Among the things to do in Bogotá, visiting El Salto de Tequendama and enjoying the beautiful views of this waterfall (definitely not the smell) from one of the many miradores, is something worth half day of your time. When trying to reach El Salto by ourselves is was not quite the easiest city adventures and that’s why we decided to write this step-by-step guide on Transport Options: From Bogotá to El Salto Tequendama.
During our stay in Bogotá, the barrio of Candelaria was by far the nicest most artistic place from where to enjoy the pumping heart of the capital. And this is where our journey started!
1. Reach Transmilenio station Corferias
Around our accomodation, the closest Transmilenio station (red buses that are some kind of modern public transport) was the Universidades. At this station, just take the bus 1 with final destination Portal El Dorado and in less than 10-15min you should be arriving at Corferias. If your accomodation is more or less around the city center, the fare for reaching corferias could be different!
NOTE: To be able to get any Transmilenio bus you need to buy a non-refundable transport card (5000COP) at one of the stations ticket booths and put money on it as you go.
Transmilenio Card | 5000COP (only need one per group)
Transmilenio Fare Universidades-San Mateo | 2300COP
2. Reach the Transmilenio San Mateo
Once in Corferias, you’ll need to change bus from within the terminal so don’t go out otherwise you’ll have to pay the fare again. This time you have two options depending on which day you’ll be going to the waterfall. If you’re traveling during ferial days (Mon.-Fri.), then you need to take the bus G43 but if you’re traveling on weekends or festive days you also have the possibility to get the G42 express bus which is faster. Both buses have the San Mateo stop as end of the line but the G43 does a longer route (1h) and the G42 take a shorter one (45min).
Change Transmilenio Bus | FREE, you paid above
3. Take a bus to Mesitas
San Mateo is something to be considered as a roadside terminal for busitos that connect Bogotá with surroundings area, outside the city limits. Spotting the area where all the buses stop is pretty easy as you’ll see several of them cueing up on the road waiting for people to jump on. Just exit the Transmilenio station, walk over the pedal bridge that bring you to the other side of the road and there you are.
This is the hard part of the journey! In order to reach the waterfall, you’ll need to catch a bus to Mesitas but if they ask you where you’re going just tell them “El Salto de Tequendama” or “Cascadas Tequendama” and if they say they’re not going there just tell them “Zoologico”. It happened a few times to us that by saying the name of the waterfall people would say no because they didn’t know its official name!
To make things easier, there are only two companies going to Mesitas; the first one named TEQUENDAMA (blue and passes more often) and the other is called VELOSIBA (yellow and passes less often). The ride should cost you anything in-between 6000-8000COP so make sure to bargain if they give you a higher “tourist” price!
Tequendama bus
Velosiba bus
Just make sure to let them know (if you’re spanish is good enough) to let you know when you’re arrive there or just keep an eye to the road (or map) for the waterfall museum which is where you would hop down. This should take you 30min more or less.
Busito San Mateo-Tequendama Waterfall | 7000COP
4. Journey back to Bogotá
Heading back to Bogotá is definitely the easiest thing to do. Once you’re done visiting the waterfalls, just stand on the other side of the road and flag down any bus. Literally all buses heading to Bogotá will have the final stop at the Terminal de Transportes, where you can easily find your way to get transport back to your place. Take into account 1h30-2h to go back !
Bus fare to Bogota Bus Terminal | 6000COP
5. Grab a public bus back to the center
In case the first time you arrived at the Terminal ended up taking a taxi cause had no idea where the public buses were, well here you go. Inside the terminal forget about the infinite taxi lines, exit the terminal, pass next to the gasoline station and cross a big 6-lanes avenue to the other side.
Once there, if you look in front of you around 500m ahead you can see another big avenue heading right (to the center) where a lot of buses and traffic goes through. Walk to it and turn left. There, another 50m ahead you should see a small pedestrian bridge and a couple of signalled bus stops under it. At the bus stop, any bus that goes to the center is a good option but to be sure, just ask the driver if they’re going to Aguas, the bus stop in-between Magdalena and Candelaria quarters, only 10min away.
If you’re checking a map you’ll know when to hop down but if not, just wait to see a big roundabout connected to a red brick road (pedestrian and transmilenio only) and that’s gonna be the stop.
Bus fare to center | 1700 COP
Quick Summary
Getting to the Tequendama waterfalls must not be considered as a couple of hours trip but at least as a half-day counting all the bus trips. Even in the best conditions by leaving early in the morning, you’ll be on buses for 3h (1h30min each way) plus whatever period of time you’re planning on staying at the waterfalls site.
The total price for this journey, including all bus connections, is around 22kCOP (6.5€) depending on your bargaining abilities. Not at expensive activity for a half day trip uh!
PLANNING A TRIP TO COLOMBIA? CHECK MORE GUIDES BELOW!
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