The capital's traditional hot-weather weekend, on the banks of the Magdalena 2,350 m below the Sabana. Girardot and neighbouring Ricaurte are built around swimming pools, riverside promenades and holiday condominiums, with the Piscilago water park at kilometre 105 and boat trips on the river.
| Distance | 132 km southwest of Bogota |
|---|---|
| Travel time | 3-4 hours by bus from Terminal Sur; about 3 hours by car |
| Getting there | Mode: Bus; Detail: Frequent coaches from Terminal Sur and Terminal Salitre down the Via Bogota-Girardot, descending from 2,640 m to 290 m |
| Cost | COP 60,000-80,000 (about USD 19.05-25.40) return bus fare; Piscilago entry roughly COP 30,000 (about USD 9.52) with variations by affiliation |
| Address | Malecon del Rio Magdalena, Carrera 10, Girardot, Cundinamarca, Colombia |
How to get there
- Bus: Terminal Sur to Girardot, COP 30,000-40,000 (about USD 9.52-12.70), 3-4 hours
- Car: Via Bogota-Girardot via Silvania and Melgar, with several tolls
- Combined: many visitors stop at Melgar or the Piscilago water park on the same road
- Onward: local buses and mototaxis link Girardot with Ricaurte and the riverside hotels
Location
Malecon del Rio Magdalena, Carrera 10, Girardot, Cundinamarca, Colombia
4.3042, -74.8014 View on map
Highlights
- Hotel and day-pass swimming pools in a hot, dry climate
- The Piscilago water park with wave pool and slides
- The Magdalena river promenade and the historic railway station
- Boat trips and the Camino Real bridge to Flandes
Tips for visiting
- This is a long day trip and works better as an overnight, particularly at weekends when the return road jams
- Sun protection and insect repellent are needed at 290 m in a way they are not in Bogota
- Dengue is present in the Magdalena valley, so covered clothing at dusk is sensible
- Public holiday weekends see the Via Bogota-Girardot operate in one-way contraflow, which changes journey times sharply