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Voykit pocket guide · Colombia
Melgar
A weekend pool retreat from Bogotá: go for 2 nights if you want hot weather and swimming; skip if you prefer mountain scenery or coffee farms.
Melgar is a low-altitude resort town 98 km southwest of Bogotá, known for its 5,000+ swimming pools and warm climate (28–35°C year-round). It's a popular weekend escape for Bogotanos escaping the capital's cold. The town offers pools, parks, restaurants and nightlife, but little cultural or natural sightseeing. Best for a short, relaxed stay with family or friends.
- Country
- Colombia
- Best months
- Dec–Mar, Jul–Aug (dry season)
- Avoid
- Apr–May, Oct–Nov (rainy season)
- Stay
- 2 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 80,000–120,000 excl. bed · Mid COP 120,000–200,000 excl. bed · High COP 200,000+ 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 123 · Fire and 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 |
|---|---|
| Coffee (tinto) | COP 1,500–3,000 |
| Lunch (menu del día) | COP 12,000–20,000 |
| Beer (local) | COP 3,000–5,000 |
| Taxi ride within town | COP 5,000–10,000 |
| Bus Bogotá–Melgar | COP 25,000–35,000 |
| Pool entry (public) | COP 5,000–15,000 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- BOG · El Dorado International Airport
- About 2 h by bus or car from Melgar; no direct flights to Melgar.
Typical fares
- Bus Bogotá → Melgar
- about COP 25,000–35,000, about 2 h (check)
- Taxi from terminal to centre
- COP 5,000–10,000
- Mototaxi short ride
- COP 3,000–5,000
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
Taxis and mototaxis are the main options; most sights are within walking distance in the centre. Buses connect the terminal to nearby towns.
See and do
Known for
- 5,000+ swimming pools
- Warm weather (28–35°C)
- Weekend retreat for Bogotá residents
- Tolima region cuisine
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Ibagué | Bus from Melgar terminal, about 1.5 h | About 2 h |
| Pereira | Bus via Armenia, about 3 h | About 3.5 h |
| Salento | Bus via Armenia, about 3.5 h | About 4 h |
Sleep
- Town centre (near the terminal)
- Close to restaurants and pools; most hotels and hostels here.
- Outskirts (villas and fincas)
- More space, private pools, quieter; need a taxi or car.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Hello | Holaoh-lah |
| How much does it cost? | ¿Cuánto cuesta?KWAHN-toh KWES-tah |
| Where is the pool? | ¿Dónde está la piscina?DON-deh es-TAH lah pee-SEE-nah |
| The bill, please | La cuenta, por favorlah KWEN-tah por fah-VOR |
| Thank you | GraciasGRAH-see-ahs |
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
- Weekend crowds from Bogotá: book accommodation and bus tickets in advance.
- Heat and humidity: carry water and sunscreen.
- Some pools may have entry fees or be private; check before you go.
- Mototaxis can be unsafe: negotiate the fare before getting on.
Melgar is generally safe for tourists, but watch for pickpocketing in crowded areas and negotiate taxi fares in advance. Avoid walking alone at night in unfamiliar areas.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Melgar yet. Suggested stay: 2 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- 5,000+ swimming pools
- Warm weather (28–35°C)
- Weekend retreat for Bogotá residents
- Tolima region cuisine
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: Melgar, revision 4941600 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=4941600
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Printed from Voykit (/melgar). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.