to read our blog post - How to Stay Safe in South America.
Travel Insurance
We never leave home without travel insurance that was designed to cover our expenses if something goes wrong during the trip.
Travel insurance protects against theft, flight delays, injury, illness, cancellations, and much more.
World Nomads provides travel insurance for travelers to cover their trip essentials, including sports and adventure activities.
SafetyWing is affordable travel insurance for backpackers, long-term travelers, and digital nomads.
Travel smarter and safer!
DO I NEED A GUIDE?
In case you are traveling independently, even for the first time, there is no need to feel anxious about visiting Cerro de Monserrate on your own.
The path is very well signposted, and in case you will set off on a nice day, preferably on a weekend when there are many people around, we believe you have no reason to feel unsafe and pay for a guide and other extra services.
Thanks to the fact you can independently get to the top of the hill, this activity is very budget-friendly and helps you to save money on the road.
TOURS
However, we absolutely understand that less experienced travelers or those of you who are looking for a more comfortable way of travel might find an option of getting to Cerro de Monserrate with a guide appealing.
In this case, you can reserve this service well in advance. Here are some tips.
Monserrate Tour and Tickets | Enjoy the walk along the hill and the splendid views of Bogota city from the top.
City Tour and Monserrate Hill | Explore the best of Bogota, visit La Candelaria, Monserrate Hill, or the Gold Museum.
Private Tour of Monserrate | If you prefer traveling without a group, check out this private tour.
WHEN TO GO
Weather and temperatures in Bogota are all year round affected by the altitude as the city lies 2640 meters above sea level.
That's the reason why you won't experience here many really hot days, expect rather spring-like or fall-like days.
Bogota is actually famous for the fact you can experience here four seasons in only one day.
The city has two dry seasons and two rainy seasons during the year; the rainiest months are March, April, May, October, and November.
You can visit during this time the city as well, but the views can be a bit blocked by the clouds.
However, we are pretty sure that at least one day during your stay will be sunny, and it will be the right time to climb Cerro de Monserrate.
WHAT TO PACK
For visiting Cerro de Monserrate, it is a good idea to wear layers.
Pack a long-sleeved t-shirt, fleece jacket, travel pants, but if you plan on hiking up, wear something lighter as you will be sweating.
Wear trail walking shoes, a good day pack with back support, water bottle, and for safety reasons, we left cash and credit cards at the place we stayed in, or you can use a travel pouch.
Rain poncho or at least an umbrella is a must, especially if you travel during the wet season.
WHERE TO STAY IN BOGOTA
There are many districts in Bogota where you can stay during your visit.
Still, the best places to spend a night before sightseeing or visiting Cerro de Monserrate are either La Candelaria, Santa Fe, Chapinero, Zona Rosa, or Zona G.
These areas are considered safe (always watch your valuables in Bogota) and have a good connection to the center.
We've handpicked the three best hotels in Bogota for every budget.
Budget | Hotel San Francisco de Asís - Located in the Santa Fe district, close to the city's most important sights, this lovely hotel is a great choice for budget travelers.
Mid-range | Hotel Ibis Bogota Museo - Wonderful location right next to the national museum, modern, clean rooms, and a buffet breakfast make this hotel an excellent value for money.
Luxury | Radisson AR Bogota - This luxury hotel has spacious, modern, and comfortable rooms, great service, and an excellent location close to the international airport. A free airport shuttle is provided.
Alternatively, search for your accommodation via Hostelworld.
Travel Resources
Here you can find links to all the travel resources we use and which you might find helpful when planning your next holiday.
Accommodation: When looking for accommodation, we usually search hotels via Booking.com or Hostelworld.
Tours: Although we love to travel independently, some places are better to visit with a guided tour.
We prefer GetYourGuide for its easy-to-use interface and solid reputation. Another great alternative is Viator.
Rental Cars: When going on a road trip, we always use Rentalcars.com, a reliable site for booking a rental car in advance.
Flight Tickets: When looking for flight tickets, you can search Skyscanner to find the best price.
Travel Insurance: World Nomads and SafetyWing cover against risks of travel.
