The footpath leading to Bogota’s top tourism spot and epic lookout point, Monserrate, has finally been completed and is ready for visitors.
With the blessings of Archbishop Ruben Salazar, and Bogota’s Mayor Clara Lopez, the pedestrian walkway was officially unveiled. The renovations and repairs cost the city and ecclesiastical authorities a total of $3.4 million dollars, due to necessary hydraulic and geo-technical mitigation.
The Cerro de Monserrate church and lookout hosts thousands of visitors a day, ranging from worshippers, hikers, and tourists. But transportation to the summit is limited; before the completion of the path the only means to arrive at the church were by cable car, funicular, or by hiking.
According to Father Sergio Gutierrez Pulido, president of the Monserrate Sanctuary, this new path has more security than before; they have improved the foundations of the path as well as surrounding supports, and have made a tunnel for collecting rain water that could otherwise potentially cause a landslide.
Mayor Lopez further explained that the road will have an established schedule and particular rules regarding the entry of visitors. She said “We cannot allow more than 7,200 people to climb the mountain each day, so we rely on the responsibility of all Bogota citizens so that we can comply with this rule; for this we have installed turnstiles at the entrance, in order to control the number of visitors, once it gets to 7,200 persons they will close the hill.”
The mayor also commented that street vendors who once worked along the roadway would now be limited to working at the bottom of the hill, where they have been since the trail was closed.
New hours of access during the week (Monday-Friday) are from 5-8AM for early riser access, from 8AM until 12PM for guided tours, and general public access from 12PM until 4PM. On weekends and holidays, the path will be open from 6AM until 3PM, for everyone.