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Voykit pocket guide · Colombia
La Calera
A half-day trip from Bogotá for paragliding and sunset views over the city; not worth an overnight unless you want a quiet mountain weekend.
La Calera is a wealthy mountain town 45 minutes from Bogotá, known for paragliding, horse ranches and restaurants with panoramic views of the capital. The town itself is quiet and small; most visitors come for the sunset from the roadside restaurants on the climb up, or to fly over the Chingaza páramo. A half-day covers the main draw; an overnight suits those who want to ride horses or paraglide without rushing back.
- Country
- Colombia
- Best months
- Dec–Mar, Jul–Aug (dry season, clearer views)
- Avoid
- Apr–May, Oct–Nov (rainy season, low clouds may block the view)
- Stay
- 0 nights
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- COP
- Money
- Currency is the Colombian peso (COP, $). Cards work in hotels, malls and many restaurants; cash is needed for small shops, markets and rural areas.
- Daily spend
- Budget COP 40,000–70,000 excl. bed · Mid COP 70,000–120,000 excl. bed · High COP 120,000+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- Claro (best coverage), Movistar and Tigo SIMs in malls and at airports; passport required and IMEI registration may apply for longer stays — check.
- Emergency
- Police, fire, ambulance 123
- Plugs
- Types A, B · 110–120 V · 60 Hz · US-style plugs.
- Tipping
- Restaurants: 10% propina voluntaria offered on the bill.; Guides: COP 20,000–50,000 per person per day.; Taxis: Round up.
- Water
- Tap water is safe in Bogotá and Medellín; drink bottled on the coast and in rural areas.
- Toilets
- Put paper in the bin in most places; bring tissues for bus stations.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Bus Bogotá → La Calera | COP 5,000–7,000 |
| Paragliding tandem flight | COP 150,000–200,000 |
| Horseback ride, 1 hour | COP 40,000–60,000 |
| Meal at a roadside restaurant | COP 15,000–30,000 |
| Coffee at a town café | COP 3,000–5,000 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- BOG · El Dorado International Airport
- About 1 h by taxi or bus to La Calera
Typical fares
- Bus Bogotá → La Calera
- COP 5,000–7,000, about 45 min (check)
- Taxi La Calera town → paragliding take-off
- COP 15,000–25,000
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
Walking covers the compact centre. For paragliding take-off points and horse ranches you need a taxi or your own vehicle. Buses from Bogotá drop you at the main square.
See and do
Known for
- Paragliding over the mountains
- Sunset views of Bogotá from roadside restaurants
- Horseback riding on mountain trails
- Emerald wealth and quiet weekend homes
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Bogotá | Bus from La Calera town centre, about 45 min | About 1 h |
| Zipaquirá | Bus via Bogotá, about 2 h total | About 2.5 h |
| Choachí | Taxi or private car, about 1 h | About 1.5 h |
Sleep
- Town centre
- Small hotels and hostels near the main square; quiet at night.
- Roadside restaurants area (on the climb from Bogotá)
- A few lodges with views; you need a car to get into town.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| How much does it cost? | ¿Cuánto cuesta?KWAN-to KWES-ta |
| Where is the paragliding take-off? | ¿Dónde está el despegue de parapente?DON-de es-TA el des-PE-ge de pa-ra-PEN-te |
| I'd like to rent a horse | Quiero alquilar un caballoKYE-ro al-kee-LAR oon ka-BA-yo |
| The bill, please | La cuenta, por favorla KWEN-ta por fa-VOR |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Handshake, cheek kiss between women and mixed pairs; avoid: Launching into requests without a greeting
- Politeness: 'Con gusto', 'a la orden'; avoid: Blunt commands
- Topics: Coffee, football, food; avoid: Escobar jokes, drug talk
- Showing valuables: Keep phones away; avoid: 'Dar papaya'
Scams and watch-outs
- The road from Bogotá has blind bends and locals overtake aggressively; drive defensively.
- Military checkpoints are common near the reservoir; carry your passport or ID.
- Paragliding depends on weather; call ahead in the rainy season.
- Restaurants on the road fill up at sunset; arrive by 16:00 for a table with a view.
La Calera is safe for day visitors; the main risks are aggressive driving on the mountain road and military checkpoints near the reservoir. Keep your ID handy.
One and two days
No timed day plan for La Calera yet. Suggested stay: 0 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Paragliding over the mountains
- Sunset views of Bogotá from roadside restaurants
- Horseback riding on mountain trails
- Emerald wealth and quiet weekend homes
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Wikivoyage: La Calera, revision 5214039 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5214039
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
La Calera
A esta dirección, por favor
To this address, please
My hotel (write the name and address in the local script)
- Police, fire, ambulance123
Most embassies are in Bogotá. The US Embassy is at Calle 24 Bis No. 48-50, Bogotá.
Voykit · checked 2026-09
Printed from Voykit (/la-calera). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.