Did you know that Colombia’s capital, Bogotá, is located at an altitude of 2,600 meters in the middle of the Andes Mountains, approximately on the equator? And that this makes it the third highest capital in the world after Quito and La Paz? And that because of the altitude there is about 30% less oxygen in the air? Normally, height differences are never that much of an issue when you go traveling. You also don’t normally fly directly from 0 to 2600 meters. But if you are traveling to Colombia and your plane lands in Bogotá, you do have to deal with that difference in altitude. What can you expect from a high altitude location?
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What to expect when traveling around Colombia’s Andes mountains
1. Oxygen deprivation and altitude sickness
The higher you get, the thinner the air, as we always say. But what does that actually mean? A thin air has a lower air pressure with about 30% less oxygen (at 2600 meters altitude). People from lower elevations do not have enough red blood cells to control for this level of oxygen.
Upon arrival in Bogotá, you will notice this particularly when you are going to exercise, such as taking a long walk, climbing a mountain or climbing stairs. After a period of acclimatization, the body has produced enough extra red blood cells and you don’t suffer from anything anymore.
By the way, you can go even higher in Colombia, for example in Los Nevados. In that case, altitude sickness is a real risk and it is wise to prepare well for a climb.
Preventing altitude sickness
Although you are unlikely to get altitude sickness in Colombia, unless you go hiking in the highest mountain ranges of the Andes, you can certainly suffer from altitude. Some travelers notice nothing in Bogotá; others have headaches, insomnia and feel tired for days. This is how you deal with it:
- Acclimatization. Take it easy the first few days in capital Bogotá. For example, don’t go climbing Monserrate by foot, but take the little train or cable car.
- Drink enough. Drink plenty of water, tea, coffee or even soup. This helps against dehydration and headaches.
- Take it easy. Some travelers do not notice anything, but for those who do suffer from the altitude, it is recommended to start calm. Don’t immediately fill up your entire day and discover Bogotá at a leisurely pace.
2. Smog in Colombia
Because of that 30% less oxygen, gasoline does not burn completely, what you notice by the distinctive gasoline smell in town. The combination of less oxygen and the amount of exhaust fumes in traffic unfortunately make air pollution an even bigger problem in Bogotá and other high-altitude cities.
I myself was quite unaffected by air pollution the first year I lived in Bogotá. Except that it’s annoying. But after that, it started to bother me more and more. A weird taste in my mouth, my skin and hair always oily and a constant feeling of not being able to breathe freely.
After so many years I’ve gotten used to it and I also have the impression that it has become slightly cleaner. But I still notice the difference immediately when I am out in nature.
3. High sun power
Bogotá is situated at high altitude and almost on the equator. This affects the sun power. While the sun strength in the Dutch summer does not exceed 8 (high), the sun strength in Bogotá is around 15 (very strong) every day.
This not only results in very rapid skin burning, but also a higher risk of skin cancer. Therefore, my day cream is not a day cream, but sunscreen with factor 50. I apply this at least 3 to 4 times a day on my face and hands, the rest is covered by clothing.
4. Climate Colombia
The fact that Bogotá is the capital of a tropical country does not automatically mean that it is also 30 degrees there. That is due to the many ecosystems that the country possesses.
Due to the high altitude, the average temperature in Bogotá stays at around 18 degrees during the day and is around 7 degrees at night. Because of its location on the equator, Colombia does not have spring, summer, autumn and winter, but the weather is the same all year round. There are only two rainy seasons to be identified, in April and October. The location also means that the sun rises at 6 AM and sets at 6 PM all year round.
Read more here about the bizarre climate in Bogotá and what clothes to wear.
5. High in the mountains, the boiling point is lower
Something you might not immediately think of if you plan to cook in Bogotá (or anywhere else high in the mountains) is the cooking time. Due to the lower air pressure, the boiling point of water is also lower and water already boils at around 90 degrees. The boiling water is therefore less hot, so that what you want to cook is heated less.
Therefore, a longer cooking time is needed to achieve the same result as in the Netherlands. For example, I always boil eggs for 15 minutes and then I have an egg that is just right for the salad. The same applies to vegetables and potatoes. So a quick boil doesn’t work here.
6. Mosquito bites and tropical diseases Colombia
Due to the high altitude, there are few mosquitoes in Bogotá and in other high-altitude destinations. Mosquito-borne diseases that do occur in lower parts of the country, such as Malaria, yellow fever, Chikungunya and Zika, are not found in Bogotá. Here you can see where Malaria is most common in Colombia. Dengue can occur, but very rarely in this area.
So smearing with anti-mosquito cream is not necessary in Bogota, but it is advisable if you go to lower elevations (below 2200 meters).
If you don’t want to risk mosquito-borne diseases at all, for whatever reason, for example if you are pregnant and want to travel through Colombia, then you might consider one of these two travel routes in Colombia:
- From Bogotá to Honda (skipping the part after San Francisco to stay above 2200 meters)
- From Villa de Leyva to Barichara (skipping the part after Duitama to stay above 2200 meters)
In the mountains of Bogotá
The great thing about traveling in Bogotá is that there is plenty to do in the mountains. For example, from the city center you can take walks to Monserrate or to Quebrada de la Vieja.
You can also take the cable car to the unique neighborhood of El Paraiso, full of street art and beautiful views.
And you will find many cool day trips in the mountains. Just take a look at these more than 20 day trips from Bogotá. Including many in the surrounding mountains.
