Your Guide to Motorcycle Hire In Bogota, Colombia

Bogota, Distrito Capital, formerly known as Santa Fe de Bogota during the Spanish period between 1991 and 2000, is the capital and the largest city in Colombia. Founded as the capital of the New Kingdom of Grenada by Spanish conquistador Gonzalo Jimenez during an expedition through the Andes, the modern city of Bogota is filled with evidence of the city’s long history, while also showing remnants of the indigenous Muisca culture that dominated the region before colonization. 

The city of Bogota is quintessentially Colombian, giving tourists a fantastic opportunity to familiarize themselves with the country’s culture and mode of life. While many parts of Colombia can feel overrun by foreigners, Bogota has an authentic feel while still being vibrant and lively. There are endless sightseeing and cultural experiences to be had in Colombia’s capital city, the best way to make the most of your time there is to rent a motorbike and explore as much of the city as you can. 

Here is everything you need to know about hiring a motorcycle in Bogota. Most things here can also be applied if you are renting a scooter. This guide includes: 

• Whether you need an international driving permit to rent a motorcycle in Colombia
• The cost of motorcycle hire
• Where to rent a motorbike in Bogota
• The best things to do in Bogota by motorcycle
• A guide to driving from Bogota to Medellin

Do You Need an International Driving Permit To Hire a Motorcycle in Colombia?

According to Colombia’s Ministry of Transport, you do not need an international driving permit to operate a motor vehicle, including a motorcycle. If you’re staying in Colombia on a 90-day tourist visa, a valid foreign driver’s license is perfectly sufficient for renting and driving a motorcycle. However, while driving in the country, you should always carry your passport with you to prove that you’re legally within the country as a tourist. 

Before you go to rent a vehicle in Colombia, though, you should check with the website of the specific shop you plan to rent from, as certain rental shops will require an IDP. If you want to get an international driving permit, you can apply here for a fee of $20. The process typically takes about two weeks, and the permit stays valid for one full year. 

What Is the Price of Motorbike Rental in Bogota?

If you’re looking for motorbike hire in the city of Bogota, you’ll probably be paying around $85 per day on the low end for a proper motorcycle. However, if you want something a little cheaper, you can find scooter rentals in the neighborhood of $65 per day. 

For nicer motorcycles, like a KTM 790 Adventure R, you’re looking at paying more like $150. These higher-end motorcycles are more fun to drive, but you’ll be able to get around the city just fine with a more affordable motorcycle or even a scooter.  

Where Can I Find Motorcycle Rental in Bogota?

If you’re looking for a motorcycle hire shop within the city limits of Bogota, your best bet is to go to the area to the northeast and southeast of the Teusaquillo neighborhood. This is where you’ll find the highest concentration of rental shops. There are also quite a few rental shops located around the Chapinero neighborhood. 

Unfortunately, if you’re flying into El Dorado International Airport, the airport serving the greater Bogota area, you won’t be able to find any motorbike rental services outside the terminals. The best thing is to get a taxi to your accommodation and then look for a rental shop within the city. 

What Are Some of the Best Things To Do By Motorcycle in Bogota?

Now that you know what you need for renting a motorcycle in Bogota, here are some fun activities to do in the city while you’re driving around: 

Museo del Oro

The most famous museum in Bogota and probably all of Colombia, the Museo del Oro has an extremely impressive collection of hispanic art, culture, and history that includes over 55,000 gold pieces. Information about all of these pieces is available in English and Spanish, with guided tours offered for an additional cost. The entrance fee to the museum is equal to a little over $1. 

For those interested in some more history, the Spanish-colonial neighborhood of La Candelaria is located only a few blocks away. 

Cerro Monserrate

One of the best views of Bogota and the surrounding mountains is from Cerro Monserrate, located about a 7 minute drive to the east from the Museo del Oro. Once you get to the base of the mountain, you can park your rental scooter or motorcycle and ascend the mountain by foot. The walk up to the viewpoint is fairly easy, and leads to a historic church and shrine that sit at the top. 

There are also a few bars and restaurants at the viewpoint, making Cerro Monserrate a phenomenal spot to have a romantic dinner at sunset on a clear night. There’s also an aerial tram that leads to the top if you don’t want to make the walk. 

Lake Guatavita

If you’ve already visited the Museo del Oro, you probably learned about the legend of El Dorado about a fictional lost Muisca city of gold. Much of this legend centers around a site known as Lake Guatavita, which sits about 2 hours by motorcycle to the northeast of the city of Bogota. Many of the artifacts contained in the Museo del Oro were actually found in the lake, including the museum’s most famous piece, the Muisca raft.

Apart from its significance to the legend of El Dorado, Lake Guatavita is also an astounding natural beauty. With turquoise waters surrounded by mountains on all sides, this site is truly a feast for the eyes. 

Driving From Bogota to Medellin

Many drivers who rent a motorbike in Bogota end up driving to the southeast to another one of Colombia’s most popular tourist destinations, Medellin. While many people are quite skittish about driving outside of the cities in Colombia, especially considering its history of cartel influence, driving in rural Colombia is actually quite nice and typically pretty safe. 

The journey from Bogota to Medellin takes around 8 hours total. It’s advisable to only during the daytime, as the nighttime brings increased risk that you’ll have a collision with a farm animal or run into a bandit. There are also some places along the route where road signs are very hard to see or nonexistent. However, most of the journey is a straight shot, so you shouldn’t have much of a problem with getting lost. 

The roads in Colombia are typically quite well maintained, and the rural areas of Colombia are absolutely gorgeous. For anyone thinking about renting a motorcycle in Colombia, the route from Bogota to Medellin is the experience of a lifetime. 

Do you still have questions about motorcycle hire in Bogota? No worries, you can always contact us by phone, email, or our website's live chat.