Getting Around Sogamoso
Sogamoso sits at about 2,569 metres on the Altiplano Cundiboyacense in Boyacá, and its compact urban core is made up of dozens of neighbourhoods, with the Centro among them. That layout matters for a visitor: much of what you will want to see day to day is within the city itself, and the practical question is usually how to cover short urban hops and how to reach the surrounding towns.
Rail, Metro and Tram
Sogamoso has no metro, tram or passenger rail network. Getting around the city and the region is done by road, on foot, by bus or by taxi. Plan your trip around those modes rather than around any rail-based system.
Buses and Public Transport
Buses are the mainstay of travel into and out of Sogamoso. The city is well connected to Bogotá and to the rest of the region, and the surrounding municipalities — Nobsa, Tópaga, Monguí, Aquitania, Cuítiva, Iza, Tibasosa and Firavitoba — are close by, so short regional hops by bus are a normal way to reach nearby sights and villages.
- From Bogotá: catch a bus at the Portal Norte. The journey takes roughly four and a half hours; in October 2022 the fare was about COP$35,000.
- From Tunja: buses run frequently and the trip takes about an hour and a half; in October 2022 the fare was about COP$10,000.
Fares and schedules change, so treat those figures as a rough guide to what to expect rather than a fixed price. For travel within the city, buses are the standard public transport option; ask at your accommodation or at the terminal about which route serves your destination, since local routes are not something you can easily work out on your own without help.
Taxis and Ride-Hailing
Taxis are a straightforward option for short trips around Sogamoso's neighbourhoods and for reaching the bus terminal or the airport. Because the city is not large, a taxi is a reasonable choice when you are carrying luggage or when your destination is outside the centre. Agree on the fare or confirm that the meter is running before you set off, and have your destination written down if your Spanish is limited.
Walking
Sogamoso's central sights are clustered in and around the centre, which makes walking a practical way to see the city's historical places. The Central park, the 6 September square, the Archaeology Museum with its reconstruction of the Sun Temple, and the Pile-Mochacá are all part of the same central area and can be combined on foot.
Two things to keep in mind: the altitude is high, so take the first day or two gently and expect to tire faster than you would at sea level; and the climate is a subtropical highland one with mild days and cool nights, so carry a layer for the evening even if the afternoon feels warm.
Getting from the Airport into the City
Sogamoso is served by Alberto Lleras Camargo Airport. Air operations at the airport were opened up when Aerocivil lifted its restriction in September 2009. On arrival, taxis are the practical way to cover the final leg into town, and the same applies in reverse when you leave. If you would rather not fly, the bus connections from Bogotá and Tunja described above are the alternative, and they bring you directly into the city rather than to an outlying airport.
Practical Tips
- Build your plans around buses, taxis and walking — there is no rail alternative.
- For Bogotá, start at the Portal Norte; for Tunja, buses are frequent and the trip is short.
- Use taxis for luggage, for the airport, and for reaching neighbourhoods away from the centre.
- Give yourself time to adjust to the altitude, and pack for cool nights.
- If you are in town in September, note that the city's anniversary falls on 6 September, and that July brings the Festivities of the Sun and of the Steel — busy periods when transport and accommodation fill up faster.