Monserrate Mountain – Bogotá, Colombia

Bienvenidos and welcome to Bogotá, Colombia. Eugene and I had the most amazing time last October exploring the colorful city of Bogota. While we did a few adventures not in normal tour books, we also we did a few touristy things, like taking the funicular up to Monserrate. For those who may not know, Monserrate is a mountain over 3,000 metres (10,000 feet) high that overlooks the city center of Bogotá, which is the capital city of Colombia. Besides the amazing views, there is a church built in the 17th century with a shrine, devoted to El Señor Caído (“The Fallen Lord”).

I will share more about its history in a bit, but for now, I want to share our experience during our visit. There are two different ways to get up to the top of Monserrate. The first way is a free hiking path which is 2.4 km (1.5 mi). This walk up the steep hill takes you on a journey that lasts between 50 min and 3 hours. During the climb to the top, the elevation increases 600 m (2,000 ft), and the average grade of steepness is 25 percent. The second way to the top is to take the funicular or cable car for a small fee. We weren’t in the mood, or had the time, to hike to the top, so we decided to take the funicular or cable car up and down the mountain.

We made our way inside to purchase our tickets and found out the cable car wasn’t running at the time, so we ended up taking the funicular up to the “top.” I say the top, but it wasn’t really the top, top. There was still quite a way to hike to the top, but they made it very interesting as you made your way up to the actual top of the Monserrate. The path leading to the Sanctuary is called Viacruxis, Way of the Cross in English, and you can stop, read, and admire the 14 stations depicting the Passion of Christ. These were brought over from Italy in the 19th century, and are truly beautiful to see in person. He is a collection of them I took while walking up the path to the Sanctuary.

We made it to the top and the views were phenomenal. They were even better than what I had heard from other tourist. You can see most of Bogotá from up there.  Of course we had to take a picture in front of the Bogotá sign, lol. Yeah, a little cheesy, but that is what Bogotá is about, right, the cheese? We spent quite a while walking around, taking pictures, and even got a little snack to enjoy while taking in the views.

Eventually we made our way into the Sanctuary, which is actually named Basilica Sanctuary of the Fallen Lord and Our Lady of Monserrate, or Iglesia Basilica del Señor de Monserrate in Spanish. The sanctuary was built between 1650 to1657, and is a major religious pilgrimage site for many people. It houses the image of El Señor Caído de Monserrate, a Christ figure believed to perform miracles. It is still an active church and holds weekly services. We were there on Monday, so not much was going on inside the sanctuary, but we sat for a while, taking in the spirit of the place, and admiring its beauty. It was a peaceful place to rest and reflect for a while. So glad we made it up to the top and able to see the views and the church. Sorry I will not soon forget.

Before I end this post, I thught I would share  a little bit about the history of Monserrate which goes back to the pre-Columbian era. Before the Spanish conquest, the Bogotá savanna was inhabited by the Muisca, who were organized in their loose Muisca Confederation. The Spanish conquistadors in the early colonial period replaced the Muisca temples by catholic buildings. The first primitive cathedral of Bogotá was constructed on the northeastern corner of Bolívar Square in 1539, a year after the foundation of the capital of the New Kingdom of Granada. In the 1620s, the Cofradia de la Vera Cruz (“Brotherhood of the True Cross”) began using the Monserrate’s hilltop for religious celebrations. By 1656, Father Rojas had been assigned guarding the sanctuary and ordered the carving of a crucifix and a statue of Jesus Christ.

After this statue was taken off the cross, it earned the name “El Señor Caído” (“The Fallen Lord”). Originally, these sculptures were placed inside a small chapel dedicated to the adoration of Christ. By the 19th century, the statue of “The Fallen Lord” had gained so much attention, that the sculpture to the Virgin of Montserrat was removed from the hill as the center piece of the sanctuary and replaced with “El Señor Caído”. The mountain has retained the name Monserrate since then, and for more than four centuries, pilgrims and citizens have hiked the mountain to offer their prayers to the shrine of “El Señor Caído”.

Monserrate Mountain Visitor Information

Address:

Carrera 2 Este No. 21-48 Paseo Bolívar. Bogotá, Colombia

Phone:

6017470190 or 6012845700

Hours:

Walking Trail:

Open Sunday to Sunday from 5 a.m. to 1 p.m. for ascending, and until 4 p.m. for descending the trail. Except on Tuesdays, when it is closed for maintenance. Please note: Please note that children under one meter tall cannot enter, and pets are not allowed. For more information, visit: https://www.idrd.gov.co.

Funicular and Cable Car

Monday to Saturday, 6:30 AM – 10 PM
Sunday, 5:30 AM – 6:00 PM

Holidays, 6:30 AM – 6:00 PM

Basilica Hours

Prices (In Colombian Pesos):

Monday to Saturday and Holidays

 

Directions:

By Car: If you choose to drive, you can easily access Monserrate via Avenida Circunvalar. From the north, take Avenida Carrera Septima south to Calle 26, then continue toward Avenida Circunvalar. From the south, use Carrera Decima and connect to Circunvalar heading north.

By Public Transportation: Bogotá has an efficient public transportation system that makes it easy to reach Monserrate.

Bye Walking or Biking: For those who prefer physical activity, Monserrate is a perfect destination.

Bicycle: Bogotá has bike routes that will take you directly to Avenida Circunvalar. Near the ticket booth, there are places where you can secure your bicycle.
Walking: If you’re downtown, you can walk along Carrera Séptima and go up Calle 21 or 22 to reach Avenida Circunvalar.

Parking:

If driving, you’ll find a convenient parking lot adjacent to theirticket office, where you can leave your vehicle and start your visit. No sure about pricing as we tood and Uber there, which is also an option.

Accessibility:

Monserrate is committed to accessibility. They have adapted access for individuals with reduced mobility on the cable car and the funicular. Additionally, they offer wheelchairs for loan, which you can request from their staff if needed. It’s important to remember that the trails in Monserrate are uneven and steep, so it’s recommend visiting with someone who can assist you with the wheelchair. To simplify your visit, plan your arrival to avoid rush hours and access the busiest areas during less busy times.