Bogotá: La Candelaria Food Tour with 7 Regional Tastings

Summary

Walk Bogotá’s old streets tasting Colombia’s regions in every bite

You’ll wander Bogotá’s historic La Candelaria on foot, tasting dishes from seven different Colombian regions—like tamal tolimense and sweet obleas—guided by locals who know every shortcut and story. Expect laughter over mispronounced words, flexible stops depending on city life that day, and enough food for two meals. Come hungry—and curious.

What’s the experience like?

I almost missed the meeting point because I got distracted by a street performer outside The Cranky Croc Hostel — honestly, it set the tone for the rest of the day. Our guide, Camila, just grinned and waved me over, no big deal. Right away she started chatting about how Bogotá’s weather messes with your sense of time (she wasn’t kidding; it went from sunny to drizzle in ten minutes). We set off through La Candelaria’s uneven streets, dodging a guy selling guava candies and a couple of schoolkids who kept glancing at our group like we were aliens.

The first stop was this tiny spot called Di Amato for carimañolas — crispy on the outside, soft inside, filled with cheese and beef. I burned my tongue a bit because I got impatient (worth it). Camila told us about how these come from Colombia’s Caribbean coast. She had this way of making you feel like you’d known her forever — even teased me when I tried to pronounce “aborrajado” at Fulanitos later on (I still can’t say it right). The aborrajado itself was sweet plantain stuffed with cheese and guava paste; honestly, I didn’t expect to like it but now I crave that weird combo.

We wandered through Plaza de la Concordia market where it smelled like fresh cilantro and fried dough. An older woman handed us obleas smeared with arequipe — sticky caramel oozing out the sides. There was this moment where everyone went quiet except for the sound of people haggling nearby. It felt like we were getting let in on something local, not just ticking off another food tour in Bogotá. Oh, and Donde el Flaco near Chorro de Quevedo? Their tamal tolimense is so dense you could use it as a doorstop (in a good way).

I lost track of all the stops — mamona at Carbón de Leña was smoky and rich, while ajiaco at La Puerta de la Catedral tasted like Bogotá itself: warm, filling, kind of complicated but comforting. Camila kept swapping stories with vendors or waving at people she knew. She checked if anyone needed vegetarian swaps (someone did), so that was easy too. By the end I couldn’t eat another bite but didn’t want to leave either; there’s something about wandering those old streets with strangers who start to feel familiar after sharing too much food together.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Walking food tour in La Candelaria

• Meet inside The Cranky Croc Hostel
• Taste carimañolas at Di Amato
• Try Colombian ceviche at María Tomasa
• Sample obleas with arequipe at Plaza de la Concordia
• Eat tamal tolimense at Donde el Flaco
• Savor mamona grilled beef at Carbón de Leña
• Enjoy ajiaco santafereño at La Puerta de la Catedral
• End with aborrajado caleño at Fulanitos Candelaria

Top questions

How many tastings are included on the Bogotá food tour?

The tour includes tastings at seven different spots featuring dishes from various Colombian regions.

Is vegetarian or vegan food available on this Bogotá food tour?

Yes, vegetarian and vegan preferences can be accommodated if you let your guide know in advance.

Where does the Bogotá food tour start?

The meeting point is inside The Cranky Croc Hostel in La Candelaria.

Does the tour include hotel pickup?

No hotel pickup is included unless arranged for an extra fee; otherwise it's a walking tour starting from the hostel.

What are some dishes sampled during the tour?

Dishes include carimañolas, Colombian-style ceviche, obleas with arequipe, tamal tolimense, aborrajado caleño, mamona (grilled beef), and ajiaco santafereño.

Is this food tour wheelchair accessible?

Yes, the tour is wheelchair accessible.

Are children allowed on this Bogotá culinary tour?

Yes, infants and small children can join; prams or strollers are welcome.

How long is the walk during this food experience?

The exact distance varies but it's a walking tour around La Candelaria's historic center with frequent stops for tastings.

What’s included

Your day includes all food tastings at seven different regional spots across La Candelaria, cultural storytelling from your bilingual local guide who knows both history and gastronomy inside out, plus flexibility if weather or city events change things up—vegetarian or vegan options available if you ask ahead.