Visit Bogota: why Colombia's capital is Latin America's rising tourism star


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Why Bogota?

Colombia's capital, and cultural and gastronomic centre, Bogota, sits ensconced by snow-capped Andean peaks. Relatively cool all year around, the city is both edgy and ­elegant. Hundreds of years of history and artefacts can be found in the churches, convents and museums of the cobblestoned downtown La Candelaria district, where throngs of tourists take in the pastel-coloured colonial buildings and vibrant street art.

Releasing the country from the grip of more than 50 years of civil unrest, the government's 2016 peace accord with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) has resulted in ­improved safety and a ­significant growth in international tourism. In addition to its museums and galleries, Bogota is known for its theatres, cumbia (one of the many musical genres that originated here) and a rich food culture – both street food and ­sophisticated tasting menus. The coffee produced is both mild and well-balanced, as the country is the third largest producer in the world and it's a good idea to start your day with a local brew.

A comfortable bed

In the upscale northern suburb of La Cabrera, Bog Hotel isn't far from the designer outlets in Zona T. Pale wood and gold accents dominate the interiors of this boutique bolthole, which were conceptualised by designer Nini Andrade Silva. A heated rectangular rooftop pool with city views dazzles, and provides a luxurious way to unwind after a long day. Request a room with city views (some have terraces). Doubles start at Dh516, fromwww.designhotels.com. 

There are seven rooms in Casa Legado, a stylish ­family-owned boutique hotel in Bogota's Chapinero neighbourhood. Bright and airy, each one is named after a family member. You can enjoy breakfast at a communal wooden table, with plenty of snacks and drinks available in the kitchen. You're welcome to enjoy the courtyard, borrow a bicycle and explore, or arrange a massage in the privacy of your own room. Book a stay at the family's smallholding, Manque, two hours outside Bogota, and your guide will drive you to arepa shacks and hidden gems along the way. Double rooms cost from Dh827, from www.casalegadobogota.com.

A block from the Andino shopping centre and Zona T, the GHL Hotel Bioxury in the El Retiro district offers a ­dynamic synergy between ­nature (a plant-filled atrium, garden and eco-friendly ­touches) with pared-down ­luxury. Muted greys and neutrals are complemented by soaking tubs in the larger rooms, while floor-to-ceiling city views make it a good place to rest after a day's sightseeing. Doubles start from Dh386, from en.bioxury.com

Find your feet

Get a bird’s-eye view of the city from the heights of Cerro de Monserrate, at an altitude of 3,048 metres. The hill, ­considered sacred since the area was first inhabited by the indigenous Muisca, is the site of a church, as well as restaurants, cafes and touristy shops. Take the cable car up, but make sure you bring something warm, as it can get chilly with little notice.

Wander around Plaza de ­Bolivar, taking in the city's eclectic architectural styles. This is Bogota's ­sentimental centre, established by its founder Gonzalo Jimenez de Quesada, and it has paid witness to more than five centuries of history.

Get a bird’s-eye view of the city from the heights of Cerro de Monserrate, at an altitude of 3,048 metres. Courtesy Ishay Govender-Ypma
Get a bird’s-eye view of the city from the heights of Cerro de Monserrate, at an altitude of 3,048 metres. Courtesy Ishay Govender-Ypma

Meet the locals

Join the bougie crowds who gather on Sundays for the ­Usaquen flea market, which features street musicians, puppet shows, gourmet food stands and stalls. From ­excellent coffee to beautifully crafted jewellery, you're unlikely to get any real bargains, but will definitely walk away with some gems.

Mercado de Paloquemao is Bogota's sprawling farmers' market, with vendors serving up local, freshly made specialities. Colombia is known for its wealth of fruit, some of which you'll struggle to find anywhere else – look out for lulo, spiky guanabana (soursop) with its custardy interior, a variety of granadillas, feijoa (pineapple guava) and guama (ice cream bean). Book a tour of the market with Foodies Colombia (www.foodies.com.co) and taste a variety of local dishes, such as arepas (corn flour pockets) or tamales (corn flour dough steamed in corn husk or in banana leaves) stuffed with chicken and cheeses.

Book a table

Chef Leonor Espinosa's research on Colombia's broad and vast culinary heritage, particularly that of isolated ­indigenous communities, is presented on a plate at her eponymous eatery, Restaurant Leo. This is fine-dining par excellence and is routinely ranked as one of the best restaurants in Latin ­America. A meal costs about Dh237 for an 11-course tasting menu ­without drinks.

At El Chato in the Chapinero Alto neighbourhood, chef-owner Alvaro Clavijo serves seasonal sharing plates of Colombian ingredients influenced by his time cooking in kitchens in Paris, New York, Barcelona and Copenhagen. The must-eats here include the charcoal-coloured squid ink crackers with crab, mushroom tartare, chicken hearts and the whole-roast chicken rice with vegetables. A meal at El Chato costs about Dh99 per person without drinks.

Harry Sasson may be one of Colombia's best-known chefs and his namesake restaurant may be a magnet for the rich and famous, with its large glass windows, impeccable wait staff and long tables that cater to family groups. The food, though, is fuss-free and a fusion of Latin American, Asian and European fare. The robata, empanadas and grilled meats are outstanding. You can expect to spend about Dh110 for a full spread.

Vendors in Bogota sell fruits you can't find easily anywhere else. Alamy
Vendors in Bogota sell fruits you can't find easily anywhere else. Alamy

Shoppers' paradise

Bogota has plenty of markets and shopping malls, and Usaquen, Andino and La Zona Rosa stand out. For local handicrafts, go to La Plaza de los Artesanos on Calle 63 or Artesanias de Colombia for more upscale items. At Mambe on Carrera 5, you'll find fair-trade curios sourced from rural and indigenous communities around the country.

Seek out Colombian-­Pakistani jeweller Aysha Bilgrami’s eponymous store – she crafts gorgeous earrings, amulets and bracelets from reclaimed and recycled silver and precious metals.

What to avoid

Stay alert while walking in the colourful La Candelaria area, and don’t walk with your eyes fixed on your phone. Rather, stow it away until you’re seated comfortably somewhere away from the crowds.

A mural in Bogota's colourful La Candelaria district. Courtesy Ishay Govender-Ypma
A mural in Bogota's colourful La Candelaria district. Courtesy Ishay Govender-Ypma

Don’t miss

The Museo del Oro is a must-visit, displaying more than 34,000 pieces of gold and relics. Here you'll learn not just about gold, but about pre-Colombian cultures prior to the arrival of the Spanish. Try to go on one of the guided tours at 11am or 3pm. Entry to the museum costs Dh3.5.

Head to the outstanding Museo Botero in Calle 11, where you can view 200 pieces of artist Fernando Botero Angulo’s personal collection (including Chagall, Renoir and Picasso), for free. The museum forms part of a larger collection with other exhibition halls, and it costs Dh7 to hire an audio guide.

Getting there

Etihad Airlines flies to Bogota from Abu Dhabi with one stopover in Frankfurt, from Dh6,133 return, including taxes.

Emirates flies from Dubai with one stopover, generally in Sao Paulo, from Dh7,405 return flight, including taxes.

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Sole survivors
  • Cecelia Crocker was on board Northwest Airlines Flight 255 in 1987 when it crashed in Detroit, killing 154 people, including her parents and brother. The plane had hit a light pole on take off
  • George Lamson Jr, from Minnesota, was on a Galaxy Airlines flight that crashed in Reno in 1985, killing 68 people. His entire seat was launched out of the plane
  • Bahia Bakari, then 12, survived when a Yemenia Airways flight crashed near the Comoros in 2009, killing 152. She was found clinging to wreckage after floating in the ocean for 13 hours.
  • Jim Polehinke was the co-pilot and sole survivor of a 2006 Comair flight that crashed in Lexington, Kentucky, killing 49.
RESULTS

Lightweight (female)
Sara El Bakkali bt Anisha Kadka
Bantamweight
Mohammed Adil Al Debi bt Moaz Abdelgawad
Welterweight
Amir Boureslan bt Mahmoud Zanouny
Featherweight
Mohammed Al Katheeri bt Abrorbek Madaminbekov
Super featherweight
Ibrahem Bilal bt Emad Arafa
Middleweight
Ahmed Abdolaziz bt Imad Essassi
Bantamweight (female)
Ilham Bourakkadi bt Milena Martinou
Welterweight
Mohamed Mardi bt Noureddine El Agouti
Middleweight
Nabil Ouach bt Ymad Atrous
Welterweight
Nouredine Samir bt Marlon Ribeiro
Super welterweight
Brad Stanton bt Mohamed El Boukhari

Masters%20of%20the%20Air
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Company%20profile
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECompany%20name%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Ogram%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E2017%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounders%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Karim%20Kouatly%20and%20Shafiq%20Khartabil%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EDubai%2C%20UAE%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EIndustry%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20On-demand%20staffing%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ENumber%20of%20employees%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%2050%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFunding%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EMore%20than%20%244%20million%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFunding%20round%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Series%20A%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestors%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EGlobal%20Ventures%2C%20Aditum%20and%20Oraseya%20Capital%3Cbr%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Results

5pm: Wathba Stallions Cup Maiden (PA) Dh 70,000 (Dirt) 1,000m, Winner: Hazeem Al Raed, Antonio Fresu (jockey), Ahmed Al Shemaili (trainer)

5.30pm: Handicap (PA) Dh 85,000 (D) 1,000m, Winner: Ghazwan Al Khalediah, Hugo Lebouc, Helal Al Alawi

6pm: Maiden (PA) Dh 70,000 (D) 1,400m, Winner: Dinar Al Khalediah, Patrick Cosgrave, Helal Al Alawi.

6.30pm: Handicap (TB) Dh 70,000 (D) 1,600m, Winner: Faith And Fortune, Sandro Paiva, Ali Rashid Al Raihe.

7pm: Maiden (PA) Dh 70,000 (D) 1,600m, Winner: Only Smoke, Bernardo Pinheiro, Abdallah Al Hammadi.

7.30pm: Handicap (PA) Dh 70,000 (D) 1,600m, Winner: AF Ramz, Saif Al Balushi, Khalifa Al Neyadi.

8pm: Maiden (PA) Dh 70,000 (D) 2,000m, Winner: AF Mass, Tadhg O’Shea, Ernst Oertel.

The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre flat-six
Power: 510hp at 9,000rpm
Torque: 450Nm at 6,100rpm
Transmission: 7-speed PDK auto or 6-speed manual
Fuel economy, combined: 13.8L/100km
On sale: Available to order now
Price: From Dh801,800
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre turbo 4-cyl

Transmission: eight-speed auto

Power: 190bhp

Torque: 300Nm

Price: Dh169,900

On sale: now 

Syria squad

Goalkeepers: Ibrahim Alma, Mahmoud Al Youssef, Ahmad Madania.
Defenders: Ahmad Al Salih, Moayad Ajan, Jehad Al Baour, Omar Midani, Amro Jenyat, Hussein Jwayed, Nadim Sabagh, Abdul Malek Anezan.
Midfielders: Mahmoud Al Mawas, Mohammed Osman, Osama Omari, Tamer Haj Mohamad, Ahmad Ashkar, Youssef Kalfa, Zaher Midani, Khaled Al Mobayed, Fahd Youssef.
Forwards: Omar Khribin, Omar Al Somah, Mardik Mardikian.

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Jetour T1 specs

Engine: 2-litre turbocharged

Power: 254hp

Torque: 390Nm

Price: From Dh126,000

Available: Now

Schedule
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
While you're here
The White Lotus: Season three

Creator: Mike White

Starring: Walton Goggins, Jason Isaacs, Natasha Rothwell

Rating: 4.5/5

Dust and sand storms compared

Sand storm

  • Particle size: Larger, heavier sand grains
  • Visibility: Often dramatic with thick "walls" of sand
  • Duration: Short-lived, typically localised
  • Travel distance: Limited 
  • Source: Open desert areas with strong winds

Dust storm

  • Particle size: Much finer, lightweight particles
  • Visibility: Hazy skies but less intense
  • Duration: Can linger for days
  • Travel distance: Long-range, up to thousands of kilometres
  • Source: Can be carried from distant regions
The specs: 2019 Jeep Wrangler

Price, base: Dh132,000

Engine: 3.6-litre V6

Gearbox: Eight-speed automatic

Power: 285hp @ 6,400rpm

Torque: 347Nm @ 4,100rpm

Fuel economy, combined: 9.6L to 10.3L / 100km

ESSENTIALS

The flights 
Fly Etihad or Emirates from the UAE to Moscow from 2,763 return per person return including taxes. 
Where to stay 
Trips on the Golden Eagle Trans-Siberian cost from US$16,995 (Dh62,414) per person, based on two sharing.

2025 Fifa Club World Cup groups

Group A: Palmeiras, Porto, Al Ahly, Inter Miami.

Group B: Paris Saint-Germain, Atletico Madrid, Botafogo, Seattle.

Group C: Bayern Munich, Auckland City, Boca Juniors, Benfica.

Group D: Flamengo, ES Tunis, Chelsea, Leon.

Group E: River Plate, Urawa, Monterrey, Inter Milan.

Group F: Fluminense, Borussia Dortmund, Ulsan, Mamelodi Sundowns.

Group G: Manchester City, Wydad, Al Ain, Juventus.

Group H: Real Madrid, Al Hilal, Pachuca, Salzburg.

Auron Mein Kahan Dum Tha

Starring: Ajay Devgn, Tabu, Shantanu Maheshwari, Jimmy Shergill, Saiee Manjrekar

Director: Neeraj Pandey

Rating: 2.5/5

What is a robo-adviser?

Robo-advisers use an online sign-up process to gauge an investor’s risk tolerance by feeding information such as their age, income, saving goals and investment history into an algorithm, which then assigns them an investment portfolio, ranging from more conservative to higher risk ones.

These portfolios are made up of exchange traded funds (ETFs) with exposure to indices such as US and global equities, fixed-income products like bonds, though exposure to real estate, commodity ETFs or gold is also possible.

Investing in ETFs allows robo-advisers to offer fees far lower than traditional investments, such as actively managed mutual funds bought through a bank or broker. Investors can buy ETFs directly via a brokerage, but with robo-advisers they benefit from investment portfolios matched to their risk tolerance as well as being user friendly.

Many robo-advisers charge what are called wrap fees, meaning there are no additional fees such as subscription or withdrawal fees, success fees or fees for rebalancing.

Company profile

Name: Tharb

Started: December 2016

Founder: Eisa Alsubousi

Based: Abu Dhabi

Sector: Luxury leather goods

Initial investment: Dh150,000 from personal savings

 

Analysis

Maros Sefcovic is juggling multiple international trade agreement files, but his message was clear when he spoke to The National on Wednesday.

The EU-UAE bilateral trade deal will be finalised soon, he said. It is in everyone’s interests to do so. Both sides want to move quickly and are in alignment. He said the UAE is a very important partner for the EU. It’s full speed ahead - and with some lofty ambitions - on the road to a free trade agreement. 

We also talked about US-EU tariffs. He answered that both sides need to talk more and more often, but he is prepared to defend Europe's position and said diplomacy should be a guiding principle through the current moment. 

 

UAE players with central contracts

Rohan Mustafa, Ashfaq Ahmed, Chirag Suri, Rameez Shahzad, Shaiman Anwar, Adnan Mufti, Mohammed Usman, Ghulam Shabbir, Ahmed Raza, Qadeer Ahmed, Amir Hayat, Mohammed Naveed and Imran Haider.

Company%20profile
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Reading List

Practitioners of mindful eating recommend the following books to get you started:

Savor: Mindful Eating, Mindful Life by Thich Nhat Hanh and Dr Lilian Cheung

How to Eat by Thich Nhat Hanh

The Mindful Diet by Dr Ruth Wolever

Mindful Eating by Dr Jan Bays

How to Raise a Mindful Eaterby Maryann Jacobsen

COMPANY%20PROFILE
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Ashes 2019 schedule

August 1-5: First Test, Edgbaston

August 14-18: Second Test, Lord's

August 22-26: Third Test, Headingley

September 4-8: Fourth Test, Old Trafford

September 12-16: Fifth Test, Oval