|
Points of interest • Directory General Information
Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta
The Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta is a landscape of biological juxtapositions. Palms, cacti and tropical dry forest fringe the area park’s northern border along the Caribbean coast, while tropical rain forests, treeless plains, and snow-capped peaks are found in the interior. The world’s tallest coastal mountain, the Sierra Nevada is an 18,942-foot (5,775-meter) massif separated from the Andes chain by plains and semiarid regions and it harbors numerous self-contained tropical and alpine ecosystems in a relatively small area. The mountain’s isolation has allowed for many plant and animal species found nowhere else on Earth. The Sierra Nevada is also sacred to several indigenous communities who still practice centuries-old traditions. These native peoples believe that the Sierra Nevada is the center of the universe and that the mountain’s health controls the entire Earth’s health. Beyond the mountain itself, roughly 1.2 million people are dependent upon a fresh water supply that drains down from the Sierra Nevada’s 35 river basins. The Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta is located in northern Colombia on the Caribbean coast.
Giant anteaters, white-bellied spider monkeys, white-lipped peccaries, red crested tree rats, and red howler monkeys are among the 120 species of mammals that roam the Sierra Nevada, along with elusive cats such as the jaguar, puma and little spotted cat. The Sierra Nevada also harbors 46 species of amphibians and reptiles; those that live above 9,900 feet (3,000 meters) are found nowhere else on the planet, having evolved in complete isolation.
An amazing 628 bird species have been recorded in Sierra Nevada —about the number that can be found in the United States and Canada combined. Some species, such as the Santa Marta Antpitta, Rusty-headed Spinetail, Santa Marta Bush-Tyrant, and White-lored Warbler, cannot be found anywhere else on Earth. Other spectacular birds found in the Sierra Nevada are the Andean condor, Blue-knobbed Curassow, Sapphire-bellied Hummingbird, and black-solitary eagle, which are endangered species. At least 71.
BOGOTA PARKS
Parque de la Independencia, Calle 26 and Carreras 7 and 5
It located in the northeast section of the “Centro Internacional” and it is considered the most traditional of the city. It was inaugurated in 1910 to celebrate the first one hundred years of Colombian Independence. The “Pabellón o Quiosco de la Luz” was recently remodeled. It is a neoclasical architectural piece built by Italian architect Pietro Cantini. The building is surrounded by gardens with tall eucalyptus trees. On the northern side of the park, you can visit the “Planetario Distrital” which is connected by a pedestrian bridge to the Museo de Arte Moderno.
Parque El Renacimiento, Calle 26 and Carrera 22
Not far west from the “Centro Internacional”, this park was built over the Central Cemetery grounds. It has numerous native plant species, a water mirror and stream for contemplative purposes. At the entrance you may find Fernando Botero’s sculpture “Hombre a Caballo”. There is a cafeteria and there are bathrooms.
CICI AQUAPARK, Avenida 68 # 64-00, tel: 660-2555
This aquatic park has pools for children and adults, with or without waves and water slides for all ages and levels. It has a children zone and a gigantic jacuzzi. There, you can visit the Pirate City, built with Lego pieces. Opening: 10 a.m.-6 p.m., entrance fee: $15,000 cps, parking fee: $6,000 all day.
Parque Central Bavaria, Calles 27 to 32, and Carreras 13 to 14
This park was build on the grounds of former Bavaria Industrial site. It covers 70.000 square meters of which 20,000 have been used as green areas. Each of the buildings was built with red bricks and now are used for family dwellings, office and commercial space. It has an arts, a coffee, and a food “plaza” around the “Parque de los Romerones”, the central piece of the development. You may find exclusive restaurants and shops, a water fall and fountain.
RESTAURANTS
Divino, Carrera 13 No 28 A-31, local 201, tel. 288-8575. Specialty: Spanish, French, German and Swiss. Open: Monday – Friday, noon to 4 p.m. (closed April 13-16, 2006)
San Lorenzo , Carrera 13 No. 28 A-21 piso cuatro, tel. 288-8731, 288-8765. Specialty: Mexican and grill. Tel. 288-8731, 288-8765. Open: Monday – Friday, noon to 4 p.m. (closed April 13- 16, 2006).
Parque Nacional Olaya Herrera, Carrera 7, and Calles 36 to 39
This 283 hectares park is located between 2.600 and 3.154 meters of altitude. The west side of the park has a children’s theater, soccer and mini-soccer, tennis, volley ball, basket ball and hockey fields. The east side, between Avenida Circunvalar and the “Cerros Orientales” (mountains) offers great biodiversity, water sources and numerous tree species like eucalyptus, cypress, “acacias”, and “urapanes”
Parque el Virrey, Calle 88 between Carrera 7 and Autopista del Norte
It offers walling paths, bike path, children’s play ground and open areas.
Parque Museo “El Chico”, Carrera 7 # 93-01, tel. 623-2302, 623-1066.
Closed April 13-16
Parque Metropolitano Simón Bolívar, between Calle 53 and Calle 63 west of Transversal 48. Parking on Transversal 48 close to the corner with Calle 53.
The park offers 113 hectares of green areas, a 12 hectare lake with rowing boats ($5,500 per half an hour), 3.5 km red clay running trail, 2.7 km mountain bike trail over 4 km of walking paths, 3 kids’ play grounds, lots of trees, bathroom and food kiosks, and train ride ($1,200 cps, service on Sundays only).
CHILDREN´S PARKS
Parque Camelot, Centro Comercial Bima: Autopista Norte # 232-35.
Tel: 676-5337/70/81/15/26. Open: April 13 and April 14: 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., Sat. April 15: 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., Sun. April 16: 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. $20,000 cps for bracelet with unlimited entrance to all the games all day, $17,900 cps for 20 tickets (1-2 tickets per game). It has mechanical games.
Parque Guaymaral, Autopista Norte, Kilómetro 16, east side, Los Muebles de Guaymaral. Tel. 676-1756/41. Open only on Sunday, April 16, 9 a.m. -5 p.m. Entrance fee $1000 cps per person. It offers 30,000 square meters of recreational zones. It also has karts for $ 4,000 per ride and horses for $3,000 cps per ride.
Parque Jaime Duque, Carretera Central del Norte, Kilómetro 34. Tel. 857-4233.
Open: April 13-16 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
No entrance fee, but minimum 4 coins purchase that can be used for the various activities. Zoo entrance: $6,000 cps. Bracelet cost $14,000 cps for all games except concesions: karts, pony rides, … The park has a small zoo (apparently a sad place), a huge map of Colombia with mountains and rivers in bas relief, museum about the Man in the universe. It has miniature replicas of the Taj Mahal and Rodas Giant, Greek mythological sculptures, and a brigantine ship. It also offers mechanical games, water bicycling and rowing boats in artificial lakes, a mini train.
Multiparque, Autopista Norte, km. 16, Calle 230, east side. Tel. 676-0325.
Open everyday 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 pm. Ticket cost: $2,700 cps, attractions require 1-2 tickets. The park offers over 13 attractions for the entire family: play ground, farm (where children can touch and feed the animals), fishing pond, karts, boats, mini-golf, and more. Home furnishing stores are located next door.
Telephone: 571 - 235 06 45 / 571 - 540 44 43
e-mail: info@americansocietyofbogota.com
|