Bogotá: Walking Tour La Candelaria, Market & Tejo Game

Summary

Walk Bogotá’s old streets taste fruits play tejo & sip chicha

You’ll wander Bogotá’s colorful streets with a local guide, tasting exotic fruits at La Concordia Market and sipping traditional chicha. Step inside candy-striped churches and lively plazas before ending your day laughing over Tejo and hot chocolate with cheese. It’s not just sights—you’ll feel Bogotá’s pulse through its flavors, sounds, and people.

What’s the experience like?

I felt a mix of nerves and curiosity waiting outside The Cranky Croc hostel in Bogotá. There was this little hum in the air—maybe from the traffic or maybe just my own excitement. Our guide, Andrés, showed up with a grin and switched between English and Spanish so smoothly I almost forgot which language I was thinking in. We set off through La Candelaria, where every wall seemed to have its own story (or at least some wild graffiti). At one point, an older man selling arepas winked at us as we passed—I still wonder what he thought of our group.

The local market was a riot of colors and smells—sweet guanábana, sharp lulo, something that looked like spiky alien eggs. Andrés handed me a slice of something called feijoa; I honestly wasn’t sure if I liked it but hey, when in Bogotá. He poured us all tiny cups of chicha (I tried to say it right—Li laughed at my accent), and the taste was kind of sour-funky but weirdly refreshing. We ducked into Nuestra Señora del Carmen—the candy-cane church—which glowed in the afternoon light. It smelled faintly like old wood and incense.

Walking along La Séptima, there was this sudden burst of music—buskers playing cumbia—and for a second everyone just sort of paused to listen. Plaza de Bolívar was bigger than I expected, full of pigeons and people arguing about politics (Andrés explained some history but honestly I got distracted by a kid chasing birds). We peeked inside La Catedral Primada too—quiet, cool stone after all that noise outside.

By the time we reached Magola Buen Dia café for Tejo, my feet were tired but I didn’t want it to end yet. The first time I threw the metal puck (is it called a puck? No idea), it missed everything except maybe my pride. When someone finally hit the gunpowder packet and it popped loud enough to make us jump, we all burst out laughing—even the barista joined in. Hot chocolate with cheese sounded odd but tasted…comforting? I keep thinking about that little moment—the warmth after the bang—and how Bogotá felt both strange and familiar by then.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Walking tour of Bogotá highlights

• Start at The Cranky Croc hostel
• Visit square of culture
• Try local fruits at market
• Pass by new Gothic style church
• Explore Bolívar Square and learn culture
• See the first cathedral
• Walk along La Séptima pedestrian street
• Walk by the channeled river
• Play Tejo and enjoy coffee

Top questions

How long does the Bogotá walking tour last?

The tour typically lasts 3 to 4 hours depending on group size and pace.

Is food included on this Bogotá walking tour?

Yes, you’ll get to try local fruits at the market plus snacks like chicha and hot chocolate with cheese.

Where does the walking tour start?

The tour begins at The Cranky Croc hostel in central Bogotá.

Is this tour wheelchair accessible?

Yes, all areas and surfaces on the route are wheelchair accessible.

What is Tejo?

Tejo is Colombia’s national game involving throwing metal discs at gunpowder targets—it’s played at the end of this tour.

Does this day trip include Plaza de Bolívar?

Yes, you’ll visit Plaza de Bolívar as part of the walking route through central Bogotá.

Are guides bilingual on this tour?

Yes, tours are led in both English and Spanish as needed for the group.

Can infants join this walking tour?

Infants can join; prams or strollers are allowed throughout the route.

What’s included

Your day includes guided walks through La Candelaria and past colonial landmarks, tastings of exotic fruit at La Concordia Market, samples of traditional chicha drink, entry into historic churches like Nuestra Señora del Carmen and La Catedral Primada, plus a lively game of Tejo with hot chocolate (and cheese!) before heading back refreshed—or maybe just pleasantly tired from all that exploring.