Bogota

Where to stay

La Candelaria has the densest cluster of budget hostels, within walking distance of the Gold Museum and Plaza Bolívar, though noise and petty theft are real on some blocks. If you want a quieter base with easy access to Carrera 13 restaurants and bars, La Macarena and lower Chapinero are worth the slight price bump.

Getting around

• Get a Tullave card for the TransMilenio BRT system. Single-ride cost is under 3,000 COP and the network covers most places you'll actually go, including the Norte terminal for day trips.
• Paloquemao market on a weekday morning has some of the cheapest fresh fruit and breakfast in the city. It's a 15-minute bus ride from La Candelaria and far less touristy than the Sunday Usaquén flea market.
• Avoid booking a hostel in El Centro proper based on price alone. Some of the lowest-listed options there sit on blocks that are genuinely sketchy after dark, and the savings rarely outweigh the hassle.

When to go

Hostels are cheapest in October and November when the rainy season keeps visitor numbers low. They fill up fast from mid-December through early January (Colombian holiday travel) and again in June and July when European tourists arrive.