After more than 20 trips to Bogotá, Colombia - all for work, sadly - I can say that I have gathered a few tips for travel to the city and specifically for your visit to the iconic 'Cerro de Monserrate.'
My first visit to the Monserrate Hill and the Basilica which is located at the top of the hill, was back in 2008. As a first-time visitor to Colombia with poor Spanish, I nervously went with a guide who was also my taxi driver and enjoyed the spectacular views from the top and the enjoyable ride up and down by rail car. In 2016, I returned to this beautiful spot with my husband and this time took the journey up and back down in the cable car. We ate at one of the restaurants on site and enjoyed the fantastic views while we brunched.
In 2021, I thought to try hiking up the Monserrate and I now refuse to visit the Monserrate in any other way after doing so. Since 2021, I have walked up the Monserrate by myself half a dozen times and with friends and co-workers another half a dozen times! By far, this is one of my favourite activities to do when I am in Bogotá and it truly never gets boring!
How & When to Get to the Monserrate Hill
The easiest way to get to the Monserrate Hill is by taxi or Uber. From most points in Bogotá you won't be more than 40 minutes away as the hill is basically inside the city. If you are going up by foot from Monday to Friday, you can arrive anytime, but I, personally, prefer to arrive around 6 am as the temperature is cool and there are fewer people. If you plan to walk (or run) up on the weekend, Saturdays get very busy after 7 am and Sundays are absolutely packed. Because many families climb up on Sundays to attend mass at the Basilica or do the climb for religious reasons (mandados), there are usually many slower-moving folks on the climb. I try to avoid visiting on Sundays, if possible, or to go as early as possible as the crowds are truly unbelievable. The hill is open for walkers from 5 am to 1 pm to go up, and to go down from 5 am to 4 pm. (Be sure to check their website for any updates or closures.)
The Climb
There are around 1200 steps on the cobbled trail up to the top of the Monserrate Hill. It is basically like doing the stair master for a solid 45 minutes (to hour and a half, depending on your fitness level, experience, and stops for photos). Add the altitude, and the climb can be more challenging than it might initially seem. You will start the hike at around 2650 m above sea level and will gain around 600 m of altitude on the climb up. The hike is around 2.4 kilometres long, so anyone can do it as long as they listen to their bodies and go at a pace that is adequate for them. There are many people who run up and down the hill multiple times and I heard people mentioning times of 20 to 25 minutes, which to me is mind-blowing!
What To Wear & Bring
I generally wear a pair of warm tights, a long-sleeved shirt, a light sweater, a hat, and a pair of supportive runners - hiking boots are not required. On cooler days, you might want to wear a neck-warmer or headband although you may remove it quickly! I also always bring a bottle of water, a snack, and some Kleenex for runny noses in a little backpack. Daily, there are people selling fruit, water, and sports drinks at the bottom of the hill, and from Thursday to Sunday there are usually people selling similar items on the way up, if you want to carry some cash with you. At the top there are restrooms that charge a small fee for use, and there are vendors selling souvenirs, coffee, drinks, and a variety of different food options.
More Information & Resources
If you choose to do so, you can take the cable car back down and save your knees. The line to purchase one-way tickets and to get on the cable cars can be quite long, but it might be worth it if you are not interested in jarring your knees on the walk back down.
I have not been to the restaurants for many, many years, but there are a number of options and the suggestion is to reserve in advance: https://www.restaurantesmonserrate.com/
A few people have asked me if the climb is safe and yes, it is! I have gone many times alone as there are police on the trail who are ready to attend any emergency, medical or otherwise, and there are a lot of people on the trail who can help you, if needed. I feel completely safe walking the trail, stopping for photos, buying fruit or souvenirs, and so on.
I have heard that enjoying a sunset at Monserrate is an amazing experience and throughout the year there are different light displays and even fireworks. I can imagine that seeing Bogotá light up at night would be amazing as well! Since I am always in the city for work (and prefer walking), this time of day has never worked out for me, but I would love to hear about your experience if you have enjoyed the Monserrate at night!
This is a great page for any FAQs around pricing, hours, etc.: https://monserrate.co/en/frequently-asked-questions/
Happy climbing!