On October 24th, I visited Mount Monseratte. The mountain is a central terrain feature of Bogota and a major tourist attraction. Pictured above is my ticket for the tram. Visitors can walk up the mountain, which has an elevation over 10,000 feet above sea level. I opted for the tram. Two round trip tickets cost 25,000 Colombian Pesos, which works out to about six dollars and change. Or three dollars per person for a round trip ticket. It was worth a few dollars not to trek up the mountain. I was already suffering the effects of the elevation in Bogota as it was.

October 24th was a rainy, overcast day. Probably the worst day we could have picked last week, but the only day we had available. The view from the top was obscured by the dense fog and intermittent rain. But it was spectacular in spite of the limited visibility. The top of the tram offers a spectacular panoramic view of the city. I wish the photos would have been more clear, but the weather chose not to cooperate. The weather also dampened our hiking once we arrived at the top. After traversing the market, we came out to a trail that heads to the highest elevation. However, the trails were slick from the rain, so we opted not to take our chances on the trail. We walked up fifty meters or so, snapped a photo, and headed back towards the shops.

The shops were only half open. It was early, and it was raining. As you head upward from the tram area, you first arrive at the shops, followed by several places to grab a bite to eat. There were also some other vendors mingled in hawking chocolate coffee beans, coffee, and various small gifts. We didn't spend much time scouting the shops. We were interrupted with a nationwide drill at 9:00 am. Apparently, we chose our trek in the middle of a major nationwide drill. We were ushered down to a fitness area below the tram, where we waited for the "all clear" to be sounded. If nothing else, the drill helped make the visit more memorable.

Aside from the shops, trails and eateries, the attraction features an old church and numerous statues depicting scenes from the Gospels. The walkways are mostly paved, with intricate gardens and water features throughout the area. The area where the trams load and unload are extensively manicured with tiled water troughs and retaining walls of rock or bamboo. It is apparent that a great deal of care goes into maintaining a pristine park-like atmosphere. There is also a large well located along one of the walkways.

I enjoyed my visit to Mount Monseratte in Bogota. It doesn't take long to visit. I didn't buy anything. But it was nice to walk around the high elevation and explore the gardens and statuary. I spent about an hour and a half at the top, which included about ten minutes sidetracked for the national drill. With a tour guide, I would imagine you could spend a little bit longer. If more shops were open or if I planned to dine at the top, I would have added at least another hour to my allotted time. As it stands, an hour and a half was plenty to see the basics. The view was great in spite of the weather. I would recommend a trip to the top if you have time during your visit.

All photos are my own. They may be reproduced with prior permission.