{"id":3911,"date":"2012-05-24T11:53:54","date_gmt":"2012-05-24T16:53:54","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/seecolombia.travel\/blog\/?p=3911"},"modified":"2016-05-12T15:52:36","modified_gmt":"2016-05-12T20:52:36","slug":"top-5-ways-to-stay-fit-and-healthy-in-bogota","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/seecolombia.travel\/blog\/2012\/05\/top-5-ways-to-stay-fit-and-healthy-in-bogota\/","title":{"rendered":"Too many Chocoramos? Our top 5 ways to stay fit and healthy in Bogot\u00e1"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Even<\/a>
Even the dogs get an intense workout here…(photo: Saul Ortega)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Have you ever seen a branch of Body Tech gym in Bogot\u00e1<\/a>: all huge glass panes and beautiful people cycling furiously and not even sweating\u2026its equal parts terrifying and depressing. Some of the independent street gyms aren\u2019t much better: rusty equipment and men who make Schwarzenegger look like\u2026well\u2026me. All in all, the gym can be quite an intimidating, not to mention expensive place. Why mortgage your flat or risk contracting tetanus to stay fit and healthy\u2026there are so many more options available to you in this city. So, without further ado, here are the top 5 best ways to keep fit and healthy in Bogot\u00e1:<\/p>\n

\"Ciclovia<\/a>
Ciclovia (photo: Flickr user: TEDxBogot\u00e1)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

1. Ciclov\u00eda<\/strong><\/p>\n

The granddaddy of fitness options in Bogot\u00e1, Ciclov\u00eda is when, every Sunday and Public Holidays, certain main streets are completely closed to traffic, allowing people to cycle, jog or just stroll around the city. The concept is popular all over the world, but the brainwave is credited to Bogot\u00e1, when, in 1976, Jaime Ortiz and other organisers sowed the seeds for the modern Ciclov\u00eda. There are also\u00a0occasional\u00a0‘No Cars’ days<\/a>\u00a0to enjoy in\u00a0Bogot\u00e1. Nowadays the weekly Ciclov\u00edas are used by nearly 2 million people and cover around 120km of streets, all of them free of cars. Nearby squares are also used for group fitness classes \u2013 so here\u2019s the routine: cycle from your house \u2018til you reach a square, half an hour of yoga, cycle back (repeat as necessary).<\/p>\n

\"Parque<\/a>
Parque Simon Bolivar (photo: Diego Vanegas)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

2. Jogging in Parque Sim\u00f3n Bolivar<\/strong><\/p>\n

The largest area of parkland in Bogot\u00e1 (bigger than Central Park in New York in fact), Sim\u00f3n Bolivar is a fantastic option for those of you who enjoy exercising amongst nature, surrounded by trees and lakes. The park is nearly 1000 acres of green space in the middle of the city, perfect for anyone with time to kill and a pair of fetching spandex jogging shorts. There are also several areas of outdoor gym equipment, so you can pump some iron and swell those biceps in the sunshine, breathing some fresh air (also a relief in this city!).<\/p>\n

\"The<\/a>
The view that awaits fitness fanatics who hike up Monserrate (photo: Tijs Zwinkels)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

3. Day Hikes<\/strong><\/p>\n

Bogot\u00e1, being as it is a high-altitude, Andean city, is surrounded by great options for day hikes \u2013 the perfect way to get out of the hustle and bustle of the city and get fit at the same time. You don’t just need epic treks in the Andes<\/a> to enjoy Colombia’s natural beauty. The two hour trail up to Monserrate is great exercise and the payoff is stunning panoramic views of the city. Alternatively there are beautiful hiking options in Chicaque National Park, Laguna de Guatavita, the Cerro de Majuy, and Chingaza National Park \u2013 all of these wonderful places are only about 1-2 hours outside Bogot\u00e1. Many people like to join hiking clubs, of which there are several; as they offer a great way to stay fit and healthy and make new friends at the same time (Couchsurfing has a good hiking group page).<\/p>\n

\"It's<\/a>
It’s Friday Football (look at the camera Paul) (photo: Steven Bartkowski)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

4. Practice the national pastime<\/strong><\/p>\n

That\u2019s right\u2026play some football. Colombians love the beautiful game<\/a> and, unlike back home, five-a-side matches aren\u2019t just an excuse to kick people and drink heavily (although the latter is still an option and not recommended if you\u2019re serious about this fitness thing). The style here is fast paced and perfect for some intense exercise (once again the altitude, although hard to adjust to, is the perfect extra ingredient to get extra fit). There are indoor pitches throughout the city, so get some friends together and organise a weekly session. Alternatively, you could play outdoors in one of the many city parks.<\/p>\n

5. Get a job in a building with lots of stairs\u2026<\/strong><\/p>\n

In my other, secret life as a university teacher I have discovered the perfect way to stay fit whilst working (and disgust 22 Colombian teenagers by sweating profusely throughout a 2 hour class) \u2013 just ignore the elevator. It\u2019s that simple. It\u2019s always too full anyway and, what with the altitude, 20-odd brisk walks a day up to the 4th<\/sup> floor could shed some pounds from even the fattest teacher!<\/p>\n

So there you have it: drop that empanada, ignore El Corral<\/em> and get fit, Bogot\u00e1 style. Who needs the gym?!<\/p>\n

Chris<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Have you ever seen a branch of Body Tech gym in Bogot\u00e1: all huge glass panes and beautiful people cycling furiously and not even sweating\u2026its equal parts terrifying and depressing. Some of the independent street gyms aren\u2019t much better: rusty equipment and men who make Schwarzenegger look like\u2026well\u2026me. All in all, the gym can be […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"ngg_post_thumbnail":0},"categories":[905,35,3,115,116,128,624,625,626,4,767,114,67],"tags":[2976,2868,2885,2920],"yoast_head":"\nToo many Chocoramos? 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