Business Tourism in Bogota...

Bogota Plaza Summit Hotel:

The strategic location of Bogota Plaza Summit Hotel gives you an easy access to the most important business and financial centers of the city. The World Trade Center located at 5 minutes from the hotel (on 100th Street and the 8th Avenue), is the most important business center of the city, with magnificent infrastructure appropriate to the current market needs.

Visit http://www.bogotaplazahotel.com/negocios_turismo.php for more information about rooms, events, and other services that could interest you.

Corferias Convention Center:

Corferias Convention Center, which is designed with one of the latest technologies, situates itself as one of the most complete convention centers in Bogotá.  The security and service it offers give guarantee to the different customers of the optimal development of congresses, assemblies, conferences, and any type of event they wish to do.



These are some of the advantages offered by the Corferias Convention Center:

• Infrastructure: Size and flexibility, strategic location within the city, excellent access roads, it's close to El Dorado Airport, parking for over 3000 vehicles and a food court with international restaurants and fast food establishments.

• Integral advice and wide experience in addition to our excellent facilities it offers an integral logistical service with personalized assistance. 

• Complementary services like special areas for dining, rest and free areas, logistics services for invitations, registering and telemarketing, logistics personnel (doormen, guards, supervisors, information services).

• Strategic Alliances: With transportation services and agreements with hotels.

If you want information about how to have a successful visit go to: http://www.corferias.com/en/index.cfm?doc=visitantes_como_ser

"La Candelaria" Tour...

If you want to enjoy multiple experiences, from its rich cultural heritage and the opportunity to discover the heart of Bogota and Colombia in an innovative and different way, you have to visit La Candelaria.

There is an historical place where you can find from historical and political events to horror stories. You can do a guided tour at day or if you consider a brave you can do it at night.

From Bolivar's Plaza (Between 7th and 8th Avenue and between 10th and 11th streets) you can see the National Capitol which is one of the most important architectonic constructions in the city; the Liévano Palace, where is the Mayor of Bogota; the Primatial Cathedral, which was constructed in 1539 and reconstructed several times; and the Palace of Justice which was the first building destroyed during the "Bogotazo" in 1948, and then, in 1985 was destroyed again by members of an insurgent group called M-19. It was reconstructed again in 1998.

In the route you can find the San Carlo's Palace, the Manuelita Saenz's House, the Christopher Columbus Theater, the Rafael Pombo's House, the Military Museum, the Gilberto Alzate Avendaño's Foundation, the National Mint, the Luis Angel Arango Library, the Botero's Museum and the "Chorro de Quevedo" where Bogota was founded.

Chorro de Quevedo

National Mint

Military Museum

Christopher Columbus Theater

At nights the guides can tell you about some ghost histories in this antique housees and real life events that will surely amaze you.

And finally you can't leave without taste the "Chicha Bogotana". It's a tradittional fermented drink made from corn. But be aware! It is very strong.

For more information about tours in La Candelaria go to: http://www.bogotaturismo.gov.co/sites/default/files/rutas/PORTAFOLIO_CANDELARIA.pdf

Types of Museums...

In Bogota you can find different types of museums:

Object Centered: 

MAMBO: Museo de Arte Moderno de Bogota

This museum offers a space that aims to enable the approach of the public to planned exhibitions of modern art with guided tours.

Actually you can see the main exhibition of Luis Brito. 

It is open Tuesday to Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

If you go there in your car you can find a parkinglot. It costs $1.000 COP.   http://www.mambogota.com/mambo/index.php

Narrative:

Fundación Casa Rafael Pombo:

It is located in La Candelaria on the Coliseum Street. There is a children’s library where they can do recreative activities, workshops, and assist to theater plays.

It is open Monday to Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and Saturdays from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

It's free!!

http://www.fundacionrafaelpombo.org/

Client Centered:

Maloka: 

The fascinating knowledge adventure begins with these scenarios in which will discover the funny side of science and technology with interactive experiences. There is a dome cinema too.

If you want to go, there are 3 packages:

• Maloka Plan: Interactive experiences + cinema 3D = $24.000 COP.
• Dome Cinema = $ 10.500 COP.
• Interactive experiences= $15.500 COP.

It is open from Monday to Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and weekends and holidays from 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.

http://www.maloka.org/    Cra. 68 D No. 24A - 51

Community Focused:

Museo de Arte Contemporáneo:

It is considered like one of the museum spaces more attractive, vanguard and dynamic of Bogota. 

It offers didactic visits to adults, scholar and university groups. You can ask for a guided tour by phone.

There you can find the Atrium, the Main Roundabout, the Virtual Room and the Theater with seating for 650 people. These places could be rented for different activities, celebrations, or private events.

The museum open Monday to Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. and Saturdays and the last Sunday of each month from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

To get in there are some rates:

• Kids: $1.000 COP.
• Students: $ 2.000 COP.
• Adults: $3.000 COP.
• Last Sunday of each month: It's for free!!

http://www.mac.org.co/index.php

National:

Museo Nacional:

It's a sprawling, three-story structure dedicated to history and art of Colombia.

It is located on the 7th street between the 28th and 29th Avenue.

The museum is a massive yellowish brick building that was once a prison: night watchmen swear it’s haunted. 

The Museum offers 17 permanent exhibition galleries with more than 2,500 pieces currently on display, a calendar of temporary exhibitions that allows its visitors to be in touch with important national and international displays of history, art and archaeology, and a varied educational and cultural program that includes seminars, lectures, concerts, video, theatrical and dance performances.

It’s open daily except Mondays. To visit the showroom it's open Tuesday to Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., and on Sunday from10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

To enter you have to pay less than $2 US Dollars and it's free on Sundays.

http://www.museonacional.gov.co

Types of Tours...

In Bogota you can do different types of city tours, for example you can do a city tour by car or a bike city tour.

CITY TOURS BY CAR:

BOGOTRAVELTOURS offers and guarantees the best experience for you. 

You can visit the main tourist attractions and places in the city with the company of local and bilingual guides who always will try to understand your interests offering you a really interesting tour showing you the most important things of Bogota's culture and history.

They offer you 3 types of City Tours depending on your likes and needs, there is the Full City Tour (8 Hours), the City Tour (6 Hours) and the Short City Tour (4 Hours).

• Places to visit:

Monserrate: It’s one of the most important viewpoints of Bogota.

Teusaquillo - La Merced: In this place the high class of the Bogota’s society lived once. The architecture of this place is very representative of the 40’s.

Historic Center, La Candelaria: You could take a chance to visit the place where Bogota was founded. This place has a spectacular colonial architecture where you can visit the Botero’s Museum, the Mint Museum, the Luis Angel Arango Library and the Gabriel García Márquez Cultural Center.

Plaza de Bolívar: There you can find the National Capitol, the Lievano Palace, the Mayoralty of Bogota, the Justice Palace, and the Simon Bolivar’s monument.

Emerald Museum: This museum has a collection with the best and most expensive emeralds from Colombia and the rest of the world. The best thing is that you could learn how is the process of extraction of them. (It’s closed at Sundays, so it could be changed by the Gold Museum).

International Center: It is the second most important financial center of Bogota. Near of it you can find the Santa Maria’s Bullring, La Merced neighborhood and the National Park.

Coffee Roaster in the Antique Bogota’s High class and the German Colony: You will learn about the different types of coffee beans, and the culturing and roasting process of the best coffee of the world. At the end you could enjoy a real cup of Colombian Coffee. (It is opened from Monday to Saturday).

T Zone, G Zone, and Pink Zone: (Party & Food place) There are the most exclusive places of Bogota where you can go to shopping, to eat and dancing.

Usaquén: It’s the second colonial neighborhood in Bogota after La Candelaria. It is famous for its spectacular architecture and its gastronomy.

BIKE TOURS:

There are daily bike tours too, where you can visit the historical center, the typical marketplaces, the main plazas, parks, architectonic icons and more.

• Places to visit:

• Historical Center - La Candelaria
• Bolívar's Plaza, Chorro de Quevedo, San Victorino's Plaza
• Coffee Roaster in the Antique Bogota’s High class and the German Colony
• Traditional marketplaces
• National University
• Gastronomic places
• Center of "Memoria, Paz y Reconciliación"
• Restricted neighborhoods

For more information about prices and opening hours go to: http://www.bogotraveltours.com/es/servicios/toures/city-tours-en-autom%C3%B3vil

Some Gastronomic Festivals in Bogota...

BOGOTA WINE & FOOD FESTIVAL:

With the idea to evolve and further publicize Colombian cuisine, born the festival which brings together more than 45 national and international chefs who provide lectures and culinary events.

One of the reasons for the preparation of the festival is because of the interest of people in other gastronomic events which have been done in the city where the national cuisine connects with the international one.

That’s how the event organizers of Bogotá Wine & Food Festival can contact the world’s leading chefs, stars of enology and Colombia mixology and bring them to this meeting.

Nowadays Colombia makes part of the world gastronomic scene, and it’s possible to show the variety of flavors and textures that as a country we can offer as well as our country and our people.

So, if you are a good cuisine lover, you must participate in this festival to continue showing the world the unique Colombian cuisine and also support the training of thousands of young people in the culinary arts.

LA FRANCACHELA:

“La Francachela” is a gastronomic festival which was been created about 3 years ago. 

It’s motto is: “bébetela, cómetela, gózatela”, and it means “drink it, eat it, enjoy it”.

This year it was celebrated from October the 12^th to the 14^th at the “Liceo de Cervantes del Retiro” (8^th Av with 83^th street - 29) and one of its proposes is to offer the best service and prices to the assistants.

Some of the restaurants that took part of this event were: Astrid & Gastón, Chamberí, La Charcutería, Mi Viejo, R Pastiseri, La Herencia, Goya, La Pampa Gaucha, Helados Panesso and La Verdad.

Besides of the food of the restaurants, the event offer concerts with different artists and some stand up comedies too.

To enter you have to pay $10.000 COP.

For more information go to: http://bogota.vive.in/restaurantes/bogota/articulos_restaurantes/septiembre2013/ARTICULO-WEB-NOTA_INTERIOR_VIVEIN-13084155.html

Typical Colombian Main Meals & Dishes

Changua: Breakfast in the Andean Mountains normally consists of this creamy soup made with milk, water, eggs, and scallions. The eggs are dropped into the mixture without breaking the yolks. It is served with cilantro and a piece of (stale) bread that soaks in the mixture.

 Ajiaco: Chicken soup like mom used to make it. It includes chicken, two (preferably three) kinds of potatoes, corn, sour cream, capers, avocado and guasca. Guasca is a special herb that grown throughout the Americas and gives the soup its distinct flavour.

Buñuelos: Are popular ball shaped fritters and eaten as a snack in many South American countries. The Colombian version is made with dough of curd of white cheese that get fried until golden brown. It is a typical Christmas dish in Colombia.

Empanadas: It is a stuffed pastry that can either be sweet or savory. The savory Colombian empanadas are filled with beef, chicken and/or cheese as well as with rice and coriander. Compared to the Chilean or Argentinean empanadas they are not baked but fried.

The Bogota Cuisine has a lot influence of the native’s food, specially the Muiscas, and some European traditions which have been part of the local gastronomy. Bogota is located on the Andean Region of Colombia, so the most representative ingredients are potatoes, yucca, meat, corn, rice, onions, garlic, tomatoes, chicken, pork and fish.

In Bogota hot drinks are very important because of the cold weather, especially at morning, afternoons and nights. Families used to meet for eating in the dining room. People eat their meals and always have different juices with the dishes.

The most representative dishes of Bogota’s cuisine are:

Chocolate Santafereño

• CHOCOLATE SANTAFEREÑO: To enjoy this delicious hot drink you can dip the bread and cheese into your cup to get a perfect mix between salt and sweet.
• TAMAL: This is a kind of cake made with corn flour and covered with plantain leaves. In the mass, there are pieces of chicken, carrots, peas and pork. It usually is served at breakfast and hot chocolate is a good company.
• FRITANGA: It is a very popular dish prepared with potatoes, fried plantain, and different kinds of meat pieces. It’s perfect for parties or night meetings.
• PAPAS CHORREADAS: This is a delicious dish to complement meats and white rice. There are potatoes cocked with onions, tomatoes, garlic and salt. Then it is covered by milk and it is served.
• TRES LECHES: It is a delicious dessert full of sweet cream but with a perfect taste.
• JUICES: There are juicies made of blackberry, mango, lulo, maracuya, pineapple, guanabana, curuba, borojó, apple, strawberry, orange, mandarin, guava, pear, lemon, peach and any other kind of fruit that you could find in Colombia.
• MASATO: It’s a fermented drink of indigenous origin. It could be prepared with rice or corn. It’s ideal to complement other types of food like Almojábanas, Empanadas or Pandebonos.
• TINTO: It’s black coffe. People used to drink it in their breakfast or after lunch because it is a digestive drink.

For more information about typical Colombian food go to:

•  http://www.southamerica.cl/Colombia/Food.htm
• http://www.historiacocina.com/paises/articulos/gastrocolombia.htm
• http://www.lurebogota.com/platos-tipicos-bogotanos/

SLOW FOOD

Why the name Slow Food?

It’s an ironic way of saying no to fast food.

This resistance movement was born in the north part of Italy in 1986 and it’s created by Carlo Petrini in response to the opening of a McDonald's in the Piazza di Spagna in Rome. It’s a nonprofit organization. Slow Food now counts members in more than 50 countries.

Why the snail symbol?

The snail was chosen because it moves slowly and calmly eats its way through life.

The Slow Food movement promotes methods that have a low impact on the environment and reducing the use of pesticides with organic techniques agriculture, besides, it works to ensure that they are “good, clean and fair”. This movement is against to the genetically modified organisms

What is Slow Food’s position on meat consumption?

Slow Food believes that responsible meat consumption means eating less meat, only eating meat from animals that have been raised with a high quality of life and paying a fair price for meat.

For more information go to: http://www.slowfood.com/ or http://www.thedailygreen.com/living-green/definitions/slow-food-movement