Pros & Cons of Bogota, Colombia (Full Breakdown)

[@kam_abroad]

I am one of those foreigners that absolutely hates what Medellin has become but I love Bogota. Things I love about Bogota - higher quality foreigners to befriend (not like the cesspool in Medellin), better restaurants, more culture, a ton of professionals, a ton of stuff to do, international airport and cheap flights to anywhere in the region, comfortable temperatures, and more progressive. Only things I don't love - it can be gloomy and rainy during certain parts of the year, the traffic is awful, and safety is an issue (found it safer than Medellin but it is still an issue).

[@AKJoel]

Higher quality foreigners is a big area where Medellin unfortunately falls short.

[@camilorubianobarros7953]

The only thing that it’s awful about Bogotá it’s to progressive.

[@aragan5337]

Siempre bienvenido a la fría y hermosa Bogotá

[@torontoash45]

maybe you are one of the foreigners who is contributing to the mess in Medellin

[@gnolan4281]

@@camilorubianobarros7953 too :)

[@herminioalicea661]

I’m Puerto Rican who lived in NY for 50 years. Have stayed in Bogota for a month I love the weather the food and the People? Have you ever dealt with New Yorkers? 🤣😂

[@AKJoel]

Is Bogota similar to NYC?

[@herminioalicea661]

@@AKJoel weather wise bogota is way better NYC you have to deal with the different seasons especially winter when you get knee high snows, it’s congested also I’ve been stuck in traffic in Manhattan several times so I’m used to it. People in NYC aren’t the friendliest and I’m sure you’ve heard of rude New Yorkers Taxis: $20-$30 for short rides compared to Bogota basically anywhere within the city $3-$4 Food: NYC date with full course and drinks $150-$200 without tip at a nice restaurant. Bogota diner for two nice restaurants with all the works $60 Oh yes, one restaurant saw the gringo in me 😂 After I had picked out our food from the menu and calculated in my mind $60. The waiter had suggested Lobster fresh from the tank imported and seeing that they definitely had claws which the Caribbean ones don’t have and wanting to impress my girl I agreed to add the lobster 😅 Check came at the end…they got me for an extra $200 for the imported lobster 🤣😂 I should have checked the price in the menu before hand. Well, aside from that food was pretty good and cheap in bogota so i would definitely go back. NY is way too expensive to live and PR has become touristy with restaurants charging about the same as in NY unless you want to eat at the food shacks fried stuff which is still affordable

[@juandavidardila6653]

y en realidad puerto rico es de colombia y no de nueva york xd

[@juandavidardila6653]

@@AKJoel Si lo es, busca barrios como hayuelos o el tintal, salitre, pontevedra, colina campestre, centro de bogota, todo lo que esta pasando al sur de la ciudad parece la nueva york de los 70s, a los extranjeros siempre los llevan al norte que tiene un estilo como de suiza, pero hay mas sectores en la ciudad, a pesar de no tener la super altura en edificios de nueva york toda la parte sur tiene ese ambiente y son torres de 20 o 30 pisos, obvimente solo tienen similitudes, de fondo tiene una esencia propia unica de bogota, la avenida 68 se parece mucho a nueva york, ademas comparten el mismo clima y muchas cosas en cuanto al modo de construccion, bueno no el mismo clima precisamente, el de bogota nunca cambia es siempre igual al mejor clima de nueva york, mientras que en nueva york como tal hay estaciones, aca no! Aca esta siempre en primavera a pesar de que asi le dicen a otra ciudad de colombia, medellin es conocida como la eterna primavera, pero es la primavera colombiana, la primavera del resto del mundo la tiene bogota, por siempre!

[@william8236]

Travelers who complain about Bogota's being cold will be laughed at by foreigners, especially those from Canada or the northern US. To really get a better idea of what the weather is really like in Bogota read this "Bogotá, Colombia has a subtropical highland climate with an average temperature of 58°F (14.5°C). The temperature typically ranges from 43-66°F (6-19°C) on sunny days and 50-64°F (10-18°C) on rainy days. The city has two distinct seasons: dry and rainy. The wettest months are April and May, followed by June and July. The driest months are December through March" I really like the weather in Bogota, I prefer that over hot, humid weather.

[@juanvaldez7633]

Being a native Los Angeleno myself who has also visited New York City, I think the Bogotá/Medellín debate is very much like New York vs L.A. If you're the type who prefers the big city sophistication of NYC you'll probably like Bogotá better, if OTOH you like the nice climate and party lifestyle, then you'll probably prefer Medellín. I think you nailed the pros pretty well here, but maybe over-emphasized the cons - during my visit to Bogotá we experienced very nice weather the whole time and only needed warmer clothes when we went up to Monserrate and when going out at night. Also didn't find the traffic to be that big of an issue, but we generally hung out around Chapinero and adjacent barrios getting around mostly on foot - but even when taxiing didn't get hung up in traffic too much at any point. Finally, one thing I especially appreciated about Bogotá is that due to the variety of people, as a gringo you´re better able to blend in with the crowd rather than standing out and getting noticed so much like Medellín. I've now called Medellín home for over the past three years, but if I had to do it over again and still sought the big city environment, I would choose Bogotá.

[@AKJoel]

New York vs LA is a great way to describe this rivalry haha Thanks Juan

[@Kozette007]

I agree I’m from Baltimore and love Bogota. Medellin is too hot for me. Spring like my a$$. LOL

[@william8236]

@@Kozette007 Medellin is hot and humid, I also prefer Bogota weather.

[@Perrito.Rosado]

I'm from NY (with paisa parents). I had to live 2 years during covid in bogota and i loved it. It had that big (global) city vibe (culture, art, food) that you cant find in medellin

[@BoydJones]

The world is getting hotter and hotter. Bogota's cooler clime sounds nice tbh.

[@AG-uh1ni]

Bogotá is my favorite big city in latín America. Been going there every year for 10 years now. Love the weather, food and people. Trafic and occasional pollution can be a problem though.

[@AKJoel]

Do you prefer the people in Bogota over Medellin?

[@AG-uh1ni]

@@AKJoel I think paisas are generally more fun and friendly.

[@del-see-oh]

I’ve been in Bogota for about a month now. The plan was to stay here for a week then go to Medellin. I absolutely love it here. Im definitely going to Medellin but I just don’t know when yet. I know I’m going to love it there too but I’m just not ready to leave Bogota.

[@AKJoel]

That's awesome! Exactly what happened to me with Medellin. I came to visit for 2 weeks, now I've been here for almost 3 years lol

[@william8236]

Yes, stay in Bogota, especially since the residents of Medellin have grown increasingly hostile to foreigners residing there as a result of gentrification, rising rent, and other factors. There are even signs in the city that read "gringos go home"

[@karmaisab777]

What do you love about Bogota? I'm considering visiting soon.

[@camilorubianobarros7953]

@@karmaisab777the city as it is, is to cosmopolitan, has tons of good steakhouses and good restaurants between the historical downtown and Usaquen. In the suburbs it has local activities such as malls, pubs, clubs, boli rana, tejo and local food. The real treasure is in the Sabana de Bogotá, little colonial towns like Guatavita, Mosquera, Bojacá, Tabio, Tenjo, Cajicá, Sopó and others. The landscape of the mountains, big lakes and dams, it’s beautiful.

[@orlandomodeno7567]

I ❤ Bogota. I lived there when I was little boy and for a year 15 years a go. Infrastruture and services are improving all the time. New metro line is being built and new clean gas and electric bus system, has helped clean up air polution. Sophisticated city and cosmopolitan. Great art and indie culture. Fantastic restaurants too. I love Medellin too but provincial compared to Bogota.

[@milhouse7145]

This video is spot on, I loved Bogota. The restaurants and cafes were fantastic, there were lots of things to do. But weather is atrocious, spent half my time there in my hotel room because it was raining too hard to go out, and the traffic is a nightmare with no metro.

[@AKJoel]

I guess no place is perfect haha I've been dreaming about that food though.

[@AndresJimenezGuzman]

Transmilenio moves so much people than many subways in latin america, and Bogota its building his subway, its 32% of execute.

[@william8236]

"weather is atrocious" is a complete exaggeration, all the major hotels have a/c, I was just in Bogota in March and on the way to the airport I had to ask the driver to put on the A/C because it was hot and sunny.

[@william8236]

@@demillosnadamas You're right, some people like the one who created this video visit Bogota in the rainy season and they conclude that this it the type of weather all year around.

[@corkystock5229]

65 year old amputee in a wheelchair. I just spent 5 months in Bogotá. The people is so kind. The food is very good. There are so many things to do. I love it. I'll spend all my winters there, so I won't have to. deal more with snow in Alaska -/// Amputado de 65 años en silla de ruedas. Acabo de pasar 5 meses en Bogotá. La gente es muy amable. La comida es muy buena. Hay tantas cosas que hacer. Me encanta. Pasaré todos mis inviernos allí, así que no tendré que hacerlo. lidiar más con la nieve en Alaska

[@MikesOnAPlane-bv7is]

I’ve only been to Bogotá for two days and I loved it. May have lucked out with the weather, it was perfect

[@AdamEgret]

Perfect timing. Im looking to make it to bogota in the next few weeks.

[@AKJoel]

Enjoy the trip mate!

[@AdamEgret]

@@AKJoel Thanks. Appreciate you giving us a realistic picture of all of Colombia. Many channels put too much of a shine on things but we need info to make good decisions and your channel is fast becoming my go-to for all things Colombia related. 🤜🤛

[@camilorubianobarros7953]

@@demillosnadamasplansote ir al estadio a ver a Millos.

[@camilorubianobarros7953]

@@AdamEgret the city as it is, is to cosmopolitan, has tons of good steakhouses and good restaurants between the historical downtown and Usaquen. Has museums, theaters and that kind of stuff. In the suburbs it has local activities such as malls, pubs, clubs, boli rana, tejo and local food. The real treasure is in the Sabana de Bogotá, little colonial towns like Guatavita, Mosquera, Bojacá, Tabio, Tenjo, Cajicá, Sopó and others. The landscape of the mountains, big lakes and dams, it’s beautiful.

[@davidalarconquinones87]

You kidding me. The weather is fantastic. It is not that cold. And you can use shirts or jackets easily.

[@donnelly5757]

I’ve had plenty of days of sun in Bogota and have even gone home with a dark tan!

[@HistoryHustle]

Love the weather actually. Here for the 3rd time. No complains about the people.

[@virasadhana8065]

How is the weather will be in Oct to Jan?

[@richexperiences1]

Great vid AK! I used to agree that it was "cold, gloomy, rainy" all the time in Bogotá. But not after visiting this past March. It was surprisingly warm. I'm talking lots of shorts & T-shirt days (not just me, the locals too). What I think is happening is Global Warming though. So although Bogotá (and even other parts of Colombia may be getting a little warmer/hotter), it's really not a good thing if you consider what's happening to our environment beneath the surface. The weather in Bogotá does change a lot though. It's like a kaleidoscope!

[@william8236]

I was there also in March and it was hot and sunny, I even had to tell the driver that took me to the airport to turn on the A/C.

[@dosgringoscroata]

Living here for a year - love the cycling culture here and all the differences and the things available for connecting, socializing, etc. are awesome. Weather is shit, yes - especially those random downpours. Traffic is absolute 💩 though, one time I went to the central bus station from the north of the city, it took almost 3 hours for 12 kilometers lol. With a bicycle it takes me between 40-60 mins.

[@MarioNiebles]

I'm colombian (not from Bogota) but I have lived in Bogota for many years now and I am highly surprised on how well you nailed the pros and cons about this town!

[@allisonseton]

I lived in Medellin for a year and now live in Bogota. As a female Bogota is hands down better.

[@Kozette007]

I absolutely love Bogota’ been here since 2021. I strongly dislike Medellin, however I enjoy your content.

[@AKJoel]

Thanks for the kind words! Why don't you like Medellin btw?

[@william8236]

@@AKJoel Regionalistas, when a person especially from Bogota goes to Medellin, they make you feel like a foreigner in your own country, something that doesn't happen when people from Medellin come to Bogota. @AKJoel you got a lot to learn.

[@cryptolatino9220]

I lived in Bogota for a while, it depends, months like January and February are pretty cool. Months like July and August at hot from 10am until 4pm.

[@wapa171]

..depends. Now "la niña" is on the way and it will be rainy all days.

[@donnelly5757]

The Weather in Bogota is much better than 75% of the year up in Bellingham, WA. The third con did resonate with me as making friends up here is near impossible and always looked forward to having a social life when visiting Columbia. I have experienced that it does seem a little challenging to make friends in Bogota but not even remotely as hard as it is in Bellingham, WA, but once I visit other places in Colombia it gets way easier. Having family in Bogota luckily gives me an edge when it comes to meeting people down there.

[@AKJoel]

Yeah I lived in Seattle for a while and can confirm the weather is horrible lol

[@BoydJones]

What business conference did you guys attend? I have trouble finding compelling business events in Colombia (in the hopes that I can visit for business and then for exploration).

[@AKJoel]

It's called Game Changers. It was actually meant to be held in Medellin, but got rescheduled and moved to Bogota.

[@ranman9095]

I'm here in Bogota are now , yes restaurant are definitely great a vase amount. The northern areas a great Chapinero, Chico north, Usaquén and Suba love it here.

[@AKJoel]

Yeah, I always enjoy my visits there!

[@trentintampa9328]

Yes, the northern areas are awesome! I'm hoping to move to Suba or Usaquén in 2025. 😎🇨🇴

[@Jamminn555]

Really appreciate your videos, AK. Including this one on Bogota. Great balanced view, overall very positive and global. Cheers, man. Ben

[@AKJoel]

Glad you enjoyed it Ben and thanks for the kind words!

[@mprice67]

I actually love the weather. It rains sometimes but not all the time. And not, it’s not that cold. People who say that Bogota is too cold, has never been in real cold weather.

[@stevecefalo3792]

I was in Bogota for 11 days this month. I like the weather but Joel does not mention some of the negative things. 1. There is ugly graffiti everywhere. 2. Water is being rationed and while there we had the water shut off for whole days in the apartment I was staying in.Water is also rationed to restaurants. Sometimes there is no water in toilets. Parking spots are extremely tight in residential and public parking lots. Passengers have to exit the vehicle before the driver parks or they will not have enough space to get out of the car.

[@trentintampa9328]

If you change your perspective and consider the graffiti as "Street Art", much of it is quite appealing. Colorful, thought-provoking, amusing, and pleasing to look at. I took tons of pictures of it, and it's something I love about Bogotá. I'll take a colorfully decorated city over a plain, gray one any day.

[@JWinch]

I agree with all of this video. My first 3 months in Colombia were almost entirely in Bogotá. Since I was on serious diet (losing 40 pounds in those 3 months) I did not try to explore the food options, but they are there. And lots of places to buy things (though not great for men's clothing, shopping options are comparable to an average American city). But the weather was a serious bummer. I stayed in dozens of places in Bogotá and not one had a heater (2 had OK fireplaces for heat NEAR the fireplace). In contrast, in my Medellin apartment I leave all my windows open all the time. It is never an issue, rain or shine, night or day. And being in high rise I have a great view as it is not cloudy so much like in Bogotá which frankly reminds me more of London or Germany when it comes to sunshine or the lack thereof. Still, Bogotá is OK for the occasional short trips. And because it's airport serves MANY more international destinations, you may be there if only because it is an easier connection to your foreign destination. (Though negative points for charging for airport wifi beyond 30 minutes). I also recommend finding that great barrio (for your tastes) in Bogotá and just staying there (walking is healthy and more interesting). In 3 months I never had a travel in Bogotá that was only 25 minutes or less unless it was someplace I was walking to. 45 minutes seemed to be a minimum and I did once spend a couple hours trying to go from the edge of Bogota to the downtown (and this was on a Sunday evening). Google it and you will find rankings that place Bogota as having the worst traffic in the world (other times "only" ranking in the top 10 worst in the world). The only time you can get somewhere fast is if you are driving between midnight and 5 AM.

[@william8236]

Medellin's weather is very humid, and I know about humidity I live in Florida, in my last visit to Medellin my friends house didn't have a/c and it was a real bummer, sleeping in that hot humidity was very uncomfortable.

[@trainwreck3697]

To be honest it’s pretty easy to find great food in lots of cities in Colombia. In my conversations with many colombianos they consistently tell me that they think Medellin has the WORST food. In my experience Cali and Barranquilla take the top spots just because of the great fresh seafood.

[@Devloup]

i think weather is best thing of bogota, but wealthiest neigborhoods of bogota are also where rains the most

[@tutubeas10]

Thank you for the vid. I lived in Bogota in the 90s and I loved it. I looking forward to come back there even though I know things have changed a lot since.

[@kevindaniel6130]

What about safety? I went to Bogota once with some friends and it felt particularly more hostile than Medellin (we were mostly around the downtown area using the tranvia to move around).

[@Marco-x9d9w]

I'm no specialist, but it might have to do with the neighborhood you were in. Downtown doesn't have the best reputation and people recommend to take cabs because there's robbers in the Transmilenio If you compare with Poblado in Medellín, yeah okay Poblado wins. However downtown in Medellín is way hostile too. we shouldn't compare apples with cinnamon And the Poblado of Bogota seems to be Chapinero

[@AKJoel]

Bogota is actually more dangerous than Medellin according to the statistics: www.numbeo.com/crime/compare_cities.jsp?country1=Colombia&city1=Bogota&country2=Colombia&city2=Medellin

[@kevindaniel6130]

Yea it seems like public transport is another point. Medellin's metro system is way better than bogota's transmilenio. Also, I'm not comparing it with el poblado, but with bello (where I live), which has a bad rep. Also, we're Venezuelans and we definitely don't look like Gringos--yet we were warned a few times at the transmilenio. So I think it was a fair comparison. I guess it's important to know where to go and what neighborhoods to visit if you care about safety.

[@william8236]

"100,000 in 2022 is way down the list in terms of homicide rates, and half the national average (26 homicides/100,000). In fact, Bogotá fares slightly better than Medellin (16 homicides/100k) and the stable smaller cities like Pereira (23 homicides/100k) and Armenia (25 homicides/100k)." source google

[@william8236]

@@AKJoel You should get your facts together you don't see headlines about Bogota like this one "As of December 2023, over 30 tourists have died in Medellín, Colombia in 2023 due to various causes, including violence, drug overdoses, falls, and botched surgeries. The city's tourism observatory recorded 32 violent killings of foreigners in the first 10 months of 2023, which is a 40% increase from the previous year. This includes at least 12 Americans and three from the United Kingdom."

[@oceanearth2243]

Which spot would be better for dating? I’m a gringo 44 years old fluent in Spanish

[@AKJoel]

If you've got something to offer, location shouldn't make a difference :) And the fact that you're fluent in Spanish shows that you do 👍🏾

[@camilorubianobarros7953]

It depends of what you are looking for, one night?, gf, wife?

[@michaelondic5884]

My opinion the museums in Bogota are first rate and definitely worth a couple of days for a visit. And then as AK said if you're a foodie or into the nightlife, I've heard there is more variety there. Like you, If visited 4-5 times for a couple of days at a time. Though I've been luckier with the weather as it's been mostly sunny when I've visited. Warm during the days and a little cool at night.

[@AKJoel]

Museums is a great point. Not really my interest so I didn't mention this video, but 100% better in Bogota.

[@CommandoMaster]

How is the dating scene in Bogota for an average foreigner man? If the women aren't very friendly like u say, is it difficult to date then?

[@ErickRedcloud]

Lived in Bogotá for 3 years and I would agree with most of what you had to say except the last thing. Relatively Rolos are colder compared to the rest of Colombia, but they are still nice and friendly compared to people in other countries. People are still friendly, they are just more in a hurry.

[@investmentanalyst779]

Bogota is basically California in the US. My type of place! I'll be visiting in September.

[@JayLove-zk7pj]

The only thing comparable to California is the weather in San Francisco or better yet Seattle. Outside of that nothing in bogota compares to California

[@JWinch]

@@JayLove-zk7pj I lived in Seattle for 15 years and spent some time visiting SF. I think the weather in Bogota is like SF. Temperature stays within a small range around 60 F. Seattle has wildly fluctuating temps based on the season (15 to 30 F in winter, 70 to 90 in summer). It rains in Bogotá similar to how it rains in Seattle (can be a light rain going on for many hours)

[@william8236]

You'll love it, and when you see how cheap the cost of restaurants is compare to California, you'll love it even more.

[@spencer1226]

@@JWinch I read somewhere that Bogota and Seattle have the same Koppen climate classification.

[@MarioNiebles]

Bogota looks like Skid Row.

[@johnniemayhem]

I think if you are in a rush...Colombia or South America in general is not the place to be...relax...take some time to breathe. Its chilly and rainy...but not always. Its a great place to visit. Remember the altitude! You're at a bit over 8000 feet or 3000 feet higher than Medellin, if you over exert yourself you will know it!

[@RK-bx1by]

Thanks I've been waiting for a video like this on Bogota! I imagine Bogota also has a coffee culture similar to the one in Melbourne.

[@AKJoel]

Yeah it does, I was very impressed with all the cafes we went to that had great coffee! None of this tinto rubbish hahaha

[@maz3808]

I feel Bogota is going to be my favourite place. I like cold weather. It's sweltering hot in my country most of the year. Anyway, Can you survive with English in Bogota or your need to learn a little bit of Spanish.

[@gnolan4281]

Many people speak English in Bogota and they like to use it but likewise there are many millions there who do not speak English. To enjoy the city to the full you ought to learn a few hundred words to begin with and keep building your vocabulary. It gets easier. i learned from mixing with Spanish speakers and from watching news programs because they supply images of what they're reporting on and that provides context. One great aspect is that the Spanish spoken in Bogota is clear and easier to understand than in many other places such as Medellin.

[@Rikaisan]

Some of the cons are actually the reason why I love this city so much. The weather is something I love! I despise the sun, so a lot of the time I'm happy here, however, when it makes sun in Bogotá, it's a HORRIBLE sun, it is a dry burning sensation that I despise. We all agree the traffic sucks, yeah. The people...as an introverted person, having the minimal amount of interaction is just really good, I love it. Also, I think the reason we are not so trusting is because of how thieves and bad people take advantage of the kind heart, there have been a lot of cases of criminal gangs pretending someone needs help or something similar to distract you while they rob you among other schemes

[@MichaelTrimboli-m4c]

Hello AK. Mike Faca here. Welcome to my side of the country. Next time go just a little further up the road to Faca and say Hi. I spend a lot of time in Bogota as I have family there. A few pointers. First stay on the north side. You have museums, the university and parks along with many great places to eat. Bogota also has a great mall. Stay out of the south side of Bogota and be careful on the Transmilenio.

[@AKJoel]

I definitely want to spend a month in Bogota at some point exploring the surroundings. My girlfriend hates it though, so it will take some convincing 😂😂😂

[@william8236]

@@AKJoel Typical paisas have a deep-seated hatred towards Bogota, is in their blood, and they describe Medellin as if it were Zurich, I know them very well, I lived with them many years in NY, the ironic thing is that there is more people from Medellin living and prospering in Bogota than the other way around.

[@entrenamientoexclusivosder3332]

I love the weather in Bogota!

[@Stuart-ik1be]

If you could pick the driest month to visit what would you say😊

[@william8236]

Is funny how people go to Bogota in the rainy season and they conclude that the weather is like that all year around.

[@jacquelinepaez]

January

[@AndresJimenezGuzman]

Bogota is cold only in April and may, June and december is so hot.

[@AKJoel]

Really? How hot?

[@william8236]

​@@AKJoel Why do you think hotels in Bogota spend thousands of dollars installing air conditionings? the answer is because Bogota is not as "cold as hell" as you mention in one of your replies, go to Bogota during the summer months and you'll have a total different view about Bogotas weather.

[@americanbee88088]

Me and my family must move to Bogota in a diplomatic mission starting 2025.

[@StefanieCornelius]

I know noone can recommend a hostel or hotel for me as everybody has different perceptions but if anybody has ever been to Lima in Peru and stayed there in Hotel España, I am looking for sth similar in Bogota

[@space_btwn_notes]

I would probably base in Bogota except I found it hard to meet new people (outside of say dating apps) -- either foreigners or locals. Insane value for money for the high quality food and cultural scenes. But locals seemed more guarded there than other LatAm major cities, and harder to link up with other foreigners due to lack of support structure. I ended up choosing CDMX instead

[@thespacesbetweenstudio3346]

I wish the weather was better there. It would be a much better investment location

[@MsPriyaLal]

Hey Joel, Do you plan to do a video about the Aussie men killed in Mexico in Baja Mex ??? . I know you spent a lot of time in that area.. Wanted to see if you are going to share insights on safety and is it still reasonably safe out there!!!

[@AKJoel]

Hey Priya, I heard about that and it actually made me upset. I lived in that area for around 3 months and never felt unsafe at all. Poor guys were just trying to surf and have a good time, definitely didn't deserve that. I won't be making a video about it though, since it's not really my niche.

[@MsPriyaLal]

@@AKJoel oh ok.. You had one video last year about cons of living in Mexico.. and talked about some things like repairs slow, and some petty theft. I guess the focus is now Medellin !!

[@Le-it1dz]

Cundinamarca has rain seasons. Well, what do you prefer? Hot, sweaty 12 million people everywhere? In the bus, office etc.? And the rudness? Yeah, you visted during the raining season. You need to vist in December where you'll see almost empty streets on New Years Day. A mass exodus. You'll feel like you have the entire capital to yourself. No queue, no traffic, no waiting etc. It's crazy. Please do another Bogotá video before the end of the year. Good job on the channel.

[@AKJoel]

I've been there a few times actually. In November, January, April x 2, July and every time was cold as hell haha I'll have to visit again in December and see if it's any better without traffic though!

[@william8236]

@@AKJoel "cold as hell" 😂 Oh that's an exaggeration, and far from the truth, if you think Bogotas weather is cold then never visit New York, Chicago, Boston or Canada in the winter months, and if you do you'll find out really fast what "cold as hell" really is.

[@Hassannajfi]

Don’t know if you’ve been to Salud Pan in Laureles. I had some amazing vegan experiences there!

[@AKJoel]

Yup, I know that spot!

[@JayLove-zk7pj]

Let’s be fair ! Why not interview actual Rolos from Bogota. Bogota is a very large city how can you and other tourists give an actual fair assessment of Bogota. Personally, I just hope Bogota don’t become like Medellin or Cartagena and bombarded by foreigners. However, bogota can be imitating, the weather, and the size of the city. I appreciate bogota a lot more than Medellin and Cartagena. The only time I see foreigners is at el dorado airport

[@AKJoel]

A local's experience of the city is very different to a foreigners experience.

[@JayLove-zk7pj]

@@AKJoel of course it’s a different perspective! I just don’t think a foreigner can honestly give a good opinion. Yes they’re some exceptions foreigners that have local friends and go all over the city. However, if a foreigner couldn’t explain how to travel from Bolivar plaza to ciudad Bolívar. How can he / she think they know everything about the city

[@william8236]

I am starting to see a lot of nomads and expats in Bogota, I see them in the Cedritos area, great place to live.

[@william8236]

@@AKJoel You're right, a foreigner from Canada or the Northern US would never say, "The weather in Bogota is cold as hell," especially a Canadian. I've experienced those harsh winters in New York, I know what cold weather really feels like. Those foreigners including myself appreciate Bogotas weather, and for many of us like summer weather.

[@camilorubianobarros7953]

@@william8236it’s cheap, it’s nice, but has bad traffic.

[@igonz22]

What editing software did you use to do the little circle video thing in the top corner?

[@AKJoel]

Da Vinci Resolve

[@romansotelo7240]

Thanks for the video @AKJoel i hope to see Bogota one of these days.4:26-4:28 Medellín for me when i went though everyone dressed different with their different outfits and funky hair though so that's one thing i will disagree with you on.

[@AKJoel]

Check out Bogota and let me know once you've been there how much more diverse it is haha!

[@romansotelo7240]

@@AKJoel sure thing.

[@gif24gt60]

Are the people friendly?

[@AKJoel]

Friendly enough but not as friendly as the rest of Colombia.

[@semaifirtes]

The reason I'm went to Bogota four times and I've never been to any other Colombian place is because I actually get hot in bogota. So if Bogota is hot for me how can I visit anywhere else? Well, I took heart in your description of not being able to find the right temperature. It's true that you're dressed for a winter in Bogota and you get on the bus and the heat is blasting and I literally don't ever even wear pants in Bogota it's just hot for me. Maybe if I visit Medellin and just wear shorts and a tank top I'll be good to go... I mean do they blast the AC air conditioning in the trains and the buses when you get? That's the type of s*** they pull in every other city I live in: Bogota, Seattle and San Francisco So gow you deal with the heat un Medellin? I know it's only about 75° 75 to 80° f whereas the rest of the country is much hotter but it's still hot for me

[@AKJoel]

I love heat and hate cold. But you're right, hot weather isn't for everyone!

[@william8236]

@@AKJoel Undoubtedly, the colder weather is more comfortable than the warmer ones, which is why so many people like the weather in Bogota since it's the ideal weather for outdoor activities.

[@johnescobar9951]

Bogotá is better than Medellín in my humble opinion❤

[@william8236]

Way better.

[@juandavidardila6653]

Bogota tambien es concoida como la atenas sur americana y hay un transfondo importante detras de eso, incluso somos la única ciudad en todo el mundo que tiene un ágora moderno, a pesar de tener los mismos problemas que el resto de latinoamerica en mayor o menor medida la ciudad se caracteriza por ser una ciudad ultra academica, empresarial, su uso es el de montar una vida profesional algo que no es muy comun en el resto de latam, zonas como el norte de bogota tienen niveles de desarrollo propios del segundo mundo y para pasar a ser primer mundo solo le hace falta tener empresas de nivel mundial que den un ingreso superior al total del pais y la ciudad, tal vez esta nueva epoca sea la epoca en la que eso ocurra, tambien en la ciudad es comun encontrar gente de altos intelectos, esto no suena real puesto que no se ve reflejado en la economia u otros factores, pero el tema economico es a nivel mundial, en general son las rutas de comercio y estas rosan mucho con el tema militar, para tener un lugar en ellas hay que generar precisamente un contexto militar, cosa que aca no interesa mucho y se intenta sin ese ultimo tema lo que lo hace un poco mas complejo

[@fatboylouie]

Goin on thursday, drop some restaurants?? Good sushi?

[@AKJoel]

Can't remember the name of anywhere I went as my mates a foodie and had a huge list. Sorry!

[@zdravo2247]

I'm bald (like your friend), can i easily find a hot young(18-21yo) girlfriend? And Wich is the better city for that, bogota or Medellín?

[@IngridGaucher]

Disgusting, do not go to Colombia looking for a hot women to satisfy you. YOU AND ALL THE OTHER DISGUSTING MEN Like you should never put a foot in Colombia.

[@camilorubianobarros7953]

Medellin, girls here in Bogotá dress way different from there.

[@BestFriendOfJesus]

God bless

[@theangigarzon]

I feel everyone in Bogota is in survival mode

[@william8236]

You're wrong, the biggest foreign investors invest in Bogota, Bogota is a city with a great future.

[@DerwinDaDestroyer]

10x is life

[@AKJoel]

He was smooth! First time I'd seen him and I was very impressed!

[@nowaywithyoueveragai]

Where are you from? You have somehow a very latin accent. Did you grow up in a migrant family or a latin american country?

[@AKJoel]

That's the first time I've heard that haha I'm from Australia.

[@nowaywithyoueveragai]

@@AKJoel I guess I need to go beyond British and northeast american accents. Your pronunciation of the Colombian cities are quite unique. Are you Polyglot?

[@AKJoel]

I'm fluent in Spanish and my girlfriend is Colombian, so maybe I pick up the pronunciation from her? haha

[@kevinhobbs3543]

altitude , harder to breath

[@AKJoel]

Great point!

[@william8236]

You get over that after a couple of days, is no big deal.

[@Mdickmann24]

I think the interview with Mr. “Mucho Mejor” tells a lot. Bogota is not for the gringos, Medellin has acclimated their city to serve tourism and in that sense, gringos.

[@Justgoflyaway7]

When Visiting Bogota gona book me a hotel n the middle of Santa Fe 😁👌

[@trackdiaries]

Bro I think daniel Ricardo is you're long lost brother

[@AKJoel]

That's not the first time I've heard that haha!

[@themarketingplace]

para Bogota: el telefono es ring ring y mi corazon no da ton ton ya no eres mi bombom bombom ...

[@dariozapata-w7s]

Cabas.

[@camiloramos4030]

The food is good for Colombia? Are you for real ? You sound quite uptight and plenty of judgement

[@nycrypto_investor]

"I hate reggaeton music" You live in the reggaeton capital lol

[@AKJoel]

Yup, sad truth lol

[@nycrypto_investor]

@@AKJoel Yeah it can be overwhelming at times especially first thing in the morning lol

[@AndreaHagaasi]

Bogotá es brutalmente preciosa y a base de su propia identidad, mas bien avoid to you, shu shu, dont need you in here, search for other place we dont like you neither. And we are better than you.

[@ericpowell4350]

There's no place like Medellin. LOL

[@AKJoel]

Absolutely. Love it!

[@winnipeg007]

Florianopolis. And I can name few more in Brazil that are way nicer and safer Even Nicaragua is way safer

[@ericpowell4350]

@@winnipeg007 if nicer and safety is your thing, then by all means. Be safe. But that still doesn't take away from what Medellin is and the vibe of the people.

[@dariozapata-w7s]

Es una ciudad dificil. Hasta para los propios locales es estresante, veremos si recibe algo de atractivo cuando concluyan las obras del Metro de Bogotá.

[@ricardocordoba6054]

Medellin is overrated AF, Bogota is the real deal.

[@137dylan]

If I wanted bad weather and gridlocked traffic, I'd stay in London. Bogota...no thanks!

[@AKJoel]

Hahaha yeah exactly my sentiment!

[@9daest]

Bogota is like colombian NY ---> Culture, Diversity, Cosmopolitan, More "Gray". Medellin is like colombian LA --> Entretainment, Nightlife, Sex, Vanity.

[@newportnelson]

I was so excited to see what you were going to say about the food after you hyped it up so much, only to be disappointed in the fact you apparently did not have a single Colombian/Spanish dish your entire trip or any sort of authentic street food experience... Surely you did this on purpose for a laugh, mate? Lmao

[@AKJoel]

If you haven't realized, I don't like Colombian food lol.

[@gnhgm8969]

@@AKJoel try colombian seafood from the pacific. I can suggest you couple of restaurants. Best hidden secret!

[@jke4ting1]

If youre a foriegner do not go to bogota

[@AKJoel]

Why not?

[@jke4ting1]

Because I like it the way it is

[@mariafedorova6660]

What's up with the weird pronunciation?

[@theangigarzon]

I'm from Bogota, and I DON'T love it 🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@DBM1234-d1f]

Pross: airport Cons: all 😂

[@AKJoel]

Hahahahahaha that would've been a short video!

[@william8236]

Its Pros, not Pross.

[@william8236]

@@AKJoel @genesisbourbon1234 is the biggest and a well-known paisa regionalista on KZbin; his comments are always about criticizing Bogota, and likes to fabricate information to make Medellin seem like a superior city. In one of his replies he claimed that Rionegro's Airport was located in Medellin 😂 plain and simple and It's a known fact that Medellin lacks the kind of airport that Bogota has wich by the way "Bogota's El Dorado International Airport (BOG) has been consistently ranked among the world's best airports by Skytrax and World Airport Awards since 2016. In 2022, Skytrax gave it a four-star certification and ranked it as the best airport in Latin America and South America's best airport. In 2023, Skytrax also ranked it as the second cleanest airport in Latin America. As of April 2024, Skytrax has named it the best airport in South America for the sixth time and third year in a row" source goggle.

[@johnmcaulay8448]

Go to the Philippines, it's better!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Much safer!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@renemontenegro6143]

Lol

[@AKJoel]

Philippines has some of the worst food I've ever seen in my life - and I've been to 40 countries lol

[@renemontenegro6143]

@@AKJoel 43 countries on my end ,love culture Joel