La Candelaria tour Bogotá: Colonial history and tastings

Walk through Bogotá's oldest neighborhood and taste your way through Colombian culture

A private walking tour of La Candelaria, Bogotá's historic colonial neighborhood, led by a guide in English or Spanish. You start where the city originated, move through cobblestone streets and emblematic parks, stop at Plaza de Bolívar and the neoclassical Colón Theater, and taste coffee, chicha, tea and local fruits at stops along the way.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore La Candelaria historic sites

• Start urban walk at city origin
• Visit market and taste fruits
• Pass through emblematic city park
• Cross historic park near gold museum
• Stop at Colombia's largest square
• See the Colón Theater monument
• Walk traditional colonial street
• Stop for tea tasting and culture talk
• End tour with cafe tasting

The experience

What makes this tour different from a standard walk through the city? The tastings woven into the route. You'll visit a market to sample a range of Colombian fruits, stop for coffee and chicha (a traditional corn drink), taste tea while learning about regional cultures, and end at a café for a final tasting. These aren't add-ons. They're built into the stops, so you're tasting as you learn the story of the neighborhood rather than rushing between points.

The route itself covers the places that shaped Bogotá. You start at the city's origin point, then move through an emblematic park with views of the city's landmarks, cross into another park next to the Gold Museum, and reach Plaza de Bolívar, Colombia's largest and most important square. The Colón Theater, a neoclassical monument from the late 1800s, sits along a traditional colonial street lined with local museums. The guide talks through the characters and events from pre-Columbian times to the present, so the architecture and layout make sense as you walk.

The tour runs three to four hours and is private, so the pace and stops adjust to what interests you. A live guide speaks English or Spanish. Pickup is included, and the route stays walkable for all fitness levels.

What’s included

• Private transportation.
• coffee tasting.
• chicha tasting.
• tea tasting.
• fruit tasting at a local market.

Options for this experience

3 options

Tour of the La Candelaria district of the cityGuide in English or Spanish · 7 departure times: the first at 07:00, the last at 13:00Lasts 3 hours, and pickup is included

Tour that also covers 2 museumsGuide in English or Spanish · 7 departure times: the first at 07:00, the last at 13:00Gold Museum and Botero Museum: Discover our cultural heritage at the Gold Museum, then visit another museum showcasing works by great international and local artists. Lasts 5 hours, and pickup is included

Tour that also includes Monserrate HillGuide in English or Spanish · 7 departure times: the first at 07:00, the last at 13:00Monserrate Hill: Hike up Monserrate Hill to reach the city of Bogotá's most scenic lookout. Lasts 5 hours, and includes pickup

You pick the guide language when booking.

You'll see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates and prices

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day7 departure times: the first at 07:00, the last at 13:00

Book up to20h before

AgesAdult (5 and older) · Under 5: can't be booked

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish and Spanish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated 10 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortPets welcomePublic transport nearby

Operated by Fogata Tours

Is this one for you?Choose this tour if you want to understand Bogotá's history through the places where it happened, not just hear about it: the guide's commentary at each stop ties the colonial architecture and street layout to the events that shaped the city. The tastings make the cultural side tangible rather than abstract.

Traveler reviews

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and Spanish.

What's actually at Plaza de Bolívar that makes it worth a stop?

Plaza de Bolívar is Colombia's largest and most important square, located in the heart of La Candelaria. The guide discusses its history and significance as the political and cultural center of the city during the tour.

Can I add a visit to Monserrate Hill or museums to this tour?

Yes. You can book the City Tour around La Candelaria alone, or choose the option that adds Monserrate Hill, or the option that includes two museums. You select which version you want at checkout.

What kind of fruits will I taste at the market?

The tour includes a stop at a market to taste a wide variety of Colombian fruits, though the specific fruits available depend on the season and what's in the market that day.

Is the guide the same person for the whole tour?

Yes, a live guide leads the entire tour in either English or Spanish, depending on which language option you book.

How much walking is involved?

The tour is a walking tour through La Candelaria's cobblestone streets and parks, but it's suitable for all physical fitness levels. The pace is set by your group since it's private.