The climate in Bogotá is variable: it can have sunny mornings and rainy afternoons, or rainy mornings and sunny afternoons for a trip to the park. Although there are sunny days, there are also rains. Sometimes, heavy rains.

The city’s average temperature is 14ºC, and it can range between 9ºC and 19ºC. The lowest temperatures occur at night.

We recommend wearing warm clothing, bringing umbrellas, and wearing coats or waterproof jackets.

You can find information about the Bogotá weather at this link https://www.tiempo.com/bogota.htm We encourage you to check it to prepare for your trip.

Colombian cities are located at various altitudes: some are near the sea, others in mountains thousands of meters high. Therefore, if you plan to travel to other cities in the country, we recommend researching the specific climate and altitude.

Bogotá is located at a considerable altitude, around 2,640 meters above sea level, with different weather changes throughout the day. We recommend taking the visit slowly during the first few days to allow your body to gradually adjust to the altitude and temperature changes. One of the main warnings for visitors is that they may experience altitude sickness, also known as «soroche,» «mal de altura,» or mountain sickness. This discomfort is associated with the lack of oxygen due to the altitude. Symptoms may include dizziness, nausea, and headaches. We recommend researching the best ways to prevent it based on individual conditions.

Here are some recommendations to prevent altitude sickness:

– Use of sunscreen: The temperature in Bogotá can vary throughout the day, with rain and intense sunlight possible on the same day. Don’t forget to use sunscreen and bring an umbrella that can provide shade or cover you from the rain.

– Constant hydration: Altitude and climate can contribute to dehydration. Make sure to drink enough water during the day; you will find various hydration points within the university dispensing potable water for refilling.

– Coca tea: this is a traditional remedy that some people use to alleviate symptoms of altitude sickness. Coca tea is made from the leaves of the coca plant, which contains compounds believed to help with altitude-related discomfort.

The Ministry of Health and Social Protection of Colombia recommends the yellow fever vaccine for Colombian nationals or foreigners traveling to potential infection areas located below 1800 meters above sea level. However, some airlines require this vaccine for all passengers, regardless of the destination. Therefore, we recommend taking the yellow fever vaccine before traveling.

Please be reminded that we cannot be held responsible for severe illnesses or accidents. Unfortunately, healthcare is not free in Colombia. Therefore, we strongly advise having health insurance with international coverage. Nonetheless, we will be attentive to handle emergency situations.

Bogota is a city with a lot of traffic. Understanding the city’s transportation system and the variations in traffic throughout the day will help you plan your commute and have a smooth experience.

These are the city’s peak congestion times, also called rush hour:

– In the Morning: From 6:00 a.m. to 8:30 a.m., the city experiences a peak in public and private transportation as people head to work.

– Afternoon/Evening: Between 5:30 p.m. and 8:00 p.m., there is a higher demand for transportation as people return home from work.

Regarding access to transportation, there are various options you can consider:

– Public Transportation:

– TransMilenio: A fast bus system to move around the city. You can access the stations to board the buses using a prepaid card called Tu Llave to pay for the service.

– SITP (Sistema Integrado de Transporte Público): is a complementary service to TransMilenio bus service that moves throughout the city. The same prepaid card is also used for this service.

If you choose to use public transportation, we recommend familiarizing yourself with the routes in advance using the TransMi App, the official application for the system. It’s a useful tool for planning your journey, finding routes, and locating stops for Bogotá’s Integrated Transportation System.

You can buy the Tu Llave Card at Transmilenio stations or at authorized points, and it costs $7,000 pesos (about 2 dollars).

– Private Transportation:

– Traditional Taxis: Easily available on the streets. We recommend taking them through mobile applications such as Taxis libres or Cabify-Easy Taxi. You can easily download them to your cell phone and associate your debit or credit card as a payment method. If you pay the driver directly, we recommend paying in cash. 

– You can also ask for assistance at hotels, hostels or restaurants to order a cab for you. It is safer than taking them on the street.

– Transportation Apps are convenient for private trips.

The University of the Andes provides visitors with access to the campus WiFi network through the «uniandes pública» network. For detailed information on how to connect, we recommend reviewing the following link: https://tecnologia.uniandes.edu.co/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Manual-WiFi-UniandesPublica.pdf 

We recommend making currency exchanges in authorized exchange houses, hotels or banks; never in the street. The reference for the exchange rate fluctuation is the U.S. dollar.

There is a network of ATMs throughout the city where you can make cash withdrawals. Most of them are active 24 hours a day.

As in any city, it is important to be careful when making transactions: do not allow strangers to know and observe the password, do not ask for or accept help from people outside the entity, do not use ATMs that have irregularities in the equipment, and do not carry large amounts of money with you. 

Most large establishments, restaurants and supermarkets offer debit card service. They also accept international credit cards.

We recommend that you notify your bank that you will be making transactions outside your country, to avoid blocking your cards.