Last updated on .
The highest point in Bogotá is Monserrate, which is located in the Santa Fe district. Visiting the top of the mountain is popular with both locals and tourists for incredible views of the city.
History of Monserrate
Before the arrival of the Spaniards, the indigenous Muisca people inhabited the area. Monserrate was sacred to them because when standing in present-day Plaza de Bolívar on the summer Solstice, the sun rose from directly behind the mountain. They called Monserrate quijicha caca (grandmother’s foot). On the winter solstice, the sun rose behind another mountain, Guadalupe.
In the 1620s, the Brotherhood of Vera Cruz (Cofradia de la Vera Cruz) began using Monserrate for religious celebrations. Residents of the city began to participate in the climb to the top for these celebrations, and in 1650, permission was granted to build a small religious retreat at the top. The retreat was named after the Morena Virgin atop Montserrat near Barcelona, thus giving the mountain its current name.
At the top of Monserrate is a Catholic sanctuary. There are also a few restaurants if you want to have a meal with a view.
Getting to the Top of Monserrate
The easiest way to get to the top is by cable car or funicular. The ticket office is about a 20-minute walk or a short taxi ride from La Candelaria. We waited in the queue about 15 minutes to buy our tickets for the funicular to the top. A two-way ticket costs COP$29,500 from Monday through Saturday and COP$17,000 on Sundays (as of June 2024). Check the official website for current opening hours more info. Alternatively, you can hike up a steep path that takes anywhere from 60 to 90 minutes.
The cable car runs weekday evenings and most of the day on weekends while the funicular runs about every 15 minutes during all working hours. The schedule is subject to change. On all of my trips, only the funicular has been running.
The ride up the mountain is very scenic with great views of the city below. It’s nice to get a spot up front but that section of the funicular often fills up quickly.
Via Crucis
Once at the top, there is a direct path to the church or you can follow the Via Crucis, which has statues of Christ from the Stations of the Cross.
The Church on Monserrate
At the end of the path is a stairway to the church which was built in the late 17th century. It’s dedicated to the Fallen Lord (El Señor Caído).
The interior of the church contains a couple small chapels. They’re located both on the side and behind the main altar.
Views from Monserrate
The views from the top are the main reason for most visits. You can see the urban sprawl of Bogotá and spot landmarks like Plaza de Bolívar and the skyscrapers in Santa Fe from 3,152 meters above sea level.
Souvenir Shops
If you walk through an archway to the right of the church, there’s a long path full of souvenir shops followed by fast food booths.
Just past the food booths is a rocky outcrop where you can get good views of the land behind Monserrate.
