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Bogotá was founded in the 15th century by Spanish conquerers in search of the famous "El Dorado" gold treasure, but archeological digs have revealed evidence of human life in the area from 12,500 years ago. The indigenous people of that era, the Muisca, cultivated potato, yuca, corn, tobacco, and especially salt. Emeralds were also an important part of the culture that represented fertility and new life.

Today, Bogota is famous for having one of the largest theatre festivals in the world (every 2 years between March & April), as well as being declared "The World's Book Capital" by UNESCO for its annual international book fair. In October Bogota hosts 300,000 spectators at Rock al Parque, the most important free rock music festival in South America, held outdoors.

There are also several green parks such as Parque de la 93, Parque Simon Bolivar, and the Parque Nacional, to name a few. The greenery, especially in the northern parts of Bogota, offer calm, relaxing areas throughout the city.

On Sundays, some of Bogota's main roads are closed down for the "ciclovia," where locals enjoy biking, jogging, or walking with friends and family as they traverse Bogota. At night, the "zona rosa" or nightlife area, comes to life in La Zona G, La Zona T, and Usaquen, where you can enjoy international cuisine and bars.

The Gold Museum, located in the historic colonial district referred to as La Candelaria, includes hundreds of pieces of gold from not only the local Muisca tribe, but also eight other indigenous groups from Colombia, culminating in the largest collection of gold in the world with over 5,500 pieces. The museum is divided into rooms according to the tribes from which the pieces were found, telling the history and giving great insight into the lifestyles of each of the respective tribes.

From Monserrate, the 3100 metre high "hill" (it looks more like a mountain) that lies at the southeastern edge of Bogota, you can see Bogota sprawl out, an unbelievable flat city surrounded by mountains at its edges. The church at the top of the hill, which was finished in 1657, is an important religious destination, as well.

Four hours outside of Bogota lies the enchanting colonial village of Villa de Leyva, which has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. With a 21ºC (70ºF) temperature and blue skies almost every day, Villa de Leyva is a great place to relax and enjoy the scenery. The narrow streets are lined with white adobe-style homes and shops with red and orange geraniums hanging out of the windows. Just a few miles from Villa de Leyva also lies the largest kronosaurus fossil in the world. One of only four ever to be discovered, the kronosaurus was a giant, water-dwelling creature that lived during the Cretaceous Age, about 120 million years ago. Another nearby town, Raquira, is famous for its vibrant, brightly painted buildings and local handicrafts.

Just 45 minutes outside of Bogota in Zipaquira you'll find the Salt Cathedral, considered one of the most important national wonders. The Cathedral has been dug out of the world's largest salt mine and, architecturally speaking, is considered the most important underground structure in the world.