The Altiplano Cundiboyacense is a high plateau in the Colombian Eastern Andes, ranging from 2,500 meters to 4,000 meters above sea level. The plateau covers parts of Cundinamarca and Boyacá and contains the sprawling Colombian capital of Bogotá. Outside of this bustling metropolis, much of the land is taken up by rural agriculture, mainly potato and dairy farms. It’s incredible how quickly you can cycle out of downtown Bogotá and find yourself alone in the Andean countryside. In the higher reaches of The Altiplano, the predominant ecosystem is the páramo, a high-altitude Andean moorland environment, home to Andean Condors and Spectacled Bears. With its rich Muisca Indigenous heritage, The Altiplano is also one of Colombia’s most historically significant regions, and travelers can find ancient archaeological sites at every turn.
Colombia’s capital city is a delightfully chaotic mixture of the old and the new, where cobbled 16th-century streets house chic cafes and art galleries, and life moves at its unique high-altitude-influenced rhythm. From the historical center of La Candelaria, where Bogotá was founded almost 500 years ago, to the hip artistic districts of Teusaquillo and Chapinero, this is one of the most discoverable cities in the Americas. So whether you’re a foodie, music-lover, museum lover, or outdoor adventurer, you’re bound to find something to captivate you in this vast metropolis.
The city is also a paradise for cyclists. The weekly Ciclovía sees over 120km of roads closed off for human-powered transportation every Sunday. Riding less than an hour in any Direction will dish up a remarkable range of terrain and climate. Head east, and you’ll be spiraling up steep Andean tracks above 3,000 meters, or take the road heading west, descend, and you’ll soon find yourself in the rich heat of the Magdalena Valley.
