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Viewpoint · Bogotá, Bogotá, Distrito Capital
Cerro de Monserrate
The 3,152-meter hill that dominates Bogotá, with the Santuario del Señor Caído at the top and views across the whole plain. You can go up by cable car, by funicular or on foot via a trail of steps.
Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.
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About Cerro de Monserrate
Monserrate is the hill just behind downtown Bogotá, at 3,152 meters of altitude, about 500 meters above the city. At the top sits the Santuario del Señor Caído de Monserrate, a white 17th-century church that receives pilgrims year-round, housing the image of Christ fallen with the cross. Around it are viewpoints, a path with the stations of the via crucis, souvenir shops and restaurants serving typical food.
The view is what brings most visitors. From there you can take in the size of Bogotá, which spreads across the plain until it disappears from sight, with the historic center just below and, on clear days, the mountains on the other side of the Sabana. The sky is usually clearer in the morning; in the afternoon clouds and rain often arrive.
There are three ways to go up. The funicular has been operating since 1929 and climbs on an inclined track; the cable car, since 1955, crosses the slope in a few minutes. On foot, the trail is about 2.5 km of stone steps and takes one to two hours, with a strong altitude effect; it opens at specific times and can close for maintenance.
It is cold and windy at the top, even when the city is mild. Take a coat. People who have just arrived in Bogotá should ascend slowly and avoid the trail during the first days.
Before you go
Practical information
Cidade Turismo reviews its information regularly, but something may have changed. Check with the place before planning your trip.
How much time to set aside
About 1.5 to 2 hours with the cable car or funicular; about 3 to 4 hours if you climb on foot.
Best time
Early in the morning, when the sky is usually clearer and the lines are shorter. On Sundays the hill fills with pilgrims. The trail and the transport services have their own schedules; check before you go.
How to get there
The cable car and funicular station is at the foot of the hill, on Avenida Circunvalar at Calle 21, about 1.5 km from Plaza de Bolívar. Take a taxi to the station; the trail starts beside it.
Tip
Take the cable car up and the funicular down, or vice versa, to experience both. Order a chocolate santafereño with cheese or a caldo at the restaurants on the summit. Leave Monserrate for your second or third day in Bogotá, once you are acclimatized to the altitude.
Official website
Get your questions answered
Frequently asked questions about Cerro de Monserrate
What is the altitude of Monserrate?
The top of the hill is at 3,152 meters, about 500 meters above downtown Bogotá. Anyone who arrived recently may feel out of breath.
Which is better, the cable car or the funicular?
The cable car is faster and offers an open view of the slope; the funicular climbs along the track through the vegetation. Many people go up by one and down by the other.
Can you go up Monserrate on foot?
Yes, via the stepped trail of about 2.5 km, which takes one to two hours. It opens at set times and may be closed on some days; check before you go.