Bogotá's best kept queer secrets

Most travelers will tell you to skip over the Andean metropolis and head straight to Medellin or Cartegena. In this guide, we're taking the overlooked path to explore Colombia's edgy and raw capital.

Street art in Bogota (Credit: author)

Bogotá isn’t a city that immediately inspires you. Outside of the historic Candelaria neighborhood, the city’s architecture is full of mundane red brick structures reminiscent of industrial cities from around the globe. The second you arrive in the Andean capital city you’ll most likely be out of breath due to its elevation of 8,612 feet above sea level which is over 3,000 feet higher than the U.S.’s famed Mile High city of Denver. Its sister city Medellin is often nicknamed “The City of Eternal Spring” where you can wear shorts year-round, in contrast, Bogotá could be coined “The City of Eternal Fall” where crisp temperatures, bright alpine sun, and brooding clouds that release cleansing rain all occur in one day.

Bogota’s Skyline (Credit: Author)

With that said, the city’s charm is complex and unfolds with time. Once you catch your breath, you’ll notice that the city has a wide selection of international eateries tucked into the hillside neighborhoods of Candelaria and Chapinero. Bogotá has a food culture all its own full of hearty stews complete with heirloom Andean potatoes, and meat-filled corn flour arepas.

The charming streets of Candelaria (Credit: Author)

Chapinero or Chapigay as the locals call it is the city’s most chévere (cool) neighborhood, and naturally, where most of its queer population lives, shops, dines, and parties well into the night. Much of the city’s queer nightlife is centered around Parque Los Hippies in the center of Chapinero. Bearlove is the city’s official Bear Bar where you’ll find a tiny packed dance floor playing anything from Latin Pop to salsa to 80s & 90s electro. Around the block, you’ll find Mala Muerte where their motto states “Nobody knows your name”. Rub elbows with Bogotá’s queer club kids sipping gin and tonic under an array of kitschy John Waters-esk decor.

Credit: Mala Muerta