Visiting Gay Bogota – From La Candelaria to the Gold Museum
Bogota, the vibrant and lively capital of Colombia, offers a wealth of exciting things to do and see for visitors who are only in the city for a day. From its rich cultural heritage and vibrant nightlife to its breathtaking natural beauty and bustling street markets, there is something for everyone in this diverse and dynamic city. Here are some of the top things to do in gay Bogota for a day.
First, take a stroll through the historic center of the city, known as La Candelaria. This charming neighborhood is filled with colonial-era buildings, cobblestone streets, and vibrant street art. Visit the historic Plaza de Bolivar, the heart of the city, and the stunning Catedral Primada, the oldest cathedral in Colombia.
Next, head to the gold museum, known locally as the Museo del Oro. Located in the heart of La Candelaria, this museum is home to one of the largest collections of pre-Columbian gold in the world. The museum offers fascinating insights into the history and culture of the indigenous people of Colombia.
I’ll admit it: Bogotá was the place I was the least excited to visit in Colombia. I even almost skipped it because I had read so many horror stories of muggings and I hadn’t found any articles in which people were raving about the city. It seemed like most people were rushing through Bogotá, hitting up the most important museums and moved on to the next place.
There were only two reasons that made me want to go to Bogotá: I had heard that it was the city with the best street art scene in all of Colombia and it happens to be home to El Theatron, the largest gay club in all of South America. I had to check it out, even though that meant leaving my hotel after dark, a thought I found somewhat daunting before I even arrived in Colombia’s capital.
Once I got to Bogotá, however, my fear vanished almost immediately. The day of my arrival I was already meeting friends in Plaza del Chovorro De Quevedo in La Candelaria, Bogotá’s oldest neighborhood, which I had heard wasn’t very safe at night. Apparently this plaza is where the city was founded in 1538, and the surrounding neighborhood with its still intact and well-preserved Spanish-colonial buildings quickly became my favorite neighborhood in town. It was a drastic difference from the shiny office towers in the Chapinero neighborhood, where I was initially staying. In La Candelaria, I found myself surrounded by small, one-story, colorful Spanish-colonial houses, there were still some cobble-stone streets, and there were several colonial churches. I could barely put my camera down on my strolls through the neighborhood!