When I told most of the people I know, “I’ll be traveling to Colombia alone,” they would get scared. Most people probably just watched Narcos or any series of that kind. Why not go somewhere safer? Was always the first question they would ask. The truth is, I never felt scared about the possibility of traveling to Bogota alone (maybe because I’ve never seen Narcos or any of those series).

This guide is written thinking of those girls who want to explore the city of Bogotá but are still struggling with the thought of traveling to Colombia alone. It is also tough for those girls who, even though they are traveling with friends, still want to have authentic experiences around the city.

1 Traveling to Bogota Alone: Find a Colombian Buddy

2 Traveling to Colombia Alone: Couchsurfing

3 Traveling to Bogota Alone: Free Walking Tours

4 Traveling to Colombia Alone: Last but not least… Don’t be afraid of public transportation!

5 My vision of traveling to Bogota alone

6 Pin these Bogota tips!

Check the Spanish Version of this post.

Disclaimer: Thanks to Colombian Buddy for providing us with a complimentary tour with a buddy around the city. All opinions are my own. This blog post also might contain affiliate links that keep this page running with a small commission. Any sale done using those links at no additional cost for the reader. If you need more information read our Privacy Policy.

Traveling to Bogota Alone: Find a Colombian Buddy

With a Colombian Buddy, you can make sure to take a nice picture here, not a selfie.

Meeting the Colombian Buddy team was one of the best things that happened while traveling to Bogota alone. Colombian Buddy is a company focused on giving tourists in Bogotá or Colombia alone the best experiences possible and tailoring them to their needs. They also offer transfer services from the airport and guidance on getting to know other parts of the country.

On my Colombian Buddy tour, I had the chance to explore the center with someone who had a local vision of the city. That way, you can get first-hand tips on where to go, or you can even have someone go with you to those places.

This screams “PARADISE” everywhere!

Walking with Miguel in the city’s center, he took me to one of the most amazing places: la Calle de los Libros, or “the Books Streets”. If you can read in Spanish, you can find lots of books on this street for less than $1/1€. This is perfect when you go open to finding something new to read and discover new literature. I totally bought a lot of books to add to my collection.

As my Colombian Buddy took me to find my book, Heaven, it might take you to find your own heaven in Bogotá. Check the Colombian Buddy website for more about their services and how they can help you have an amazing and safe trip.

Traveling to Colombia Alone: Couchsurfing

A Couchsurfers meeting

Couchsurfing is my favorite tool for meeting people everywhere I go, and while traveling to Bogota alone, it was a game-changer. The Bogotá Couchsurfing Community is active and always plans dinners, hangouts, and trips, among others. The only issue that might arise from this might be a language barrier. It might be a little awkward if you don’t understand/speak Spanish.

If that language might be a hurdle for you, I recommend sticking to Couchsurfing’s Hangouts feature. In this feature, you can devise your own plans or find people who have already planned and join them. The good thing about Hangouts is that it will be more likely to find someone who speaks English while traveling to Colombia alone.

This could be a good option if you’re looking forward to meeting locals and getting to know Colombian culture from the inside, looking at what to or what not to wear in Colombia, and other social skills that might help you in the country.

Traveling to Bogota Alone: Free Walking Tours

Bolivar Square – One of the main points of the Free Walking Tour

The Free Walking Tours are always a great option to get the city’s first picture and meet people. On these tours, you get to know the major landmarks of the cities from a pretty general perspective. You will get all the juicy details firsthand and from a local, down-to-earth perspective. They normally last around 2 to 3 hours and are a great idea while traveling to Bogota alone.

Beyond Colombia is the company that offers the Bogotá Free Walking Tours. They offer tours in Spanish and English. The main attractions you get to see on this route are the neighborhood of La Candelaria, Bolívar Square, Botero Museum, and the Gabriel García Márquez, where the tour ends. You can catch this tour either at 10 am or 2 pm any day of the week. You only need to sign in on their website to be able to attend.

If you’ve done a Free Walking Tour before, you might already know that they work by tips. If you like the tour, you tip your guide at the end. In the case of Bogotá, it is recommended to tip around 20,000 a $30,000 COP ($7-$10). The truth is that most of the time, these tours are totally worth it. Not only because of the things you get to know about the city but also because you get to know other solo travelers.

Traveling to Colombia Alone: Last but not least… Don’t be afraid of public transportation!

I know that Bogotá’s Transmilenio might be very intimidating, especially while traveling to Colombia alone. Even though I am a fluent Spanish speaker, that happens even to me. However, I still believe this is one of the things you need to do while visiting the city. Once you have mastered the trick and understand how the system works, you can definitely try it.

The worst thing that might happen to you is getting on a really full bus. You can avoid that by skipping the rush hours (7 am-9 am) (4:30-7 pm) and planning where exactly in the city you want to go. I am sure you’ll be able to master it really quickly.

– More information on Transmilenio here. (Site in Spanish)

My vision of traveling to Bogota alone

Traveling to Bogota alone was one of the least terrifying experiences in my life. I can’t recall any moment I could say I felt true danger. Of course, it was all about common sense. Not carrying around a lot of valuables around the city. Also, keep any personal items you carry with you as safe as possible.

Pin these Bogota tips!