Things to do in Ponta

No. 1 of Best Things to Do in Colombia

Monserrate

The Montserrat mountain is located in Bogota, Colombia, where the landscape is beautiful. You can take the cable car to go up the mountain and enjoy the beautiful mountain scenery along the way. From the top of the mountain, you can contemplate the entire view of Bogota. There is a white church built in 1650 on the mountain, and some places to have coffee, making it a great spot for morning exercise and relaxation. At night, you can enjoy a panoramic view of the entire city from the mountain top, or dine at the summit restaurant and admire the view while eating. You can take the cable car to go up the mountain, which operates every 15 minutes.

No. 2 of Best Things to Do in Colombia

Gold Museum

Gold Museum is an important place to learn about the pre-Columbian gold civilization of the Americas. It houses tens of thousands of gold and gold-copper alloy artifacts, the vast majority of which date from before the Spanish colonial rule and originate from various cultures, including the Muisca, Quimbaya, Calima, and Tairona. Through exhibits such as jewelry, ceremonial implements, and everyday objects, the museum showcases the unique understanding of gold in that society—gold carried sacred and powerful meanings, rather than being merely a form of wealth. The museum's centerpiece is the Muisca Muisca Raft, an exquisite gold artifact cast using the lost-wax technique, which depicts a chieftain performing a sacrificial ceremony onLake Guatavita. It is this very ceremony that gave rise to the legend of "El Dorado." The museum also features a "Gold Room," where thousands of gold artifacts shine simultaneously against a backdrop of dim lighting and music, creating a powerful visual impact. The Quimbaya Poporo, acquired when the museum was founded, is also worth a stop; it embodies the superb metalworking techniques of the pre-Columbian era and marks the starting point of this museum.

No. 4 of Best Things to Do in Colombia

Plaza de Bolivar

Plaza de Bolivar is the main square of Bogota, the capital of Colombia, with a history dating back to the city's founding in 1539. In the center of the square stands a bronze statue of the Liberator Simon Bolivar, created by Italian sculptor Pietro Tenerani, which is one of the city's earliest public monuments. The square is enclosed by buildings from different eras: on the east side is the Primate Cathedral of Colombia,on the south side is the neoclassical Capitol building, on the west side is the Lievano Palace where the mayor's office is located, and on the north side is the modern Palace of Justice with its simple design. During the colonial period, it was used as a public market and bullring, and today it remains an important stage for civic gatherings and cultural events. The square is filled with flocks of pigeons, and you can buy a small bag of feed to experience feeding them. There are also vendors leading brightly decorated llamas for photos, and street performers moving through the crowd. When visiting, you can use the square as a transfer point for walking in the old town, as the colorful streets of La Candelaria and several museums are within walking distance.

Choachí Main Park

Botero Museum

Botero Museum is housed in a converted colonial-era mansion and displays 208 works donated by painter Fernando Botero to the Central Bank of Colombia in 2000. Among them, 123 pieces are his own oil paintings, drawings, pastels, and sculptures; from the voluptuous Mona Lisa to the series of paintings themed around the period of violence in Colombia, his signature exaggerated volume is evident throughout. The remaining 85 pieces are original works by famous European and American artists from his private collection, including works by Monet, Renoir, Picasso, Dalí, Miró, and Matisse. The exhibition halls are arranged around a central courtyard. The original display was arranged by Botero himself, and as part of the donation agreement, the works are not to be loaned out or moved, maintaining the original layout set by the artist to this day. This neighborhood is the historic district where many of Bogota's museums are concentrated, and several venues, such as the Gold Museum, are within walking distance.

Ubaque Cundinamarca

No. 6 of Best Things to Do in Colombia

Museo Santa Clara

Museo Santa Clara is a church that has survived from the 17th-century Royal Convent of Santa Clara complex. It long served as a place of worship for cloistered nuns; the former convent was demolished in the early 20th century, with only this church remaining. The church has since undergone years of comprehensive restoration and is now open to the public as a museum, no longer holding religious services. The church has a simple exterior, but its interior is richly decorated: the barrel vault of the single-nave space rises more than 10 m from the ground, the ceiling is adorned with gilded wood-carved flowers, and blue and yellow hues cover the vault; the side walls are lined with layers of gilded wood-carved altars and oil paintings. The museum houses over 100 oil paintings by masters of the New Granada school, such as Gregorio Vásquez and Figueroa. The painting "Saint Martin Dividing His Cloak," donated in 1647, is considered the starting point of the collection. The main altar is entirely gilded, and the series of archangel paintings above the altar area are masterfully executed. The museum also features a series of portraits of deceased abbesses wearing wreaths and holding candles. The church is located right next to the Congress building and is within walking distance of Plaza de Bolivar in the old town. It is small in scale and has a tranquil atmosphere.

Jesús Maestro Park

Principal Park

Museo Nacional de Colombia

Museo Nacional de Colombia is one of the oldest museums in the Americas. The building itself is a major highlight: this three-story neoclassical structure was designed by Danish architect Thomas Reed, who also designed the Capitol building. Construction began in 1874, and it originally served as the Bogota Central Penitentiary, known as the "Panopticon" due to its cruciform layout. The prison was in use for over 70 years, and after it was relocated, the museum moved in in 1948. The thick stone walls and circular arcades still retain the atmosphere of the past, and it is one of the few remaining "panopticon" style buildings that has been repurposed. The collection comprises approximately 20,000 items, categorized into archaeology, history, art, and ethnography. Seventeen permanent exhibition halls display over 2,000 artifacts and artworks, with a narrative that spans from the pre-Hispanic period through the colonial era and the War of Independence to the present day. The art section is particularly expansive, featuring religious paintings by colonial-era artist Gregorio Vásquez, works by renowned Colombian modern and contemporary artists such as Botero, Obregón, and Grau, as well as pieces by European painters. In recent years, the exhibition narrative has intentionally incorporated the voices of diverse ethnic groups. In addition to the permanent collection, the museum hosts rotating temporary exhibitions and cultural events throughout the year.